Chapter 11: Despite everything I've done, he still wants to marry me
"Also..." he trailed off, prolonging his words, "the Lawrence family banquet has been rescheduled. Kaine is currently contacting the best team of medical experts in the field of neurology. We'll be transferring your grandmother this afternoon."
Isabella listened quietly, not speaking for a while.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Cat got your tongue? Or are you so moved that you want to offer yourself?"
"I already belong to you, so what else is there to offer?" Isabella put away the document and looked back at him. "Were you busy with all of this for the past three days?"
If that was the case, she would be touched.
However...
"It was just something I did on the side," Sebastian replied. "Nothing difficult."
The feeling of being deeply moved that had just filled her heart vanished in an instant.
So he had taken advantage of his spare time abroad to help her solve the urgent matters of the Wallace family?
"It's been hard on you, my husband," Isabella couldn't help but bite her lip and asked slowly, "but I don't know... what do you want me to repay you with for all that you have done?"
Sebastian's magnetic laughter filled the entire office.
"Isabella, straightforward women aren't popular with men."
"Are you suggesting that I should think that saving the Wallace family from a dire situation, financially supporting the treatment for my grandmother, and releasing news about our marriage were all things that you did as a matter of course? Are they gifts you gave to Mrs. Lawrence?"
"You can interpret it that way."
"That would be too presumptuous of you." Isabella laughed. "I'll think that way when you start showing signs of falling in love with me."
Sebastian didn't say anything more, he just looked at her and patted his leg.
It was clearly a signal for her to sit on it.
"Do not hesitate," Sebastian lifted her chin. "Listen to me, Mrs. Lawrence. Everything you desire, I can provide. Except for love."
"You are currently the only lifeline I can grasp onto. How can I not comply?" Isabella asked. "So, tell me, Sebastian, what do you want from me... to obtain from me?"
He lightly traced her skin with his fingertips, word by word, "Isabella, have a child for me."
Almost instinctively, Isabella blurted out, "As long as you are willing, there are plenty of women waiting in line to have your child... Why me?"
"You are Mrs. Lawrence," he stated matter-of-factly, "engagements, negotiations, a grand marriage into the Lawrence family."
"So... You married me just to have a child with me?"
"No matter what, we will have children sooner or later, won't we?" he replied. "Why not have one now?"
"We didn't get married and form a family because of love, but out of self-interest. Sebastian," Isabella looked into his deep eyes, "children are the result of love, not of self-interest."
Her words displeased him greatly, and his brows almost knitted into a tangled knot.
"Isabella," Sebastian's tone slightly intensified, "will you have a child or not?"
At this moment, Isabella suddenly understood everything Sebastian had done for her.
Bending down and reaching out on a rainy night, the medical expenses deposited into her account, getting married with a marriage certificate and becoming his wife, his anger during the blind date with the old man, his defense of her in front of Grace...
Sebastian was never protecting her; he was protecting the future mother of his child!
He asked again, "Will you have a child or not?"
"You're begging me, aren't you?" Isabella looked into his eyes. "If it's a plea from you, Sebastian, this is not the attitude to beg someone."
Sebastian firmly held her chin, "Are you threatening me?"
"Yes, it's a pity that someone with your power can't dominate in the matter of having a child."
Sebastian could do anything, except bear a child... He was a man, after all.
"Isn't what I've given you enough?" Sebastian asked, "What more do you want, Isabella? Name your conditions."
"I have no conditions."
"Let me take a guess," Sebastian said, "the eldest daughter of the Wallace family, born into a prestigious family, understands the value of independence..."
Inch by inch, he knew when to advance and when to retreat, having seen the world. Though his family had fallen, his demeanor remained, and at the very least, his body was clean.
He was the perfect son-making machine."
"Otherwise, do you think... that you still have the capital for me to love you?" Sebastian's breath sprayed onto her cheek, "Isabella, don't be too greedy in life."
Her hand suddenly clenched, her nails sinking into the skin of his wrist, leaving behind a red mark.
"Let me ask you one final time." Sebastian's voice carried evident harshness, "Will you give birth or not!"
Isabella lowered her eyes, her lips trembled slightly, and almost imperceptibly nodded, "I will give birth."
A smile curled at the corner of his mouth, "Good girl."
This man effortlessly switched between coldness and tenderness.
Isabella felt an icy chill, penetrating her whole body, chilling her to the core.
After hesitating for several seconds, Isabella finally spoke up, "I want to tell you, I was forced, not willingly."
Sebastian's breath hitched slightly, and then he mercilessly threw her from his arms onto the couch.
He towered above her, looking down.
"Even if you were forced, it's something you should keep to yourself. Isabella, to say it in front of me...are you truly not afraid of death, or do you not think the decline of the Wallace family is happening fast enough?"
"Forced to have your child, and not allowed to express any dissatisfaction, Sebastian, how can you be so cruel?"
"Very well." Sebastian suddenly nodded, a cold smile spreading on his face. "I have a way to make you say the word 'willing.'"
Isabella hadn't fully grasped the meaning of his words when he loudly called out, "Kaine!"
"Yes, Mr. Lawrence."
"Mrs. Lawrence wants to experience a different life for two days," Sebastian said, "Send her to the South City Mansion and let her truly experience it."
"Mr. Lawrence..."
"Don't you understand?"
Kaine nodded, "Yes, I will arrange it immediately."
Isabella felt like she had heard the name "South City Mansion" somewhere before, a sense of familiarity, but she couldn't recall it.
It wasn't until she changed into a professional white suit, a black pencil skirt, wore black stockings and stepped into high heels, standing in the sales office with a nameplate in front of her, that she finally realized.
This is where Emily works?!
The manager of the sales office stood in the distance, talking to Kaine.
"Kaine," the manager asked, "Why did you suddenly bring in a salesperson? This is a high-end property. The sales ladies are all trained, and she..."
"She's only here for a few days, she will leave soon," Kaine said, "But during this period, you need to take good care of her."
The manager looked at him, "What kind of care are you talking about, Kaine?"
Kaine lowered his voice, "Mr. Lawrence said she's sharp, with too many edges, she needs to be polished... Do you understand?"
"I understand, Kaine."
Kaine reminded him, "But don't go too far, just do what's necessary."
The manager walked up to her, "Isabella?"
"That's me."
"The sales office needs to have a smile, the standard eight teeth smile," the manager said, "Who would want to see your gloomy face? The customers will be scared away."
Isabella replied calmly, "I'm here to sell houses, not smiles."
"With your current attitude, you can't receive customers at all." The manager pointed to a cloth on the side. "Wipe away the dust around here, I'll come to inspect in an hour."
"I am a salesperson, not a janitor."
"You..." The manager was at a loss for words. "Fine, then just stand here and reflect on yourself."
After Emily finished attending to the customers, she quickly walked over. To her side, scrutinizing her from head to toe, she exclaimed,
"How did you end up here, dressed like this?"
"This is just how I am," she replied.
"Aren't you a wealthy lady from a prestigious family? Why are you here selling houses?" Emily asked with a touch of sarcasm, "Experiencing life, I suppose?"
Isabella nodded, "You could say that."
She was not inclined to tell Emily the true reason, fearing that it would cause her worry.
"Emily!" the supervisor's voice suddenly sounded, "What are you doing here? Do you know Isabella?"
"I..." Emily stammered.
"We don't know each other," Isabella quickly interjected, "Miss Perez just came over to greet her new colleague."
Emily turned and left, but as soon as the supervisor was out of sight, she quickly sneaked back to Isabella's side, demanding, "Why are you pretending not to know me? Did something happen to you?"
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