Chapter 124 Are You Afraid of Me?
As Kaine gazed at Emily's profile, he couldn't help but feel that she was truly innocent and adorable, without a hint of artificiality or pretense.
"Let's go, Emily. I'll walk you back to the company."
"Okay, thank you."
In the evening, at Willow Brook Estate, a sumptuous feast was spread across the dining table six dishes and a soup. Each dish appeared simple, but they were meticulously prepared—delicious, exquisite, and healthy.
Isabella ate her meal with her head down, her appetite unexpectedly increased these past few days, and she couldn't figure out why.
During lunch, she had consumed a great amount of Japanese cuisine.
Upon returning to Willow Brook Estate in the evening, she clamored for the kitchen to prepare dinner quickly.
Most of the fruits displayed in the living room had been devoured by her.
Just as Isabella was enjoying her meal, a phone rang. It was Sebastian's phone.
She glanced at it and unluckily saw the name "Lynda" displayed on the screen.
Surely, this would spoil her appetite.
Sebastian got up to answer the call, intending to move aside.
Isabella flicked a rice grain in her bowl and said, "Why don't you just talk here? What's the use of sneaking around?"
His movement froze for a moment.
"Well, of course, if it's an intimate conversation, you don't need to hide it from me. But if it's about the Watson family, I don't mind hearing it," Isabella added.
Sebastian looked at her. "Do you really want to hear it?"
"Didn't I make myself clear just now?"
The butler dared not intervene.
The tension between Mr. Lawrence and his wife had been rising in the past few days, and nobody knew when it would erupt.
Sebastian sat back down and answered the call on speakerphone, saying, "Lynda."
"Sebastian..." Lynda's soft and delicate voice came through, "Are you at Willow Brook Estate?"
"Yes."
"Will you come over tonight?" she asked. "I've missed you."
Isabella's chopsticks poked at the rice grains in her bowl again and again, rolling them around.
"...I still have work to do tonight, so it will be late if I come," Sebastian said. "I'll find time tomorrow."
Lynda responded disappointedly, "Alright, you're as busy as ever."
"When I have the time, I'll come."
"Mm, I'll be waiting for you. By the way, Sebastian... How's the situation with the Watson family?"
Sebastian glanced in Isabella's direction.
After a pause, he replied, "I'll give you an answer tomorrow."
"Uncle Watson and aunty have called me multiple times today... Oh, I don't know how to respond to them. Sebastian, I'm not sure if Isabella will forgive Bob, but I hope you won't impose a harsh punishment, okay?"
"Mm."
"When someone makes a mistake, they should be punished, but let's show some mercy. There's no need to be too vindictive. Otherwise, I wouldn't have the face to meet with anyone from the Watson family."
Suddenly, Isabella put down her chopsticks and exclaimed, "I'm full."
The noise and sound were quite loud, and Lynda on the other end of the phone surely heard it.
Isabella didn't want to hear what they had to say.
She got up and left.
Her face was expressionless, showing no signs of happiness or anger. But deep inside, a hidden pain started growing slowly, bit by bit.
This feeling had been present since Lynda appeared.
However, Isabella had been suppressing it, holding it back. But now, she couldn't hold it back anymore.
Lynda had returned, and everything Sebastian had done was for her, not Isabella.
The past affection, joy, care, and sweet words had all turned into empty bubbles. One pinprick was enough to burst them.
Isabella's eyes felt dry. She took several deep breaths to stop herself from crying.
"Stop," Sebastian's low voice came from behind, "Isabella!"
She had no intention of stopping.
After all, Sebastian had called her to stop before, and she had pretended not to hear.
However, this time, Sebastian wasn't going to let her go so easily.
The footsteps behind her approached urgently, getting closer in an instant. Isabella's shoulder was grabbed by a large hand and effortlessly turned around.
She looked up at Sebastian. "Do you need something?"
Sebastian simply looked at her.
"About Bob's matter. We have discussed it before."
"I know."
Sebastian's gaze was complex, but in the end, he turned his head and looked at the butler.
"Go fetch him."
"Is it... the person from the Watson family?"
"Who else?"
The butler lowered his head.
"Yes, Mr. Lawrence."
Truth be told, Isabella had never known where this Bob was. The day Sebastian brought her back, she was nervous and didn't ask much about it.
Now she realized that, Bob... was at Willow Brook Estate?
No wonder members of the Watson family were constantly blocking the entrance. She thought they were only here to plead, but she didn't expect they wanted to take someone from Sebastian.
In this moment, Isabella suddenly understood Sebastian's dominance.
He could detain a young master of a prestigious family with ease, and no one could do anything about it.
He could let go or keep someone as he pleased. It was like having the power to control everything.
Seeing Isabella's dazed expression, Sebastian raised his hand and gently stroked her eyelashes.
"What are you thinking?"
She snapped out of her trance and looked at Sebastian, feeling inexplicably flustered.
Isabella unconsciously took several steps back, her eyes filled with rare panic. "You... you..."
"What about me?"
"Don't come closer." Isabella looked at him. "We, we..."
She stumbled over her words, hesitant and incoherent.
As soon as Sebastian heard the first half of what she said, his expression darkened.
"Isabella, are you afraid of me?"
"Don't... don't you deserve to be feared?" she replied. "I think I suddenly understand."
"Understand what?"
"Why you, in the eyes of New Yorkers, are the one person who shouldn't be provoked. Why everyone speaks of you with such reverence, and why you can stand tall and unshakable."
Sebastian pursed his thin lips. "Tell me, why?"
"Because you're ruthless," Isabella answered. "Ruthless to others, but even more ruthless to yourself."
In that moment, Sebastian's gaze turned incredibly sharp. "Isabella, do you know what you're saying?"
"Let's not even talk about being ruthless to others. Aren't you ruthless to yourself as well?"
Isabella slowly walked towards him until she stopped in front of him.
"Just now you told me not to come near, but now you're willingly approaching," Sebastian said.
"Isabella, what are you doing?"
"I want to truly see you. Maybe, from the time we got married until now, I never really knew you."
His eyebrows furrowed.
Isabella raised her hand and touched his forehead.
"I had heard things about you before, but they were just hearsay. After being with you, I realized those rumors couldn't be trusted. You're not like they described. Now, I know, you really are like that."
Sebastian simply looked at her, his handsome eyes filled with curiosity.
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