Chapter 438 I've Paid What I Owed the Bakers
Isabella was chillin' in the back seat, staring out the window. In just a few days, the leaves had gone all yellow and were dropping onto the street, giving off some serious end-of-the-world vibes.
Autumn could be such a downer.
"Aren't you supposed to be at the office?" The car rolled into Willowbrook Estate. Isabella turned to Sebastian. "Why are we heading back?"
Sebastian chuckled, flashing that killer smile of his. "I'll hit the office later. Mornings are for you."
"Don't bother."
Sebastian was already out of the car. He walked around, opened her door, and put his big hand above it. "Out you go."
"Fine." Isabella knew better than to argue, so she got out.
Sebastian grabbed her hand, their fingers lacing together, and they strolled towards the house.
Carl came up, beaming at them holding hands. "Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs."
Sebastian gave a nod, his eyes zeroing in on the invite Carl was holding. "What's that?"
Isabella followed his gaze.
Carl stayed silent.
Isabella did some quick mental math and figured it out. She took the invite from Carl and opened it.
Lynda's engagement invite.
Isabella skimmed it and then looked at Sebastian.
Sebastian glanced at the invite before locking eyes with Isabella.
"Why are you staring at me?" Sebastian asked. "Got a problem?"
Isabella tried to read any worry, pain, or tension in his face.
He was chill, totally unfazed by the invite.
"You know this engagement is bad news for her, right?" Isabella found it weird. With how protective Sebastian was of Lynda, this engagement shouldn't be happening.
Then she thought, 'Now, the invites are out, and Sebastian's just cool with it?'
"So what?" Sebastian said.
Isabella bit her lip and finally let it out, "Shouldn't you be stopping this? Samuel knows Lynda's true colors; he won't let her off easy."
Sebastian got what she meant.
She thought he'd always have Lynda's back.
Sebastian frowned, his lips a tight line.
He grabbed the invite, tossed it back to Carl, and nodded for him to scram.
Carl didn't need telling twice and bolted.
"Are you mad?" Isabella asked. "So, you really are gonna stop this engagement, right? You were in the hospital, so you missed this, and now the invites are out to all the rich folks in Maple Valley?"
Sebastian was ticked. He wanted to ask if she really thought that low of him.
But he held back.
Isabella's doubts were on him.
Sebastian put his big hand on Isabella's head, gently ruffling her hair like she was a cute pet.
"No," Sebastian's voice was soft. He bent down, looking serious, "Whether this engagement happens or it's all a setup, it's got nothing to do with me."
Isabella looked all confused, not getting what Sebastian was saying, and it made her look kinda adorable.
Sebastian had to fight the urge to pinch her cheeks.
He went on, "I've paid my dues to the Baker family. She just needs to stay alive; whether she's miserable or not, that's not my problem."
"And," Sebastian added, "she doesn't appreciate genuine care, so she's got it coming."
Isabella didn't see that coming.
Turned out, when he said he'd protect Lynda one last time, he meant it.
After hearing Betty and Moore's story, Isabella thought Sebastian would be Lynda's shield forever.
Her icy heart started to thaw a bit.
Isabella cleared her throat, bit her lip, and after a few seconds, asked, "You said to keep her alive? Doesn't she have a heart condition? Can she handle the stress?"
Sebastian scoffed. "From her actions, do you see any signs of a weak heart or fragile mind?"
Isabella nodded. Lynda's illness wasn't as bad as it seemed. The heart condition was probably just a cover.
"Isabella," Sebastian's hands rested on her shoulders. He called her name softly, bending down to meet her eyes. "More than anyone, I want her to pay. Letting her live after the car accident was my way of repaying her mom. Her life has nothing to do with me. I'm not responsible for her. Whether she's good or bad is her own choice."
Isabella looked into Sebastian's deep blue eyes. They were bright, full of comfort and gentleness, and she found herself getting lost in them.
For a moment, she couldn't look away.
"What are you thinking?" Sebastian grinned. "Or do you think my eyes are beautiful?"
Hearing that, Isabella snapped back to reality.
Through Sebastian's eyes, she saw herself getting drawn in.
Her face turned a bit red, and her ears felt hot.
She clenched her hand, glaring at him like a little hedgehog with its quills up. "Sebastian, you're so full of yourself!"
With that, Isabella quickly shook off his hand and turned to leave.
Sebastian straightened up, his smile widening, and a low, magnetic laugh escaped his throat.
"Get ready and come down for dinner later," he called after her.
Isabella held onto the stair railing, walking up without responding.
"Did you hear me?"
"You're so annoying, I heard you." Isabella, annoyed, turned her head and replied.
The sunlight outside poured into the house, casting golden rays everywhere. Sebastian stood in the backlight, his face blurred, his expression hard to read.
The only thing Isabella could see clearly was his smile.
That smile, combined with the sunlight, was even warmer, enough to make her heart race.
Isabella felt her heart skip a beat.
She thought, 'Am I really that shallow?'
Isabella quickly turned her head and soon disappeared from Sebastian's sight.
Sebastian chuckled. His Isabella was like a little hedgehog, with sharp quills but also a soft belly.
No matter how mad or upset she got, she always eventually showed her soft side to him.
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