Chapter 38 Of Course, I Find You Unlucky
Kalista's heart raced upon hearing Isaac's words.
It seemed she had been overthinking things.
Nora, that two-timing snake, had betrayed Isaac.
How could he possibly still be hung up on her?
No sane man would forgive such betrayal!
And to think, Isaac had nearly died because of her deceit back in the day...
"You haven't forgotten what Nora did to you; that's good. I was afraid you'd let too much time erase her betrayal and how she aborted your child just to leave you," Kalista prodded him deliberately.
She wanted to keep Isaac's memory of Nora's betrayal and her vile acts alive.
That way, he would continue to despise that wretch and never fall for her again!
"Enough. Don't ever bring up the child again; otherwise, you'll see a side of me you won't recognize!" Isaac's voice thundered menacingly over the phone.
Even from the other end of the line, Kalista shivered at the fury in his voice.
"I'm sorry, Isaac, I didn't mean to," she apologized swiftly.
Isaac replied irritably, "I have to go. I’m heading to the office now."
"Wait!" Kalista held him on the line, pleading, "Isaac, the annual Aridonia Charity Auction is coming up. The Porter family has always hosted it, and in the past, you and Nora attended together. Now that you two are divorced, could you possibly take me with you this year?"
She wasn't born into wealth and didn't have a proper title next to Isaac.
Even though everyone knew she was with Isaac.
And even though Isaac treated her better than he ever did Nora.
But in the eyes of those high-society families, she was someone who didn't belong.
Isaac had never taken her to such formal events.
She longed for true recognition, which always seemed out of reach.
Isaac remained silent, and with tears in her eyes and a tremble in her voice, Kalista implored, "Isaac, I've held back from pressuring you into marriage out of respect for your grandparents, but you need to consider my feelings too. I've been with you for years without any recognition, and even after your divorce, you refused to marry me. Lately, I've been humiliated by Nora; it's been unbearable; I've lost all respect. If you don't stand up for me, how can I hold my head up in the future? People will think you never cared about me at all. They'll look down on me, maybe even insult me!"
Isaac paused for a moment and said, "Stop crying. Go and get ready. I'll take you with me."
"Really? Thank you, Isaac. I promise I won't embarrass you!" Kalista said with excitement.
Isaac replied, "You don't need to impress anyone. Just keep out of trouble, that's all."
With that, he hung up the call.
Afterward, he drove to the family estate.
There were things he had to discuss with the old man.
To prevent any more ridiculous stunts in the future.
The Porter Family Estate.
Edmund had risen early, and at that moment, he was cheerfully walking through the garden with his dog.
"Grandpa."
Suddenly, a deep voice called out from behind chillingly.
Edmund turned around.
On seeing his beloved grandson, his smile deepened. "Isaac, what brings you here so early? You and Nora must have had a busy night. Why didn't you sleep in with her a bit longer?"
"I wasn't with Nora last night," Isaac said coldly.
"What did you say? You didn't see Nora? So you were out cavorting with those trashy women?" Edmund erupted in anger, raising his cane to strike Isaac.
"You ingrate! Turning your back on a girl as pure as Nora, chasing after those lowlifes! You're wasting opportunities I created for you. Are you trying to kill me with disappointment? Get to the hospital for a check-up right now; see if you've caught any diseases. If you have, stay away from Nora to avoid infecting her!"
Isaac stoically endured the blow from the cane.
"Grandpa, you seem to forget what Nora did back then!"
The accusation turned Edmund's face steely with rage. "I trust Nora's character. That incident was too bizarre; there must've been something else going on! If Nora had truly done something to wrong you, with her integrity, she wouldn't have returned to you. The fact she came back to you means she's done nothing to be sorry for! Even if you don’t believe in Nora, but you've known her for ages, Isaac. Why can't you believe her?" Edmund exclaimed, his humor laced with disbelief.
Isaac's lips were a tight line, his expression dark as storm clouds.
It wasn't a lack of belief.
It was because of what he had witnessed.
And she had admitted to it!
"I didn't come here to dig up the past, Granddad. I'm here to ask you to stop with the childish games," Isaac said.
"No matter how many times you drug me, trying to force me to lie with Nora, it won't erase her betrayal. Save your efforts," Isaac continued his voice firm with resolution.
"There's no chance of reconciliation between her and me!"
Edmund couldn't help but let out a bitter, incredulous chuckle. "You claim you don't care for Nora, yet after being drugged, it was her bed you ended up in, not Kalista's—the woman you keep saying you'll marry. How do you explain that? Isaac, if you can't forget, don't push yourself," Edmund advised softly.
"Admit it, owning up to still loving Nora isn't shameful."
Isaac's eyelids dropped, shadowing the fierce light in his eyes, and he retorted in a cold tone, "After I left last night, I went to Kalista."
"What?" Edmund's eyes narrowed sharply.
"I couldn't bear to sully Kalista with a bed Nora had been in, so I left on purpose. Once I'm away from the Porter estate, I'll find her," Isaac clarified, his voice icy.
Edmund was visibly shaken, his chest heaving with fury.
"You spent the night with Kalista? That woman is trouble, and as long as I have a say, you'll never marry her—not if she's been with you or not!"
A sardonic smile flicked across Isaac's face. "No matter how devious Kalista may be, at least she saved my life once. She nearly lost hers in the process. And the so-called virtuous Nora—what has she done for me?"
Edmund was left speechless, his face a pallid shade of anger.
"Grandpa, let me remind you formally once more—do not resort to such low tactics to manipulate me into being with Nora," Isaac warned.
"If it happens again, I won't return to this family home."
With those final words, Isaac left with a somber expression.
Meanwhile, at Kalista's.
Upon hearing Isaac agree to attend the charity gala with her, she danced around with unrestrained joy.
Isaac always used to show up at the charity galas with Nora, that witch, on his arm. If Isaac takes me this year, people will think I'm his fiancée!"
"Even though Isaac and I aren't married yet, my status is secure. All those who laughed at me over the gossip at the birthday banquet and in the shopping malls won't dare to look down on me now! They'll all have to come and kiss up to me!"
Kalista's thoughts filled her with growing excitement.
Her mood, soured by recent events, instantly lifted.
Basking in her newfound happiness, she picked up her phone and played back a recorded conversation.
Every word she and Isaac had exchanged earlier was captured on tape.
She edited a snippet of the recording and gleefully sent it to Nora, a malicious smile curling her lips.
"Nora, I know you're still hung up on Isaac. Why don't you have a listen to what he really thinks about you?"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
