Chapter 203: Dakota Asked for a Loan of Half a Million

David pondered Alexander's shed. "Actually, winning someone's heart is quite simple," he mused. "All you need is"

"You two share such a deep connection," Selena added. "I believe you'll end up together."

However, Isabella avoided Alexander for a week. A week later, the Hampton family's invitation arrived, and Isabella suddenly remembered something she'd forgotten: the artist, Dakota.

Had Dakota broken up with Josiah? Did Anders hire her for her makeup artistry? No, since Audrey's married to Caleb, she should focus on being a good sister-in-law. Why meddle in such affairs? The main point is Dakota hadn't broken up with Josiah yet! Hmm, I want to go, just to watch the drama unfold!

Isabella turned to Alexander, who held the invitation.

Chapter 203: Dakota Asked for a Loan of Half a Million

Throughout the week, the Quirks were more invested than anyone else, eagerly anticipating Alexander's pursuit of Isabella. They underestimated her skill in reading his pursuit; there was no sign of progress. Alexander wasn't someone who effortlessly charmed girls.

Isabella, too, was at a loss, feeling overwhelmingly awkward. It's all his fault. Note to self: be brave enough to face him.

Unlike soap opera CEOs who chase women while their empires run themselves, Alexander was a real CEO with a hectic schedule. This left them with little time to meet, so they communicated mostly through texts. He sent morning greetings, initiated conversations while she was likely still in bed, and bid her goodnight. He also texted her during work breaks—his way of subtly expressing his affection.

Nothing specific made Isabella nervous, but she sensed a change in their relationship. Alexander would never have acted this way in the past. Initially, Isabella managed these online interactions, as long as she didn't have to meet him. But one day, she couldn't bear it any longer. After dinner, she stayed back, her curiosity about the gossip outweighing her embarrassment and discomfort. It's all Alexander's fault. He kept messing with my head so much that I completely forgot to keep up with the gossip. Audrey had everything set up that day, so Dakota should have known Josiah's identity, right? But they're still together. Maybe the party ending early meant Dakota missed the truth?

Meanwhile, Alexander smirked, pleased by Isabella's emotional turmoil. The others at the table weren't as perceptive, focusing on the gossip Isabella had just revealed. In fact, they were annoyed that Alexander hadn't shared Dakota's gossip upon his return. Only Christopher shared bits of information and eagerly discussed them with the family. They'd already analyzed the potential connections and deduced who was still entangled, even after his ex-girlfriend became his sister-in-law.

Isabella's inner voice confirmed everything, but who on earth is Dakota? Considering Isabella's description of Dakota as a makeup artist, Rosalie immediately thought of someone. Having served as an assistant to Christopher and Isabella, she

Chapter 203: Dakota Asked for a Loan of Half a Million

Although they were all at the dining table, sipping coffee, everyone except Isabella and Alexander simultaneously picked up their phones. Rosalie eagerly shared the juicy gossip she'd uncovered. Based on Isabella's inner thoughts, an absurd conjecture emerged.

Isabella confirmed her suspicions. Did Dakota find out about it? Did she discover that her boyfriend, the man supported by her family under the pretense of him starting his own business, was actually the second son of the wealthy Hampton family? But she realized he had been concealing his identity, pretending to be poor and hurting her. That day, she met the wealthy Josiah, but didn't expose him. Instead, she played along.

Everyone at the table gasped.

David: "How outrageous!"

Selena: "What's wrong with Josiah?"

Evian: "That's despicable!"

Christopher: "Has he been intentionally toying with her feelings? He still has feelings for his sister-in-law, right?"

Rosalie was most upset, having developed a close relationship with Dakota. She'd often seen Dakota respond with an awkward grin to her mentor's criticism. After one such incident, Rosalie asked Dakota if she was okay with her boyfriend's behavior, but Dakota seemed unbothered. Despite the hardships, Dakota felt genuinely happy. She believed the man she was with would succeed; he was intelligent and seemed to know everything—all he needed was a chance to break through.

Rosalie had a clearer picture: He's smart and knows everything? A young master from a wealthy family would naturally present himself intelligently to impress an ordinary girl. But Dakota values relationships. How will she react if she learns the truth?

Realization dawned on Isabella's face: Josiah had told Dakota he had something important to discuss on her birthday. He intended to tell her the truth, giving her hope. I guess she waited for Josiah to reveal the truth because she wasn't sure how to express her feelings. After all, she has had feelings for Josiah for two years and is very much emotionally dependent on him. Perhaps she was just in denial.

The Quirks: "She hasn't celebrated her birthday yet? Now that Dakota's been hired for makeup If they'd laid their cards on the table, Josiah wouldn't have allowed Dakota to accept the job."

Isabella: "What the f*ck. I bet even God can't stand it anymore. That's why He decided to throw a wrench in the works, preventing them from being together."

Everyone perked up. "What does that mean? What did God do?"

Isabella: "The birthday party was over, but Josiah didn't say a word that day; he didn't even meet with Dakota. It's because the day before her birthday, Dakota suddenly asked him for a loan of half a million. Josiah got so mad he started giving Dakota the cold shoulder."

Everyone: "Why? Why the sudden need for a half-million-dollar loan? And what's the big deal about lending her the money? Why did he give her the cold shoulder?"

Chapter 203: Dakota Asked for a Loan of Half a Million

Initially, Alexander hadn't paid much attention, preoccupied with getting Isabella to the party and a possible private date. Upon hearing this, he was intrigued by his buddy's peculiar train of thought. What on earth was he thinking?

Isabella: "I finally understand why Dakota let her freeloading boyfriend have his way. As the family's middle child, with an older sister and younger brother, she didn't receive much love and attention from her parents. Although her parents weren't biased, it was challenging to treat all siblings equally. In families like hers, there's always a unique dynamic. The child who receives less attention often grows up to be more well-behaved, while the obedient one may be overlooked, perpetuating a cycle of neglect. Parental affection flows towards the child who demands it most. This is why no one in her family paid much attention to her. The lack of love and sense of being needed became deeply rooted. So when she met Josiah, who relied on her care and presence so intensely, he quickly became irreplaceable."

Learning more about Dakota's life, the Quirks felt sorry for her. They became even more agitated realizing how Dakota misperceived Josiah. The supposed need for her care was merely Josiah's ploy. By insisting she was the sole person in his life, he isolated her from his social circle, leaving Dakota believing he had no other friends or connections.

Suddenly, the Quirk family noticed something amiss. Hold on. Didn't she just say earlier… Just as confusion set in, they were enlightened by a crucial piece of information.

This cleaned-up version improves grammar, punctuation, and flow. It also removes extraneous elements like the random numbers and unclear abbreviations. The italicized sections represent Isabella's inner thoughts.