Chapter 118: A Familiar Sight
Isabella slept soundly, her breath soft, and her long, thick lashes resting on her eyelids.
Under the covers, Isabella's legs were pressed closely against Seb's, and one of her hands lay on Seb's neck, as if in an intimate embrace between lovers.
She had her head slightly tilted back, her nostrils flaring, and her rosy lips slightly parted, as if silently inviting Seb.
Seb had no idea how she had ended up in his bed.
Men are naturally more excitable in the morning, and now, with Isabella so close, Seb felt his desire growing uncontrollably.
But he didn't want to wake Isabella.
Because he knew that once she opened her eyes, Isabella would immediately panic and run away.
Seb stared at Isabella's lips, his Adam's apple moving with difficulty.
Then he lowered his head and gently brushed her lips.
He pulled away after just a touch.
Seeing that Isabella showed no signs of waking, he leaned in again. This time he lingered longer.
Seb thought this might ease his longing, but it only made him hungrier.
Feeling the soft silk fabric under his palm, he hesitated for a moment before boldly slipping his hand under Isabella's nightgown.
Isabella, in her drowsy state, felt someone pecking at her lips.
At first, she thought she was dreaming, but the sensation grew clearer, so she suddenly opened her eyes.
In front of her, it was Seb's magnified handsome face.
Isabella's mind went blank for two seconds before she remembered what had happened last night.
She had failed to escape and had fallen asleep in the end.
And she had slept so soundly.
When she woke up, it was almost dawn.
But fortunately, Seb was still asleep.
Isabella felt the weight on her chest, and when she looked down, her cheeks burned.
Carefully, Isabella moved Seb's hand away, slipped out of his embrace, put on her slippers, and fled.
As soon as the door closed, Seb opened his eyes.
He sat up in bed, looked at the tightly closed door, and then raised his left hand.
Recalling the sensation, Seb narrowed his eyes.
Isabella had just stepped out of the guest room when she bumped into Zaire, who had messy hair.
"Isabella?" Zaire still in his pajamas, holding a glass of milk, had clearly just woken up.
He looked at Isabella, then at the door behind her, a knowing and gossipy smile spreading across his face. "Wow."
"It's not what you think!" Isabella quickly explained, "I came downstairs for water last night and happened to find Mr. Landon sleepwalking."
Zaire said nothing, just sipping his milk with a mischievous smile, listening to her explanation.
His expression seemed to say, "Go on, I'm listening."
Isabella was speechless.
She felt that no matter what she said now, Zaire wouldn't believe her and she would only dig herself deeper.
"Mr. Jose, it's really not what you think. Could you please not tell Mr. Landon that I came out of his room this morning?"
Zaire raised an eyebrow and said,"Isabella, do you know how many women would love to be associated with Seb? Why are you so eager to distance yourself from him?"
"Others are others, and I am me. Mr. Jose, I'm begging you." Isabella looked at him pitifully.
"Alright." Zaire agreed readily, "Since you helped take care of Kelsey, I promise I won't tell him."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Jose. You're a good man."
Zaire chuckled, saying "If you don't leave now, I won't know how to explain it to him when he wakes up."
Zaire kindly pointed her in the right direction. "Kelsey's room is straight ahead, turn right at the end and then left."
"Thank you, Mr. Jose." Isabella bowed to him and quickly ran off.
Almost as soon as Isabella's figure disappeared around the corner, Seb's door opened from the inside.
Zaire looked at Seb standing in the doorway and raised an eyebrow, saying "Sleepwalking?"
Seb gave him a faint glance, saying "I've been emotionally unstable lately, maybe because of work stress."
Zaire burst out laughing. "That excuse might fool Isabella, but not me. Come on, what happened between you two last night?"
Seb was a bit speechless. "Didn't you promise her not to tell me?"
Zaire shrugged. "I only promised not to say that she came out of your room this morning. I'm asking what happened between you two. That's different."
"I don't remember," Seb replied.
Zaire squinted and asked, " You slept with Isabella, shouldn't you take responsibility?"
Seb was silent for a moment. "You're right."
Zaire felt confused and said,"I've never understood what you see in Vanessa. If it were Isabella, I could get it. Vanessa has been at your company for over a year; if you had feelings for her, you would've made a move long ago. Why wait until now?"
Seb suddenly looked up and asked, "What did you just say?"
Zaire was taken aback. "I said if you had feelings for Vanessa, you would've made a move long ago."
"The sentence before that!"
"I've never understood what you see in Vanessa?"
"Not that one!" Seb's eyes were almost menacing.
Zaire felt a bit scared standing in front of Seb.
"If it were Isabella, I could get it."
"You're right!" Seb's eyes lit up, and he gave Zaire a heavy pat on his shoulder. "That's the problem! Why didn't I think of that?"
"What?" Zaire was completely confused, scratching his head. "Have you lost your mind from holding back too much?"
Seb smiled at him. "You're right. Maybe I have lost my mind!"
Otherwise, he, Seb, wouldn't have missed something so obvious.
Zaire was speechless.
The Jose family's breakfast was sumptuous.
At the dining table, Isabella met Kelsey's father, Steven Jose.
Steven was a businessman, shrewd and authoritative in the outside world, but within the Jose family, he was just a loving father.
He would peel eggs for Kelsey and listen attentively to them, responding to everything they said.
Isabella envied this family atmosphere, her eyes growing warm.
When she turned her head, she found Seb also looking at her.
His gaze was equally intense.
Isabella couldn't help but wonder, 'Did Zaire say something to him?'
But when she turned to look at Zaire, he just smiled at her warmly and even winked at her.
Zaire indicated that he had kept his promise and hadn't said anything he shouldn't have.
Suddenly, an extra egg appeared in Isabella's bowl.
Isabella looked up as she saw Margaret withdraw her spoon.
Margaret smiled at Isabella. "You're our guest, so I peeled one for you too."
Isabella was overwhelmed. "Thank you, Mrs. Jose."
An egg brought tears to her eyes .
Zaire laughed. "Isabella, you really are something special. You know, I've never had an egg peeled by my mom."
Margaret looked at Isabella with a very gentle expression. "I don't know why, whenI look at Isabella, I feel a sense of familiarity. It's like I've known her for a long time."
Before she could finish, Kelsey said, "Mom, you and Isabella both said the same thing. Isabella also said that she might see you somewhere before."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire dining room fell silent.
