Chapter 3
Isabella appeared both adorable and pitiful in her feverish state. As if drawn by an unseen force, Olivia entered the room and sat beside her bed.
Xavier had followed her in, looking guilty and distressed. “Is she going to die?” he whispered, standing uncertainly.
“Of course not,” Olivia replied with a frown.
Xavier mumbled, “I’m sorry“, to the sleeping figure before Olivia patiently convinced him to
leave the room.
As her gaze returned to Isabella, her expression softened.
At that moment, as if sensing her presence, Isabella murmured, “Mommy…”
Olivia’s heart skipped a beat. She suddenly understood that hearing “Mom” from a daughter felt different than hearing it from her sons.
“I’m here,” she responded softly, watching as Isabella’s furrowed brows relaxed at the sound of her voice.
That night, Olivia confronted Benjamin, asking bluntly, “Why did Mom insist on adopting Isabella?”
To her relief, Isabella was not Benjamin’s illegitimate daughter, which made everything much simpler.
Since Isabella had been closer to Monica in her early years, Olivia only approached the family elders when Isabella was entering high school.
“Let Isabella move to Orchid Residence,” she had suggested. “She’s in Xavier’s grade, and it’ll be easier for me to look after her.”
From that moment on, Isabella became undeniably Olivia’s daughter.
At the dinner table, Olivia and Isabella were catching up until Xavier came downstairs, fresh from his shower. Benjamin stopped discussing business with Douglas as all eyes turned to Xavier, who seemed oblivious to the attention.
Xavier had changed into black loungewear, looking completely casual as he took the only empty seat at the table.
“Everyone’s been waiting for you. Do you think that’s appropriate?” Benjamin’s frustration with his younger son was evident.
Xavier had rejected joining the family company like Douglas, claiming it was boring. When
told to find something productive to do, he insisted he was busy though all he
few nightclubs that seemed more like his personal playgrounds.
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“I was taking a shower. It would’ve been uncomfortable otherwise,” Xavier replied casually.
As Benjamin prepared to lecture him, Olivia intervened, saying, “That’s enough. Let’s eat. We’re celebrating Isabella’s return, remember? Let’s not dampen the mood.” She directed the last part at Benjamin with a warning look.
Benjamin fell silent, though his expression remained stern. It was clear where Xavier had inherited his difficult temperament all the good traits had gone to Douglas, leaving the challenging ones for Xavier.
Isabella forced a smile and raised her glass to clink with Douglas beside her. He returned her smile gently, indulging her playful gesture.
As Isabella sipped her wine, letting the bitter taste spread across her tongue, she looked up to find Xavier watching her across the table. When their eyes met, he quickly looked away.
Olivia urged Xavier to eat more vegetables, and he responded with a quiet “mm–hmm“. His earlier confrontational energy had completely dissipated, replaced by a heavy silence that hung between him and Isabella like an invisible wall.
After dinner, Benjamin summoned Xavier to his study, his stern expression making it clear to everyone what was about to happen.
Xavier maintained his indifferent attitude, hands in his pockets as he followed Benjamin upstairs.
The scene brought back memories for Isabella.
Back in high school, Xavier would get called to the study whenever he got into trouble. She used to make faces at him behind the adults‘ backs, teasing him, and he would return the gesture with a mischievous, defiant expression. Now, they were like strangers with no shared
past.
Douglas left with his assistant after dinner, having work to attend to, while Isabella sat in the living room chatting with Olivia. The saying about daughters being their mothers‘ closest confidants proved true–neither of her sons could keep Olivia this engaged and entertained in
a conversation.
This thought led Olivia to gently scold Isabella for not visiting once during her five years abroad.
Isabella met Olivia’s reproachful gaze. She could neither come up with an excuse nor voice the
real reason.
After an hour of mother–daughter bonding, Olivia suggested Isabella get some rest and asked
Charger a
their housekeeper, Sophia Thompson, to bring two glasses of warm and one for Xavier.
De for Isabella
Orchid Residence had four floors. Sophia’s quarters, a storage room, and guest rooms were on the second floor, while the Valdez parents lived on the third, and the three younger members. of the family lived on the fourth floor.
Douglas’s room was separated from the others since he preferred solitude, while Xavier’s and Isabella’s rooms were right next to each other though that proximity had not helped their relationship.
Olivia’s request for Isabella to deliver Xavier’s milk was an old tactic to help mend their
relationship. Isabella did not want to play along, but when she tried to ask Sophia for help, she caught Olivia’s hopeful gaze.
Left with no choice, Isabella carried both glasses upstairs, glancing at Xavier’s closed door. She quickly dropped off her glass in her room before approaching his door and knocking, planning to hand over the milk and leave immediately.
Isabella knocked several times, but there was no response. She would have thought he was still being lectured if not for the light visible under the door. It was unlikely that he was showering since he had already done that before dinner.
Growing impatient, Isabella called out, “Xavier.”
There was still no answer. Frustrated, Isabella tried the handle and found it unlocked. As the door swung open, she caught sight of Xavier sitting in a chair near the balcony, shirtless and wearing only black pajama pants.
He looked up from his phone at the interruption, and his pale skin and athletic build immediately caught Isabella’s attention.
She quickly averted her eyes, then forced herself to look back at his raised eyebrows.
“Why didn’t you answer the door?”
“How was I supposed to know what you wanted?” Xavier replied lazily, crossing one leg over the other as he fiddled with his phone, which was still displaying a game screen.
