Chapter 121 Was She Too Much?
As she descended the stairs, the sound of a car engine came from outside.
Isabella and Matthew had just reached the dining room door when they heard a servant call out, "Mr. Landon?"
Isabella paused in her steps, feeling a slight surprise upon seeing Seb.
Although she wasn't clear about the affairs of the Landon family, she had only knew that Seb did not have a good relationship with the Landon family.
The last time Seb had visited, he had only stayed for a moment before finding an excuse to leave.
He was even more indifferent towards his younger brother, Matthew.
'So why is Seb here now?' she thought.
Matthew's expression was also surprised upon seeing Seb.
Unable to speak, he typed on his phone:[Seb, did you come to see me?]
"See you?" Seb glanced at Matthew with indifference, not bothering to hide his disdain. He said,"You're overthinking it. I didn't come to see you."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on Isabella's face, and he asked, as if no one else were present, "Are you ready? Can we go?"
Isabella was speechless.
Matthew also looked down at her.
Suddenly, Isabella felt a tight grip on her hand.
It was Matthew who was holding her wrist.
Matthew looked at Isabella with a pleading gaze, his eyes filled with caution, as if he feared she would run away if he let go.
Seb frowned slightly at this scene.
Isabella said, "I need to have a meal with Matthew."
"He's not a child. Does he need someone to accompany him for a meal?" Seb's tone was sharp.
"I promised Mr. Landon and Mrs. Landon that I would stay with Matthew during this time," Isabella said, looking into Seb's eyes. "Mr. Landon, thank you for bringing me here. I can't leave just yet, so you don't need to worry about me."
Upon hearing this, Matthew's lips curved into a smile. He typed on his phone: [Seb, don't worry. I'll take good care of Isabella and make sure she gets home safely. You don't need to worry.]
Seb's gaze lingered on Isabella's face for a few seconds before shifting to Matthew.
Isabella told him not to worry, and Matthew told him not to be concerned.
'It feels like I'm meddling,' he thought.
His eyes swept over their clasped hands, and Seb felt a pang of discomfort.
"Fine. I guess I was meddling."
With that, Seb turned and strode out of the Landon family villa.
As his car drove out of the Landon family villa, his phone rang.
"Mr. Landon, we've found what you were looking for. On the night of the gathering at your house, Isabella was indeed the last to leave. Three cameras in your villa area captured her, and I've sent you the videos."
After hanging up, a few seconds later, several surveillance videos were sent over.
The three videos were from different locations and times.
In the footage from the camera closest to his house, Isabella was running with her hair disheveled.
In the second video, her pace had noticeably slowed, and she appeared somewhat dazed.
The last video was from the entrance of the villa area.
In the footage, Isabella walked slowly, seemingly unwell, stopping to rest every few steps.
After leaving the villa area, she squatted by the roadside for a long time.
It wasn't until a black taxi stopped in front of Isabella that she stood up, got in the car, and disappeared from the camera's view along with the vehicle.
Seb watched the three surveillance videos repeatedly.
He remembered that he had been out of control and acted wildly that night.
But the next morning, Vanessa had woken up in his arms, full of energy, with no signs of any marks on her body.
He had never doubted it, simply because it all seemed so reasonable.
At this moment, Isabella's mind was filled with the look in Seb's eyes as he left.
She was wondering if she had gone too far.
After all, Seb had been quite good to her.
A hand waved in front of her eyes.
Isabella snapped back to reality and saw Matthew's face.
He handed her his phone, which had a line of text on it: [ What's wrong?]
Isabella shook her head, saying, "Nothing."
Seeing that he was almost done eating, Isabella said, "If you don't have anything else to do later, I'll head back first."
Matthew typed on his phone: [Next week's graduation ceremony, I haven't bought my clothes yet. Will you come with me?]
Thinking of the twenty thousand dollars, Isabella had no choice but to nod in agreement.
At the mall, Matthew was picking out clothes and Isabella stood by his side.
The sales assistant, Donna Martin, a young and elegant girl, followed Matthew closely, enthusiastically recommending outfits. Her eyes frequently glanced at Matthew's face.
"I think your fair complexion would look great in this tailcoat suit," Donna said, taking the suit off the rack and looking at Matthew with sparkling eyes.
Matthew glanced at it and then turned to look at Isabella.
He was asking her with his eyes what she thought.
Isabella took a look and said, "I think you'd look more approachable and sunny in something casual."
Matthew smiled, seemingly agreeing with her, and immediately pointed to a beige casual outfit on the rack.
Isabella then nodded.
Matthew asked Donna to take it down and went to the fitting room.
As soon as the fitting room door closed, Donna's expression changed. She turned around and scrutinized Isabella.
Then she smiled and said, "You're really lucky, sis. Your boyfriend is so handsome and rich."
Donna's tone suggested that Isabella was out of her league.
"He's not my boyfriend," Isabella explained calmly.
She ignored Donna's other comments.
Hearing this, Donna's eyes lit up. "Judging by your outfits, you two don't look like a couple. Are you his housekeeper?"
Isabella frowned.
Before she could say anything, Matthew came out of the fitting room.
Donna immediately plastered a smile on her face and showered Matthew with compliments.
But Matthew didn't even glance at Donna. He walked straight to Isabella and slightly spread his arms, showing off the outfit to her.
His eyes were full of anticipation for her praise.
Isabella saw Donna pouting unhappily behind him.
Isabella smiled and said, "It looks good."
She didn't offer any more praise.
Matthew, however, seemed to take it as the highest compliment, his smile spreading like sunshine.
Donna's face turned dark.
The store was beautifully decorated, but the atmosphere made Isabella feel suffocated.
Donna's disdain was written all over her face.
Isabella said to Matthew, "I want to go buy a cup of bubble tea."
Matthew nodded and typed on his phone: [ "You go ahead. I'll come find you after I pay.]
"Okay."
Isabella nodded and breathed a sigh of relief as she walked out of the store.
As soon as she left, Donna immediately approached Matthew, thinking the coast was clear and she could introduce more styles to him, maybe even get his contact information.
"Mr. Landon..." Donna began, but was met with a slap to the face.
With a loud smack, Donna was knocked to the ground.
The other sales assistants in the store, instead of helping, but looked on with expressions of satisfaction.