Chapter 159 Does It Still Hurt?
Seb cradled Isabella, watching her face and ear swell up, his heart aching.
He shot a cold glare at Charles. "After all these years, you haven't changed. But guess what? I'm not a pushover anymore. I'll pay Matthew back double for this slap!"
"How dare you!" Charles fumed, eyes blazing. "Matthew's your brother, you heartless beast! You sent him to prison. Are you even human?"
Seb sneered. "Who's the real monster here? You can hit me, but I can't hit back?"
Charles's face turned crimson with rage. He clutched his chest, staggering back a few steps, wincing in pain.
"Charles, are you okay?" Emma rushed to his side, helping him to a seat. She fumbled in her bag, pulled out a white pill bottle, and gave him two pills.
She gave him some water, soothing his chest and comforting him.
Meanwhile, Seb led Isabella to a bench away from the commotion.
Seb gently touched her face, his expression dark. "I won't forget this slap."
Isabella saw that cold glint in Seb's eyes again, her heart skipped a beat. She grabbed his hand. "Seb, why are Charles and Emma here? What did Charles mean by sending to prison?"
"If I told you I sent Matthew to prison, would you hate me?" Seb asked, looking at her.
Isabella was even more confused. "You sent Matthew to prison, why?"
Was it just because Matthew staged that scene with fake blood that morning?
Though she was angry, it didn't seem enough to send Matthew to prison, right?
Before Seb could answer, the door on the other side opened.
Isabella looked up and saw a girl as thin as a skeleton.
At first, she didn't recognize her.
Until the girl looked over, and their eyes met. Isabella was shocked to realize it was Samantha!
"Samantha!" Isabella called out.
It had been two months since they last saw each other.
Now, Samantha looked nothing like she used to.
Samantha used to be ordinary-looking, but at least she looked human.
Now, she was so thin she was unrecognizable. Her cheekbones were deeply sunken, her eye sockets hollow; even her eyes had lost their luster.
It seemed like she had been tortured.
Isabella suddenly remembered what Leo said last time about Samantha calling him for help.
Samantha might have been undergoing severe torture at that time.
Isabella couldn't imagine what kind of torture could turn a healthy person like Samantha into this in just two months.
Samantha's gaze lingered on Isabella's face for only a second before she looked away. Her sunken eyes seemed a bit abnormal.
Emma had already walked up, choking on her sobs. "Samantha, I know Matthew wronged you; the Landon family wronged you. We shouldn't even have the face to ask for your forgiveness, but now Matthew is also sick, very sick. He can't go to jail. I'm begging you; please forgive him, okay? We can give you whatever you want."
Samantha looked at Emma with fear and unfamiliarity in her eyes, but she remained silent.
When Emma pulled her urgently, she retracted her hand. Her whole body was filled with resistance.
As they were tangled up, another door swung open.
Matthew walked out with a couple of officers.
One of the officers said, "Matthew has confessed. He admitted to bribing Samantha's brother to imprison and torture her."
Emma, who had been pleading nonstop, suddenly let go of Samantha's hand. She stared at Matthew in shock, tears running down her cheeks.
Charles's eyes turned red, but he had to accept the truth.
This could've been handled privately.
But Seb had taken legal action from the start. Now, even if the Landon family wanted to settle it with money, it was too late.
With Matthew's full confession, even though the Landon family spent a fortune, they couldn't avoid his one-year prison sentence.
Samantha's brother, as an accomplice and the direct perpetrator, was also sentenced to a year.
On the day of the trial, Samantha was sent to a psychiatric hospital. She had already lost her sanity.
On the day of the sentencing, Emma fainted on the spot. Charles, in front of all the media in Lakina, announced he was cutting all ties with Seb.
Isabella never expected things to get this bad. She hadn't slept well for several nights, waking up in the middle of the night to find the bed empty.
The study light stayed on all night. Seb would only come back to bed at dawn, lying down beside her.
Isabella turned over and hugged him.
Seb stiffened; when he met Isabella's gaze, he felt embarrassed.
He lowered his head, burying his face in her neck, and asked, "Bella, am I wrong?"
Isabella shook her head, speaking softly, "You didn't do anything wrong. If it were me, I would have done the same."
Looking at the whole situation, Samantha was the victim. Matthew's actions towards her were unimaginable.
Seb's actions might seem ruthless to the Landon family, but to Samantha, they were a salvation.
"Really?"
Isabella hugged him tighter, "Yes."
Seb held her for a while, then let go, his fingers gently caressing Isabella's cheek, "Does it still hurt?"
Isabella was momentarily stunned, realizing he was talking about the slap from Charles.
She shook her head, "It's been so many days, it doesn't hurt anymore."
Seeing his sad expression, Isabella added, "Actually, it didn't hurt much even when it happened. Charles didn't hit that hard."
Seb pulled her into his arms again, "Isabella, did you know? You're the first person to stand up for me."
Isabella's heart ached.
Seb was a man, and not just any man, but the head of the Landon Group. Before joining the Landon Group, she had heard many impressive rumors about Seb.
A man like Seb, Isabella always thought he was incredibly strong.
But at this moment, he was showing her his softest side.
Isabella reached out to touch Seb's cheek, her tone like coaxing a child, "Mr. Landon, don't be afraid. I'll protect you."
Seb chuckled, catching her hand and pressing it to his lips, then holding it tightly in his palm, "You said it, no backing out."
Isabella shook her head, "No backing out."
Seb then leaned down to kiss her.
