DUHU
Chapter 10
“Xavier, I’m done with your games. Please leave me alone,” Isabella said stubbornly, her eyes
resolute.
Xavier’s gaze remained steady, his emotions hidden beneath the surface. “So, you still want to be with someone else,” he replied.
“Who I ended up with is none of your business, Isabella snapped as she fended off his hand.
“Do you remember what you said last night?”
Last night? She could only recall what he had done. A surge of anger welled up inside her, and she shot back, “And do you remember what you did?”
“I take responsibility for my actions. Do you take responsibility for what you said?” Xavier’s tone was calm, but his eyes roiled with intensity, like the calm before a storm.
Isabella swallowed the retort that rose to her lips. She couldn’t recall what she had said last night.
Xavier seemed to read something in her silence and found it utterly uninteresting. He stood up and tossed out a heavy statement. “Isabella, do you think you can explain your past with Theodore?” he said.
His eyes were clouded with a mix of emotions.
“What past? What are you talking about?” Isabella demanded angrily.
Their current state mirrored their last encounter when they broke up.
“On December 9th. What did you do? We had only been apart for six months then,” Xavier said coldly.
Isabella’s anger morphed into confusion, but before she could respond, Xavier strode away quickly.
She had no memory of December 9th.
What an unpleasant evening it had been.
Over the next two days, Isabella busied herself with the renovation of the studio. She left home early and returned late every day. When she found a moment, she met up with Amelia to catch up on old time
Amelia shared many updates from the past few years, including how her brother, Mason, started a gaming company and how Stanley was involved in a racing club.
These were all news from their circle.
Isabella also learned that during her second year abroad, Xavier had gotten into an accident. while racing and spent nearly a month in the hospital.
Xavier had originally aspired to be a professional racer, but after that incident, the Valdez family strongly opposed him pursuing it as a career. Hence, he opened a bar instead.
Isabella hadn’t known any of this.
She recalled the bracelet Xavier wore on his wrist and wondered whether they were for
protection.
After finishing her chat with Amelia, she asked for Mason’s contact, thinking they might have business dealings in the future.
Isabella still hadn’t seen Xavier since that day.
The lights in his room hadn’t been on for days. He hadn’t returned home at all.
The next day was Thanksgiving.
Douglas was unusually free from work that day, and their family was set to visit the Valdez residence.
Olivia had started calling Xavier repeatedly early in the morning to urge him to come home so they could leave together. It wasn’t until they finished breakfast that Xavier’s car finally appeared at their doorstep.
He stood at the entrance without stepping inside.
After a moment, four people emerged from the house. Isabella trailed at the back.
Having not seen him for several days, Xavier still wore that look of indifference on his face.
Benjamin glared at Xavier upon seeing him and scolded, “Don’t you think it’s rude to make everyone wait for you?”
Xavier replied coolly, “You all could have left without me.”
“Such a brat!” Benjamin shot back with an annoyed look.
Olivia played her usual role as the peacemaker. “Alright, now. It’s a holiday–let’s all try to be happy and get in the car,” she said.
It was just past 9:00 am.
Two cars were parked outside, with drivers waiting by them. Douglas and Isabella got into the
back seat of the first car.
Chapter 10
Olivia intended for all three younger ones to ride together. However, before she could say anything, Xavier climbed into the second car instead. She thought it was strange that he would choose to ride with Benjamin.
Once inside the car, Olivia warned Xavier, “Don’t argue with your dad today. Just keep it peaceful.”
Xavier didn’t respond.
A few seconds later, Benjamin entered the car as well.
It was easy to guess how entertaining that ride would be.
In the first car, Douglas glanced at the rearview mirror before instructing the driver. “Let’s go.
With only two people in such a spacious back seat, it felt oddly uncomfortable for Isabella.
Carrying her thoughts within her made her unusually silent as she rolled down the window to let in some fresh air..
Upon arriving at the Valdez residence, Isabella spotted two elderly figures standing in front of the house from afar. Her eyes welled up with tears as she hurriedly exited the car and rushed
toward them.
Monica was hunched over from age but reached out to take Isabella’s hand warmly.
“Grandma,” tears streamed down Isabella’s cheeks as she spoke.
Five years had passed, and both of her adopted grandparents looked considerably older now.
“Izzy,” Monica grasped her hand tightly. It was warm despite being wrinkled and frail.
Isabella nodded repeatedly. It had been so long since anyone called her Izzy.
That name was given to her by Monica.
In the Valdez family, she was known as Isabella, but here with Monica, she was Izzy—a name given when her parents passed away when she was just two years old.
“Look at you! You lost weight,” Luke Valdez remarked hoarsely.
Five years had transformed this once–dominant figure in business into someone bent by the passage of time.
Isabella felt even more tears welling up as her throat tightened painfully–she could barely speak.
Benjamin approached them from behind and suggested gently, “Mom and Dad, let’s go It’s windy out here.”
inside.
Chapter 10
He resembled Luke quite a bit–and they both shared an imposing presence that exuded authority and severity. Douglas carried himself similarly. He was now head of the Valdez family, after all.
As they walked inside together while chatting amiably, it felt like the Valdez residence remained unchanged since five years ago.
The familiar scent of books lingered in every corner, while walls adorned with calligraphy and paintings, along with antique rosewood furniture, exuded a vintage charm.
Isabella sat beside Monica on the couch as everyone took their seats around them. After such an eventful journey together, everyone felt calmer now.
Monica picked up a piece of pumpkin pie on the table and placed it on Isabella’s plate.
“I came after breakfast,” Isabella said while playing with the pumpkin pie without rushing to
eat it.
Monica chuckled softly. “I remember how you used to snatch them away before anyone else could. We were worried you’d get sick from overeating.
Recalling those memories brought a smile to Isabella’s face.
Monica loved making pumpkin pies herself. They were always overloaded with pumpkin fillings, and Isabella adored them especially.
Back then, there was one annoying brat who always tried to snatch them away from her–that brat was Xavier.
Though he didn’t particularly like pumpkin pies himself, he enjoyed teasing her about it
instead. So, Isabella would devour them quickly–once they were in her hands, she would take a bite right away because Xavier wouldn’t dare take anything from her mouth due to his germophobia.
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