Chapter 7: The Whole Family Can Read Minds
The peculiar atmosphere in the room dissipated the moment Isabella and Alexander arrived. All eyes turned to them as the butler stepped forward to take their coats.
“You’re back,” Selena said, rising nervously from the couch. She cautiously took Isabella’s hand, studying their expressions. David, though anxious, maintained his composure as head of the family.
Selena anxiously asked Alexander about Isabella’s earlier absence. He curtly told her to stay out of it. David sighed, instructing his son to handle the situation; Isabella had made a serious mistake, and only Alexander could resolve it. They feared the worst—divorce.
They hadn't initially planned for their eldest daughter, Evian Quirk, and her family to visit, but Evian's distressed phone call left them no choice. Evian and her husband, Jasper Lawson, arrived with surprising news of their own.
Isabella, reacting instinctively, responded with an indifferent nod, appearing aloof and unconcerned with social graces. Alexander, without mentioning the earlier incident, greeted Evian and her family.
Isabella curiously glanced at the four people seated on the couch: an older woman with stern features lovingly cradling a frail-looking boy of eight or nine, who nervously clutched a Rubik's Cube; a slender man in gold-rimmed glasses, smiling but distant; and a woman with a strained but warm smile.
David and Selena decided to address Evian's family's concerns before questioning Alexander and Isabella. Before they could speak, a raspy voice announced, "I thought they were divorced? Why are they back together?"
The atmosphere chilled. Evian attempted to intervene, but her well-bred voice lacked force. She glanced worriedly at Isabella, while Jasper remained silent, allowing his mother to continue.
Alexander, maintaining his composure, replied, "We're not divorced; that's why we're home together."
Selena and David reacted with surprise and relief.
Jasper's mother, Paula Reese, voiced her confusion: "But rumors of her mistake have spread throughout high society…"
Alexander started to explain, but Isabella interrupted, "Since when is the Lawson family part of high society? You even have access to insider news?"
The Lawsons were an ordinary family, their wealth stemming from Jasper's success in medicine and their recent collaboration on a private hospital, partially funded by the Quirk family. They were far from high society.
Paula's face paled. "What did you say? How dare you insult the Lawson family?"
Isabella, with an innocent expression, waved her hand. "Why are you so sensitive? I didn't insult your family." Her inner thoughts, however, were far less kind: How does it feel to be humiliated? I've been kind enough to you.
Alexander remained silent, hearing Isabella's inner monologue. Since Paula had been impolite first, he wouldn't let his wife be bullied. He led Isabella to a seat.
As they sat, Alexander saw the astonished expressions of David and Selena. They were speechless, wondering if they were hallucinating. Was that Isabella's voice? She hadn't spoken aloud!
Alexander looked at Evian, equally bewildered. Isabella and Paula's argument continued.
Paula fumed: "As expected of an uneducated child!"
The Quirks' faces fell. The Jeannet family, Isabella's adoptive family and now her in-laws, were longstanding friends. Paula had no right to criticize her.
Before Selena could retort, Isabella countered with sarcasm, "True. No one ever taught me how to stoop to a lower level." Her inner voice added, You call me uneducated? You always insult and curse me, even trying to set Alexander up with your relatives. You're delusional!
Though Isabella had previously lost her temper regarding Alexander, she had never been openly harsh to others. This was a first. Both the Lawsons and Quirks were shocked, the Quirks particularly surprised by Isabella's inner thoughts.
David and Selena exchanged glances, realizing they weren't alone in hearing her thoughts. Alexander's silent confirmation sealed it. We didn't know Paula was so mean to Isabella!
David and Selena, initially believing Isabella had overstepped, now sided with their daughter-in-law. Don't even think about making our son and daughter-in-law get a divorce!
Evian, shocked, exclaimed, "Isabella, you…"
Alexander sharply silenced her, though others misinterpreted his action as preventing her from stopping Isabella's insults. Evian, confused, remained silent.
Jasper, irritated by Isabella's condescending remarks, gave Evian a displeased look, silently instructing her to intervene. He found the situation embarrassing.
Evian felt trapped, eventually saying to Paula, "Mom, don't be mad. Isabella is young and foolish. She doesn't mean any harm."
Isabella, amused by Evian's attempt to smooth things over, noted Jasper's dissatisfaction. Evian's anxious reaction to his glare was evident.
Unable to watch their daughter's distress, Selena intervened, "That's enough. Please forgive my daughter-in-law, Paula. Don't hold it against a child." The biased statement further insulted Paula, but the Lawsons couldn't argue as they had with Isabella.
Paula muttered resentfully about the ruined visit. No one paid attention.
Selena turned to Isabella, "You're back late, Bella. Have you had dinner?"
Isabella, touched by the intimate address, felt a warmth she'd never known as an orphan. Selena is so nice.
Selena, delighted by Isabella's rare affection, attributed it to shyness.
Isabella indicated she hadn't eaten. Selena ordered Maria to prepare Isabella's favorite dishes, adding, "I apologize for Alexander. You must be starving."
Alexander muttered that he hadn't eaten either, receiving a perfunctory addition to the order. Isabella suppressed a laugh at his expression.
David offered Isabella fruit. David is a caring man, too.
Evian's improved mood was quickly dampened by disapproving glances from her mother-in-law and husband, who felt her family was neglecting her.
Alexander, observing the shy boy with the Rubik's Cube, suspected autism or an inferiority complex, but also noted his intelligence. He asked, "Who is this child?"