Chapter 108 Forty Thousand Dollars
Isabella paused for a moment.
Charlie continued, "The reason I didn't call her is because she's pregnant now and can't handle any stress. I had no other choice. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother you."
Although Charlie didn't always speak the truth, these words were real.
Being considerate of Nina, Isabella still asked, "Where are you?"
"I am at Easthaven train station. Remember to bring me some food." After saying that, he quickly hung up the phone.
Isabella was full of doubts, but she still went to the nearby bakery, bought a few pieces of bread, and took a taxi to Easthaven train station.
When she saw Charlie, she was even more shocked.
Charlie was wearing shabby clothes, and looked disheveled.
If he hadn't called out to Isabella, she wouldn't have recognized him.
As soon as he saw her, Charlie asked, "Where's the food?"
As soon as Isabella took out the bread, he snatched it away. Anxiously tearing open the packaging, he stuffed it into his mouth.
Isabella frowned and asked, "What are you doing here?"
While eating bread, Charlie looked around with his eyes and said in a hushed voice, "They're looking for me!"
Isabella asked, baffled, "Who?"
Charlie replied anxiously, "The people from the underground casino."
"The underground casino?" Alarm bells rang in Isabella's mind. She questioned angrily, "Did you go gambling?"
"Be quiet." Charlie looked panicked, glanced around, then lowered his voice and said, "Bella, do you have any money? Lend me some. I need to get out of town, to hide from them."
Instead of answering him, Isabella asked, "How much did you lose?"
He shamelessly replied, "Forty thousand."
Isabella gasped, "Forty thousand?"
Charlie, a laborer like him, couldn't earn back that much money in several lifetimes.
She thought, ‘He must be out of his mind.’
Charlie glanced at Isabella and said calmly, "Do you think I wanted this? With that meager salary, how could I pay the mortgage and support your sister? Initially, I was winning, but then my luck turned.
"After two rounds of cards, I unknowingly racked up that much debt. Also, if you had agreed to Matthew's proposal earlier, I would have resolved this crisis long ago. Matthew had promised me a contract of two hundred thousand.
"After you two got married, he would give me another twenty thousand in cash. So, I turned to that, it's all because of your incompetence!"
He couldn't understand what Isabella was thinking. The Landon family had offered such good conditions, that marrying Matthew meant a life of luxury.
Matthew didn't mind Isabella carrying another man's child, yet she insisted on marrying him.
If he were Isabella, he would have married Matthew long ago!
Isabella was always shocked by Charlie's words, coldly saying, "Even if I were to marry in the future, I would only choose an ordinary person. That way, you wouldn't have the chance to blackmail me!"
A person like Charlie easily lost forty thousand.
He had no regard for money.
What kind of family could withstand his trouble?
Moreover, even before she agreed to Matthew, Charlie was always scheming.
If she really married into the Landon family, she might never get rid of Charlie forever.
Charlie touched his nose, then quickly demanded, "Do you have any money? Give me some first."
"I don't." Isabella said, "You caused this mess so you figure it out."
She didn't linger and turned to leave.
But at that moment, several men suddenly rushed over from the side.
They ran past Isabella, creating a gust of wind.
Someone yelled out, "Charlie, don't run!"
The station suddenly became lively.
With many people coming from all directions, Charlie didn't even get to run twenty feet away before a burly man forcefully pinned him to the ground.
Then, several people carried him out of the station.
Isabella witnessed the whole thing, her heart pounding.
But at this moment, she wasn't worried about Charlie, but rather about Nina.
What would happen to Nina if something happened to Charlie?
"Whether it's Charlie's crisis or your job, I can help. I have one condition. Help me persuade Matthew," Charles' voice echoed in her ears.
Isabella took out Charles' business card from her pocket, hesitated for a long time, and finally made the call.
By evening, Charles drove Isabella to the underground casino to bail someone out.
Exactly forty thousand.
Isabella watched as Charles wrote down the numbers on the check, feeling a heavy burden in her heart.
After handing over the check, they waited for over half an hour before the other party brought the person out.
Charlie was carried out.
He had been beaten beyond recognition.
The man who came out with them, Michael, glanced at Charles and Isabella, asking, "Why didn't his wife come?"
Isabella looked at Michael suspiciously, and questioned, "How do you know his wife didn't come?"
Michael smiled, and mockingly answered, "There were only two of you who came, and you're the only woman. I know you're not his wife."
Isabella found it strange, and asked, "Have you met his wife?"
Michael casually replied, "Of course."
"Michael!" Richard called out, dressed in a black trench coat, and walked out from inside.
Isabella met Richard's gaze for a moment and felt a chill run down her spine.
Richard not only looked fierce, but his eyes also exuded a murderous intent.
He was clearly not someone to mess with.
Isabella avoided his gaze, but Richard scrutinized her for a few more moments.
Charlie knew Isabella was attractive and feared Richard's interest in her, so he slightly moved in front of Isabella, and impatiently asked, "Can we take him away now?"
Richard finally withdrew his gaze and calmly said, "Yes."
He then instructed, "Take him and the stretcher to the car."
Michael replied obediently, "Yes, Brother Richard."
Charles had the driver pull the car up to the hospital. After the doctor examined Charlie, they arranged for him to be hospitalized.
With Charlie in his current state, he couldn't go back to see Nina.
He had to stay in the hospital for a while until he recovered.
After everything was settled, Isabella escorted Charles out.
"Thank you for today, Uncle Landon." Isabella took out a prepared promissory note from her pocket, and said, "Here, this is for you."
Charles just glanced at it and didn't take it. "Bella, help between people should be mutual. I helped you because you can help Matthew. So, there's no need for this. I just hope that this forty thousand I spent is worth it."
Isabella nodded, and humbly replied, "I understand. I'll go see Matthew early tomorrow."
Charles sighed in relief, and remarked, "In that case, I'll leave it to you. If Aunt Emma finds out, she'll be overjoyed."
Isabella smiled.
After watching Charles leave, Isabella also left the hospital.
As soon as she got on the bus, her phone rang.
Seeing Jack's name flashing on the screen, Isabella felt a bit dazed.
It had been half a month since she left the Landon Group, but it felt like yesterday.
This was the first call Jack made to her since she left.
Isabella answered the call and put the phone to her ear, then greeted, "Mr. Jack."
Jack got straight to the point, and immediately asked, "Isabella, where are you now?"
Isabella glanced at the hospital building and decided not to tell the truth, "I'm on the bus."
"Did you just go to the Number One Underground Casino?" Jack asked, concerned.
