Chapter 276 Far More Sinister
The two women watched the car disappear into the distance. Laura, still feeling shaken, patted her chest and said, "Charles usually seems so cultured and refined. Who knew he had such a violent side? Even through the closed window, you could hear his shouting."
Indeed, although they hadn't witnessed the scene inside the car, the sounds they had heard made it clear that Charles had been yelling at Emma. From the driver's nonchalant expression, it was evident that such outbursts were not unusual.
Isabella turned to Laura and asked, "Did you see Emma's face?"
Laura looked puzzled for a moment, then shook her head. "No, I didn't notice. Why, did you see something?"
Isabella pressed her lips together, choosing not to answer. When the window had come down earlier, she had caught a glimpse of Emma's face, which was bruised and swollen. This suggested that Charles' anger wasn't confined to words; he had likely been physical with Emma as well.
In the past, Isabella would have found it hard to believe such a thing about Charles. But now, she felt that in a fit of rage, he could have seriously killed Emma.
At that moment, Isabella realized that the true nature of Charles might be far more sinister than she had ever imagined.
After Isabella and Laura returned home and took care of some work, the sky had darkened by the time Isabella looked up.
Nina had come over with ingredients to cook dinner for Isabella.
Laura, who had already tasted Nina's cooking and found it excellent, followed her into the kitchen, eager to learn.
Isabella, reclining on the sofa, smiled to herself. The conversation with Emma earlier about Emerald Isle City had left her with questions. While she was busy, she could push those thoughts aside, but now, with time to spare, her mind wandered.
Unable to resist, Isabella picked up her phone and dialed Seb.
Just as she was about to hit the call button, her phone rang with an incoming call.
She answered, placing the phone to her ear. "Seb."
"Bella, have you eaten yet?" Seb's voice, though tired, carried a note of warmth.
Hearing his voice, Isabella couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. "Nina just arrived and is cooking now. How's your business meeting going? Are you coming back soon?"
Seb's exhaustion seemed to lift a bit at her concern. "It's going fairly well. I do have to meet with an important client tonight, though. We're still on Fog Island, so I won't be able to make it back tonight. Nina will keep you company, and I'll be back tomorrow after I wrap up."
Isabella didn't want him to worry, so she agreed readily. "Okay. You take care of yourself too."
She had intended to tell Seb about the day's events: Nathaniel, her meeting with Matthew, Emma's promises, and Emma's mention that Sweetie might be in Emerald Isle City.
But before she could say anything, Jack's voice came through on Seb's end, urging him on. "Mr. Landon, these documents need your review. In half an hour, we have to discuss them with the client. Can you check the marked details one more time?"
Seb cast a questioning look at Jack. "Haven't you already reviewed these?"
Jack, Seb's most trusted assistant who had been with him for years, was known for his competence and reliability. In other words, Seb rarely had to worry about crucial matters because Jack handled them with expertise.
Usually, small tasks like document review were well within Jack's abilities. So when Jack asked Seb to review the documents himself, it seemed unusual.
Jack glanced at his phone and said, "This deal is critical, so I think it's best if you look over some details yourself."
That made sense under the circumstances.
Isabella had overheard Jack's comment. Considering the immense pressure Seb was under and his eyes still not fully recovered, she decided to hold off on bringing up the day's events. She figured it was best to wait until Seb returned, which would be no later than tomorrow.
"I'm good, Seb. I'll see you when you get back," Isabella said.
"Alright," Seb replied.
After ending the call, Seb flipped through the documents and reviewed the marked details. Frowning, he said, "You've already highlighted these details clearly. Why do I need to review them again?"
Jack looked down and replied, "It's better to be thorough. We can't afford any mistakes."
Seb snapped the file shut and scrutinized Jack with a piercing gaze. "Jack, did you deliberately interrupt my call with Bella?"
Jack froze for a moment, but his expression remained neutral. "Mr. Landon, I've been with you since college, watching you build the Landon Group from the ground up. At a critical moment like this, I don't want anything to distract you, not even Isabella."
Seb's brow furrowed. "When did you develop such reservations about Isabella?"
"I don't have reservations about her. I just don't want you to abandon the Landon Group easily. It's your creation, after all," Jack insisted.
From Jack's perspective, his concerns were understandable.
Still, Seb couldn't shake his doubts about Jack's true intentions.
Just then, the doorbell rang. "Mr. Landon, Ms. Stewart has arrived."
In the hotel's dining room, the setting was elegant. The room had been cleared in advance, leaving only the soft strains of a piano playing in the background.
As the last notes faded, a woman in a black dress gracefully stood up. Like a black swan, she descended the glass-like stairs with measured steps. Despite being in her forties or fifties, she carried an air of youthful grace.
Jack pulled out a chair for her as the woman settled in, elegantly removing her white velvet gloves and placing them aside. With a warm smile directed at Seb across the table, she said, "Mr. Landon, you look even younger and more charming than I imagined."
Seb offered a polite smile in return. "You're too kind, Ms. Stewart."
She handed him a sleek black business card embossed with her full name: Esme Stewart.
"I understand you reached out to my assistant about investing in the Landon Group?" Seb said, placing the card down. "I'm curious, considering Ms. Stewart just returned from abroad, why would you choose to invest in a company that's facing so many challenges?"
Esme took a sip from her glass of juice and smiled coolly. "Before making this decision, I did a comprehensive analysis of the Landon Group. You've built the company from scratch and brought it to this height, which speaks volumes about your capabilities. Had I approached you for investment before the Landon Group hit its rough patch, you'd likely have turned me down. Now that I'm here to offer a lifeline, I assume you'll be more receptive. After all, business is essentially a gamble. If you win, you celebrate; if you lose, you chalk it up to experience."
Her casual demeanor suggested confidence, but Seb only chuckled softly and replied, "I'm afraid I might have to disappoint you, Ms. Stewart."
Esme paused, tilting her striking gaze toward him, intrigued.
