Chapter 104
"Isabel, are you on a romance streak today?" Amara exclaimed in amazement.
Isabel was equally puzzled. The first bouquet was from Liam, unsurprising. The second was from Blake, which also made sense. But the third bouquet? Who sent it?
"Here, this is Isabel Galvez," Amara quickly told the delivery man.
The delivery man placed the flowers before Isabel. "Ms. Galvez, a gentleman sent these for you," he said, leaving without requesting a signature. This time, it was a bunch of blue lilies, even adorned with dewdrops that resembled blue tears.
The classmates buzzed with excitement.
One exclaimed, "What's going on here! Does Isabel have so many suitors?"
Another chimed in, "Those blue lilies aren't cheap either. They're worth at least five figures."
One student sighed, "I'm so jealous. This is so romantic."
Amidst the envy and jealousy, Isabel retrieved the card. It was blank. She wondered who could have sent them, pondering long and hard, but couldn't figure it out.
"Sell them," Isabel said simply, handing the bouquet to Amara.
Amara felt like the luckiest person, receiving two bouquets for free. She was overjoyed.
Soon, the teacher arrived, silencing the discussion. Isabel's phone vibrated. She checked a message from Blake on WhatsApp under her desk.
Blake wrote: [Isabel, did you get the flowers? I have a partnership meeting today, so I can't pick you up. But can we have dinner tonight?]
Isabel replied succinctly: [No problem, go ahead with your work.]
Blake was thrilled with her response. He replied: [I'm off to a meeting now. You have to miss me, okay?] followed by kissing emojis.
Isabel used to find such emojis from a grown man like Blake inappropriate, but she had grown accustomed to them and now found them rather cute. Her lips curved into a smile.
Class ended, and Isabel and Amara left school together. The bouquets were sold during break. As expected, many classmates bought them; they were famous brands, and even a single flower was usually difficult to obtain.
"Isabel, thanks to you, I made a fortune today. Even selling them cheaply, I still made a few thousand! Come on, let me treat you to something," Amara said happily.
"No need to treat me. Keep the money," Isabel replied, knowing Amara's family wasn't well-off.
Amara pouted. "By the way, why didn't your fiancé come to pick you up today?"
Isabel replied, "He was busy."
Just then, Liam arrived in a flashy red sports car, sunglasses perched on his nose. He called out, "Isabel!"
"Isn't that Mr. Swanson?" Amara asked curiously.
Liam removed his sunglasses and approached them. "Isabel, that delivery guy didn't pick you up today, right? Come on, let's go for a ride in my car."
Isabel looked at him as if he were an idiot. She hadn't seen him in a while, and he was acting as recklessly as ever.
"Is Mr. Swanson after you too, Isabel?" Amara asked curiously.
Liam replied, "Of course, I'm her fiancé. Did you like the roses I sent at noon?"
Chapter 101
Amara couldn't exactly admit she'd sold the flowers.
"Liam, stop talking nonsense," Isabel said coldly.
"Yeah, Mr. Swanson, Isabel has a fiancé. Not you," Amara interjected. She'd seen Blake before; he was far more handsome than Liam.
Liam didn't seem to mind. "I didn't say anything wrong. I am Isabel's fiancé—her ex–fiancé, Isabel, tell them." He winked at Isabel.
That was true, but Isabel wasn't about to admit it. "Amara, let's go," she said, attempting to leave with Amara.
Liam stepped forward, stopping them. "Don't be like that, Isabel. Why are you so cold to me? Since our engagement, you've never even looked at me properly. Do you really look down on me that much?"
"Even though I can be a bit of a playboy, that doesn't stop me from liking you. Otherwise, why would I chase you for so long?"
Isabel said, "Liam, if you have a problem, go get it treated. You're not my fiancé anymore."
"What's so good about that delivery guy? I'm better than him. Look at this sports car. Drive in my car, then I won't pressure you anymore," Liam said, jingling his car keys.
Isabel rolled her eyes.
At that moment, Yvette and her friends appeared, witnessing the scene. Yvette exclaimed, "Isabel, changing boyfriends again! Who's the new guy?"
Seeing Isabel with someone new, Yvette wouldn't let this opportunity slip. She was already annoyed that Isabel had outshone her earlier.
One of Yvette's friends said, "I thought it was strange so many people were sending her flowers. So she's dating more than one guy?"
Another girl chimed in, "First a delivery guy, then a rich businessman, and now a rich heir—she's playing the field, isn't she?"
One said, "I used to envy her, but now she just seems disgusting."
They began to cruelly criticize Isabel out of jealousy.
Liam glanced at Yvette and her friends. He stepped forward. "Who are you guys? What are you yapping about?"
Seeing Liam's good looks, Yvette smiled. "Sir, do you know how many men Isabel has?"
"Do tell. How many does she have?" Liam asked, genuinely curious.
Yvette believed exposing Isabel would make her look bad; no man liked being cuckolded. "She has a delivery guy fiancé, a rich businessman who's keeping her, and now you're the third."
Liam glanced at Isabel, whose face remained calm and expressionless. He smiled at Yvette. "You gossiping witch, what are you even talking about? I know her better than you do. You're just jealous. Stop spewing nonsense and get lost."
Yvette's face turned pale then red. I'm trying to help him! How dare he insult me like that! she thought.
"Yvette, let it go. We can't win against him," a classmate comforted Yvette.
"This is ridiculous! Is Isabel really that great? I told him he was being cuckolded, and he still yelled at me!" Yvette exclaimed, bewildered.
Neither could anyone else understand. Only Liam knew the truth: Isabel's fiancé was real, but he was powerless against the Clyde family's mess concerning the real and fake heiress. As for Isabel being kept by a rich businessman—that was nonsense. He didn't believe it for a second. He was a rich man's son himself; if Isabel could be swayed by wealth, he would have already won her over.