Chapter 18
Just as Isabella began to speak, a few sharp honks blared from the other car. Irritated, she
glanced over to see Xavier looking visibly impatient, his cold eyes fixed on Theodore as if to say, “Why aren’t you leaving?”
“He has no manners,” she muttered to Theodore.
Theodore chuckled. “It’s fine. I’m blocking the road. I’ll leave first.”
“Alright. See you tomorrow,” Isabella waved again as Theodore’s car slowly drove off, clearing the path at the front gate.
way.
She didn’t bother looking at Xavier, simply moving to the side so as not to block his Surprisingly, instead of speeding off, the flashy SUV crept forward, keeping pace with her as she walked.
The window rolled down, revealing Xavier’s face–looking as smug as ever.
“Did
you say I have no manners?”
He’d overheard. His tone wasn’t any nicer than before.
She kept walking, refusing to engage.
“How exactly am I being rude, Isabella? He was blocking the road, and I can’t even honk? You’re seriously biased, aren’t you?” He sounded increasingly annoyed.
Then, his expression darkened as he added, “And I’m warning you. Stop bringing strange men home. Do you hear me?”
She stopped in her tracks with her arms crossed over her chest as she turned to face him. The car halted as well.
They stared each other down. Her expression was serious. “He was just being kind, giving me a ride home. Could you try to be polite? Honking like that is extremely rude, you know.”
There was a brief pause of three seconds.
Xavier’s face softened, and he raised an eyebrow. “So, he’s ‘just being kind‘?”
Isabella swore she saw him smile. He was furious one second, and the next, he looked as if a spring breeze had blown over him. She couldn’t make sense of him at all.
“Yes. He’s being kind. You’re my ‘brother,“” she added, purposefully emphasizing the word.
To her surprise, Xavier nodded in agreement.
“Well, then, hop in. I’ll take you home,” he said, leaning on the window with a smug grin and looking at her with faux tenderness.
How obnoxious.
“No, thanks.”
Isabella resumed walking. Xavier didn’t force her, especially since they were only a few steps from home. He turned the car around and drove it to the garage.
They entered the house one after the other.
Olivia, having heard earlier that Isabella had been out drinking, had prepared some hangover soup for her and urged her to sit and drink. Seeing Xavier walk in right behind her, she couldn’t hide her surprise. “Did you go pick her up tonight?”
She had called him earlier at 9:00 pm, reminding him not to stay out too late. During the call, he casually asked what was for dinner. She mentioned that it was just her at home and that she’d made something simple: three dishes and a soup.
He immédiately asked, “What about Isabella?
A bit taken aback by his sudden concern for Isabella, Olivia explained that she was out for dinner with colleagues and would likely drink, so a coworker would probably drive her home. Xavier had then said he’d pick her up himself. Olivia assumed he was just using that as an excuse for being out late. But now, seeing the two of them walk in one after the other, she realized he was telling the truth.
Xavier looked as calm as ever, though he cast a long, dramatic glance at Isabella as if deeply wronged. “Yep, but your wonderful daughter didn’t appreciate the favor. She insisted on walking back herself.”
Not a single lie. It had happened just moments ago.
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