Chapter 295: Settling the Bet

Mr. Ralph's fear had driven him abroad for medical treatment; he desperately wanted a child and wanted no complications with his newfound surrogate. Hearing this, the Quirk family members silently shook their heads, muttering, "Does our family have a throne to inherit or something?" Their initial concern quickly faded; it was just a delayed wedding, and lacking juicy gossip, their interest waned. Isabella, however, remained unusually busy and secretive. Only Alexander felt uneasy.

That night, emerging from his bath, he was greeted by Isabella's beaming smile. Her eyes sparkled with the mischievous glee of a cat who'd stolen a fish. "A bet's a bet, Mr. Alexander," she said, "Shall we begin?" Isabella had won their previous bet, and now it was time for the wager's fulfillment.

Alexander found himself in an awkward, helpless situation but obediently sat before the vanity. "Are you sure you want to do this? Aren't there other options?" he protested. He'd expected something more…drastic from Isabella, but the reality was quite different.

Excitedly, Isabella picked up her makeup bag. "I've got the clothes and wig ready. I learned from Dakota; I guarantee I can transform you into a stunning beauty." Heheh, she thought, Alexander's handsome face would be devastatingly beautiful as a woman—possibly drop-dead gorgeous. His childhood photos hinted at it. I must see him in women's clothes! Then, I'll get close to this beautiful lady!

Alexander's expression was indescribable. For a moment, he lamented his parents' influence on Isabella's peculiar idea. Isabella's thoughts revealed the source of her inspiration: a week earlier, while looking through the Quirk family photo album, she'd seen a childhood picture of him dressed as a princess. He hadn't remembered wearing a skirt as a child, though he recalled seeing Christopher dressed as a girl by their mother, Selena, who seemed to have a fondness for such things. He didn't think it was simply a forgotten childhood memory.

Chapter 295: Settling the Bet (Continued)

From another room, Selena sneezed. "What's wrong? Feeling chilly?" David asked.

Selena, busy organizing newly developed photos, rubbed her nose. "No… Oh my, look at this photo! The way your son looks at Bella… it melts this old mother's heart."

David leaned closer. It was a recent photo from the living room, showing Isabella and Evian in conversation. Alexander wasn't involved, but his gaze was constantly fixed on Isabella. The affection in his eyes was unmistakable, even in a still photograph. It was clear his heart belonged to her.

"Alex has changed so much, all thanks to Bella," David sighed. "He used to avoid us, always working silently in his own world."

"Indeed," Selena chuckled, tucking the photo away. "Bella's his lucky charm, I always knew it." She then glanced at an older photo from a year prior, a time when their relationship was strained.

Comparing Isabella's photos from different periods, Selena noticed something odd. It was the same face, yet it seemed to belong to two different people. Similarly, her son in the photos was drastically different; one cold and distant, the other hopelessly romantic. As a mother, she knew it was still Alexander, but regarding Isabella… Selena only assumed her confusion stemmed from a lack of a mother's intuitive understanding.

Turning to the first page, a childhood photo of Alexander caught her eye. He wasn't looking at the camera lens, but at the photographer. The top right corner was obscured; it was taken when Isabella was a child, holding the camera for the first time. Her unsteady grip had accidentally covered the lens.

Isabella, in her quirky way, had insisted on dressing Alexander in her dress for the photo. He wore a blue, puffy skirt, with matching blue lace in his jet-black hair. His lips were cherry-red, his teeth pearly white. It was hard to tell his gender, but he was undeniably beautiful. Isabella hugged him joyfully, as if he were a beloved doll.

This photo sparked an unexpected interest in Selena—dressing her son in feminine attire. Alexander wasn't cooperative, so she'd done it to younger Christopher instead. Now they were older, and she could no longer do so.

Chapter 295: Settling the Bet (Continued)

Selena regretted this, unaware her daughter-in-law was having fun at that very moment.

Before the vanity, Alexander felt layer upon layer of makeup applied to his face, a process taking nearly an hour. "Aren't your hands tired?" he asked, concerned. "If you really want me dressed up, we could call a makeup artist…"

"No," Isabella insisted. "How can we let others see you dressed in women's clothes, Mr. Alexander? Even though you lost the bet fairly, I can't let you lose face like that."

While embarrassed, Alexander worried more about Isabella's comfort. She rarely wore makeup, and her skills were basic—a crash course, at best. At first, he let her enjoy the process, but when he saw her wrist trembling, he spoke up. Before he could, however, he heard Isabella's inner voice: Besides, how can I allow anyone else to touch Alexander's face so casually?

Alexander's heart pounded. A simple sentence left him speechless. Right, he thought, only Isabella should touch my face.

Soon, the makeup and wig were finished. Alexander opened his eyes to meet Isabella's bewildered gaze. "Is it weird?" he asked, uneasy.

Isabella's face flushed; her eyes sparkled. "Hurry, change your clothes!" He was already bathrobe-clad, and Isabella had prepared a stylish, pure white nightgown. It felt odd, but once he lay on the bed, concealed by blankets and pillows, the effect was convincing. He looked like a goddess, a rare flower atop a high ridge, resting on the bed. Danielle, if she saw this, would beg him to become an artist. His face alone was captivating. Isabella frantically searched for the perfect angle, and Alexander followed her directions, unsure of posing. Ah, she thought, regardless of gender, Alexander's beauty is unmatched!

"Ah, darling, I'm coming!" Isabella cried playfully, tossing aside her phone and lunging forward.