Chapter 33 Isaac Was Drugged with Aphrodisiacs
After ending his call, Isaac returned and found no trace of Kalista.
He searched the entire upstairs to no avail and decided to check downstairs.
"There's no need to search; Kalista's already left on her own," Edmund commented, casting a glance at Isaac with a detached tone.
Isaac's gaze fell on Edmund, his expression instantly darkening. "Grandpa, you're not a youth anymore. Can't you act your age instead of being so headstrong?"
Edmund was taken aback and angered by the remark.
Isaac's voice grew colder. "Nora and I are divorced. Yet, you scheme to entangle me with her again, even going so far as to bring Kalista into this. Isn't this the very definition of you being willful?"
"Even if you're divorced, you still love her, and I'm trying to help you!" Edmund huffed, frustrated. "I don't expect thanks, but to be blamed instead?"
Isaac flatly denied, "I stopped loving her a long time ago. Now, she just disgusts me."
"Don't pretend here. If you didn't love Nora, how come you ended up with her last night?" Edmund spoke as though he saw right through Isaac.
Isaac sneered, "Had you not drugged me, causing me to lose my senses, I would never have touched her! If I had been in my right mind, I would never have laid a finger on her! To even see her disgusts me!"
Edmund, now even more incensed, raised his cane and began to strike Isaac.
Isaac didn't dodge, taking the blows stoically.
His gaze lowered, his voice even, "I'm speaking from the heart."
Edmund was visibly irked.
He glared at Isaac, then looked beyond him, his face morphing into a cautious smile. "Nora, up so early? Why not catch some more sleep? Don't take Isaac seriously; he's just shy!"
"I know what's on his mind better than anyone. He's definitely happy right now!"
Isaac tensed.
Nora came downstairs? Did she hear what I just said?
He turned sharply to look behind him.
Nora stood at the foot of the staircase.
Apart from looking a bit pale, she showed no signs of distress.
But her left hand was clenched tightly on the stair rail, her nails turning white from the pressure.
Clearly, she was working hard to suppress her emotions.
Nora managed a faint smile and said softly, "Had a call from a client wanting to finalize some orders for paintings; they needed to confirm details in person. I need to rush to the store. Once I'm done with the clients, I'll get some rest. Grandpa, I need to go. I'll come visit when I have more time."
She lowered her eyelids, passing by Isaac with a composed air.
Isaac's presence felt cold, his dark eyes tracking her every move.
"What are you waiting for? Go see Nora off!" Edmund snapped, lifting his cane to prod him.
Isaac took a long stride and headed out the door.
With her gaze cast down, Nora walked on, seemingly soulless, a ghost of herself.
Her pallor grew even more pronounced under the sunlight.
Suddenly, a car pulled up beside her.
The window rolled down, and the man at the wheel looked at her calmly, "Get in. I'll drive you."
Nora stared at him in a daze.
Several seconds passed before she found her voice, shaking her head gently, "No need. I can hail a cab at the corner."
After all, he'd said about being disgusted by her, why should she bother him further?
She didn't have the courage to endure his hurtful words a second time.
"Get in, or do I need to come out and ask you personally?" Isaac's voice grew firmer.
Nora pressed her lips together, her tone remaining steady. "I've told you I don't need your ride; I can take a cab myself."
She looked away and began to walk on.
However, before she'd gone far, someone grabbed her wrist from behind.
She turned her head to find that it was Isaac who had gotten out of the car.
Before she could react, he had aggressively pulled her to the side of the vehicle, forced her into the passenger seat, and even buckled her in himself.
By the time she collected her thoughts, the car was already moving.
Nora turned to look at Isaac, confusion etched on her face.
Didn't he find her revolting at a glance?
Why insist on giving her a ride?
After much hesitation, she still didn't ask.
She feared hearing even more hurtful things from him.
Her heart couldn't take it; it ached with every cold, cutting word.
The two sat in silence the entire ride.
It wasn't until the car stopped in front of the art studio that Nora broke the silence.
"Thanks."
She uttered her gratitude briefly, unbuckled her seatbelt, and prepared to step out of the car.
After pulling over, Isaac took out his cell phone.
Just as Nora was opening the door to exit, her own phone buzzed in her hand.
Looking down, it was an alert for a bank deposit.
One million dollars.
She recognized the account number instantly.
It was Isaac's.
Nora froze.
Why had he suddenly transferred money to her?
Because of last night?
Did he view her as that kind of woman—settling things with money after the fact?
What a way to insult her.
A wry smile crossed Nora's lips. "Didn't know I was worth that much—a million dollars for one night."
"Don't worry, I won't mention last night again since I've taken the money."
Isaac's expression darkened, his voice icy. "What are you talking about? Do you think I need to pay you after sleeping with you? This money is for the business you lost today. You didn't get a wink of sleep last night, so close up shop, cancel your appointments, and rest!"
To make sure Nora didn't think he cared, he added with difficulty, "Don't drop dead of exhaustion. I don't need grandfather coming after me."
But to Nora, his words only deepened the humiliation.
So, he was implying she was worthless?
Nora's face turned pale, her whole body trembling.
Yet, ultimately, she said nothing and just silently got out of the car.
She had already decided to let go of him; there was no need to argue in front of him.
Nora didn't cancel on her client.
She opened the door to the studio.
After waiting for half an hour, the scheduled client arrived.
They ordered several paintings to be hung in their company office.
Nora spent hours chatting with a client to nail down the desired design, dimensions, and price, eventually getting a deposit paid upfront.
By the time the client left, it was already one in the afternoon.
After grabbing lunch, Nora locked up her shop and headed home for some much-needed rest.
Once home, she took a quick shower and promptly fell asleep on her bed, sleeping straight through to the evening.
When she woke up, it was already nine o'clock at night.
Just as she was about to get up for a bite to eat, her phone began to vibrate repeatedly.
Picking it up, Nora saw a string of messages from Kalista.
Opening them, she was greeted with several familiar images.
Among them were photos taken inside Isaac's bedroom at the Porter Family estate.
One photo, in particular, was a selfie of Kalista lying suggestively on the bed in sexy sleepwear, the same bed Nora and Isaac had shared the previous night.
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