Chapter 53

“Yes, I am,” Mrs. Yates, the servant, said.

“Mom, Blake’s recovered! That’s great news. We should get him back as soon as possible,” Morris Yates, Blake’s brother, announced, entering the room.

“Morris, what are you talking about!” Volanda exclaimed.

“Mom, I know you’ve never liked him. But he’s my brother, and he’s your son. He’s part of the family, too,” Morris insisted.

“You’re so naive,” Yolanda glanced at him, annoyed.

“Who’s naive?” Thomas Yates, Blake and Morris’s father, returned from the company, his arrival further upsetting Volanda. She complained, “You haven’t forgotten about me?”

“Where does that come from? I came straight here from the company. What were you talking about?” Thomas asked.

“Dad, Blake’s recovered. He can stand up now. He even went to see a motorcycle race yesterday,” Morris said quickly.

Yolanda glared at him again.

“Really? That’s great. We should get him back. Leaving him alone in the suburbs is unfair to him. Morris, I’ll leave this to you. Bring him back,” Thomas instructed.

“Okay, Dad. I’ll leave you and Mom alone then,” Morris said, leaving happily.

Thomas looked at the sullen Yolanda and softly comforted her, “What’s wrong with you? Blake is your son.”

She said impatiently, “Yeah, yeah. Of course, he is my son. I love him too.”

“Then why are you so grumpy? If you continue to be like this, I’m going to…” Thomas began, unhappy.

Yolanda, wanting to prevent him from leaving, forced a smile. Everyone in Ardenfall knew Thomas had married three wives, and she didn’t want to be overshadowed by other women.

It was Monday.

Blake personally escorted Isabel to school. At the school gate, he said, “I’ll come pick you up in the afternoon.”

She shook her head. “You don’t have to. You pick me up and drop me off every day. Don’t you have your own things to do?”

“Not really. I’m quite idle,” Blake smiled. He added, “Besides, you’re my fiancée, and I ought to pick you up.”

“Who says I’m your fiancée? I’ve never said that,” she protested.

“It’s not up to you. As I said, we’re meant to be,” he said confidently. He thought, Of course, I won’t let Isabel get away from me. We’ll be together for the rest of our lives.

Isabel rolled her eyes, ignoring him.

“Well, well. Isabel, is this your boyfriend?” Yvette, passing by, inquired.

Before Isabel could respond, Blake interjected, “I’m her fiancé.”

“Fiancé? Really?” Yvette laughed. She glanced at Blake’s electric bike, noticing the food delivery advertisement on the back. Feeling superior, she sneered, “Isabel, don’t tell me your fiancé is a delivery man.”

“What’s it to you?” Isabel asked coldly.

“It’s none of my business, really. I heard you were the daughter of the Clydes, and I’m surprised to see you doing so miserably after they kicked you out,” Yvette sneered.

Blake immediately stepped forward, retorting, “Who are you to judge? Know your place. Besides, your family owns what, an unknown company? What’s there to be proud of? Oh, and how is the relationship between your father and your stepmother? I heard your stepmother gave birth to a son. Has your father even cared about you since then? You can’t even handle your own family affairs, yet you’re pointing fingers at someone else. You’re laughable.” He thought, I don’t care about anything else. Isabel is my fiancée. I’ll get back at whoever picks on her.

“You… How come you know so much about my family?” Yvette asked sternly. The truth was, her family’s business was small, and her father had cheated on and divorced her mother. She worked hard to prove herself, secure her future, and make her father regret his actions. Blake’s knowledge stunned her.

“Never mind how I know. Mark my words. If you bully my baby at school again, I’ll make your family’s dirty laundry front-page news,” Blake warned.

Isabel frowned, thinking, His baby? He’s getting more and more outrageous. Who allows him to call me his baby!

Yvette, furious, glared at them before entering the school.

“Have you said enough?” Isabel glanced at Blake.

He said, “I did it for you.”

She said coldly, “Don’t call me your baby again. It gives me goosebumps.”

He smiled slyly. “Turns out you’re shy. Well, I mean it. You are my baby.”

“Blake,” she warned, raising her voice.

He continued, “Isabel, if you don’t admit it, I’ll stand at the school gate and shout to everyone that you’re my baby.”

She was speechless, feeling hopeless against his shameless behavior. Blake was about to shout when she stopped him.

He said, “No, I won’t… unless you admit you’re my baby.”

She was speechless again. How dare he threaten me? What a jerk, she thought.

“Isabel, come on. I just want you to acknowledge me. Say it, or I’ll make sure everyone knows,” Blake raised an eyebrow.

Helpless, she mumbled, “Fine. I’m your baby. Happy now!” She thought, If it weren’t for the people coming and going, I would have punched him. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my entire life.

Meanwhile, a Rolls-Royce pulled up beside them. Morris, having observed them for a while, exited the car.

“Blake,” he said.

Blake wasn’t surprised. He hadn’t intended to keep his recovery a secret and expected the Yates family to hear about it. In fact, he welcomed Morris’s arrival; he planned to return to the Yates family anyway.

“Morris, why are you here?” he asked.

“Blake, this is great. I’m so happy you’re fine. Mom and Dad asked me to pick you up. Now that you’ve recovered, why didn’t you go home?” Morris asked.

“I’m doing fine,” Blake refused coldly.

Morris persisted, “Blake, come back with me. We’re family.”

Chapter 54

Family? How ironic. I’d rather spend time with the Galvez than go back to that place. But I’ve got to take back everything that belongs to me, Blake thought.

He patted Morris on the shoulder. “Morris, go back. Tell Dad I’ll be home soon. I’ve got something to do.”

Morris nodded. “Alright. We’ll be waiting, Blake.”

Morris watched as Blake expertly maneuvered his electric bike away. He frowned, thinking, Blake can’t even afford a car? How come he’s been doing so miserably?

Blake entered a chain store, Happy Sweets. The shop clerk, impatient, sized him up as he entered on his electric bike. He may be cute, but he rides an electric bike. I bet he has no money at all. How pathetic, she thought.

“What do you want?” she asked coldly.

Blake said, “I’d like to order a strawberry cake to be delivered to the University of Ardenfall at 12 o’clock noon for a student named Isabel Galvez.”

“Sir, I must remind you that this strawberry cake is very expensive. In fact, it’s the most expensive one we have, and only members can buy it,” the clerk said sarcastically.