Chapter 142 Squeeze In
Margaret's eyes reddened. "Ms. Miller."
Nina's eyes were also red, but she tried hard to hold back, channeling all her strength into her hands.
Isabella felt her trembling and a hint of suppressed anger.
But Nina's face was full of cold sarcasm. "Since you can't find your own daughter, so you use someone else's daughter as a replacement. Are you trying to make up for the loss of your daughter or are you trying to cover up the fact that you lost your daughter, Mrs. Smith!"
"Enough!" Steven stood up, looking at Margaret's face, which was pale, his eyes filled with concern.
He walked to Margaret's side, steadied her shoulders with his hands, and looked at Nina. "Ms. Miller, whether you believe it or not, our desire to make Isabella our goddaughter has no ulterior motives. We thought it would be a joyous occasion for everyone, but since you disagree..."
Steven glanced at Isabella's face. "Then I can only say it's a pity. Zaire, see them out!"
Zaire stood up.
"No need to send us out, we will leave," Nina said, pulling Isabella away.
Seb patted Zaire's shoulder and got up to follow them out.
Outside the Jose family home, Isabella stopped. "Nina, are you okay?"
Nina sniffed, holding back her tears.
She turned to look at Isabella. "Bella, why did you hide the fact that you did a DNA test with the Jose family?"
"I'm sorry, Nina. I didn't think it was that important, so I didn't tell you."
"Isabella, you really have grown up, haven't you? You didn't tell me anything and did a DNA test with strangers. Do you think that's not important? Or do you just want to be the lost daughter of the Jose family, so you can be their eldest daughter after the test?"
Isabella was stunned. "Sis, I didn't."
As soon as she finished speaking, a hand landed on her shoulder.
Seb, who had somehow ended up behind Isabella, put an arm around her and said to Nina, "Isabella is not that kind of person."
"I know." Nina's mood calmed a bit. "Bella, let's end this matter here for today. I'm going home."
"I'll go with you." Isabella took a couple of steps forward.
Nina waved her hand. "I've been staying in your dorm for a few days. It's time for me to go back. You don't need to worry about me."
With that, she walked away.
Watching Nina's retreating figure, Isabella was still worried and wanted to follow, but Seb held her shoulder.
"Your sister might not want to hear your explanation right now." Seb comforted Isabella. "I think she's quite upset tonight. Let her have some time alone."
Isabella felt he was right, but she still couldn't help but worry.
Seb had the driver bring the car over. "Get in. We'll follow her and make sure she gets home safely."
Isabella felt a warmth in her heart. Seb always thought things through so thoroughly. "Thank you, Mr. Landon."
Seb smiled, "Still calling me Mr. Landon?"
Thinking of Seb's earlier suggestion, Isabella blushed and quickly got into the car without responding.
They followed Nina all the way until the taxi dropped her off at Green Valley Community. They watched her enter the building and waited until the hallway lights went out before Seb instructed the driver to head home.
Isabella was a bit down. "I've never seen my sister so angry before."
Seb was silent for a moment and then said, "She seems to have some issues with Uncle Steven and Aunt Margaret. When she first met Zaire and Kelsey, she seemed quite normal."
Hearing this, Isabella also felt the same.
Everything was harmonious until Margaret appeared.
"Don't think about it." Seb reached out and touched Isabella's cheek. "Are you hungry?"
Before Isabella could answer, her stomach growled.
"Yes." Isabella laughed sheepishly.
Seb took her hand, his smile gentle. "Let's go to eat something delicious ."
"Okay."
The Jose family.
After Isabella and the others left, the Jose family didn't continue their meal.
Margaret felt unwell and went to rest in her room.
Steven naturally accompanied her.
Downstairs, only Zaire and Kelsey were left.
Thinking about what had happened, Kelsey was quite angry. She said, "I can't believe that Isabella, who has such a good temper, has such a grumpy sister. If she didn't agree, why did she come to our house tonight? And then she said those things. Mom cares the most about our sister and we can't even say a word. But that Nina! Every word she said was like a stab to Mom's heart. If it weren't for Isabella and Seb, I really would have torn her apart!"
Kelsey kept ranting, while Zaire remained relatively calm. He had been sitting there, frowning and saying nothing, as if deep in thought.
At that moment, his phone rang.
Just as Zaire reached for his phone, Kelsey grabbed it first.
"Annie, who is this, with such a low-class name?"
Kelsey only had time to see the sender's nickname before Zaire took the phone back.
He flicked her forehead. "Kids should stay out of grown-up matters!"
Kelsey chased after him and said, "Zaire, you're only a few years older than me, so what makes you a grown-up?"
Isabella didn't expect to run into Jack and Nancy while out for a meal right at the restaurant entrance.
Nancy greeted them enthusiastically, "Mr. Landon, Ms. Miller, what a coincidence. You're also here to eat?"
Because of previous events, Isabella didn't have a good impression of Nancy. Coupled with Kelsey's influence, Isabella didn't feel like responding to Nancy's enthusiasm. Out of politeness, she only nodded slightly.
Nancy then looked at Seb, her eyes full of innocence.
Isabella instinctively looked at Seb, only to find that he wasn't even looking at Nancy. From the moment they met, he had been looking at Jack, not even reacting to Nancy's greeting.
The four of them exchanged brief greetings and entered the restaurant.
At the front desk, Jack gave the reserved phone number.
Nancy, standing beside him, said, "You need to make a reservation in advance at this restaurant. Jack called a week ago to reserve. Mr. Landon, Ms. Miller, when did you make your reservation?"
Isabella didn't know that dining here required such planning and truthfully said, "We didn't."
The decision to eat here was spontaneous, and Seb had chosen the place.
Isabella looked at Seb, wondering if he had made a reservation.
Seb said, "No reservation."
Nancy laughed, "Then how about you two join us?"
"Nancy!" Jack tugged at her.
Nancy blinked her innocent eyes at him. "Jack, it's lively to have more people eat together, and Mr. Landon is your boss. Having a couple more people is not a big deal. I won't mind."
"No need." Isabella refused.
Jack and Nancy were a couple, and it wouldn't be right for her and Seb to intrude.
"Oh, it's no trouble," Nancy interrupted Isabella. "You don't need to be so distant from us."
As she finished speaking, a man in a suit, Joshua Garcia, approached, followed by two waiters.
Nancy glanced at Joshua's name tag and realized he was the restaurant manager.
Joshua walked straight to Seb, bowed slightly, and said, "Mr. Landon, I didn't know you were coming. It's my fault for not welcoming you properly."
