Chapter 279 She Abandoned Me
Anouk swallowed the medication, but her condition didn't improve immediately. Leaning against the wall, she still struggled to breathe.
Isabella called for a server, and together they helped move Anouk to an empty private room.
As Anouk settled in, her breathing gradually became steadier, though her complexion remained pale.
The server brought a glass of warm water. Isabella poured a cup and gently offered it to Anouk's lips, helping her drink.
After sipping the water, Anouk slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes were strikingly beautiful, filled with a warm, engaging light as she looked at Isabella. "Did you save me?"
Isabella nodded modestly. "It was nothing. How are you feeling now? Any better?"
Anouk gave a slight nod. "I'm feeling much better. Thank you, dear."
Isabella nodded in response, standing up to leave, but Anouk grasped her hand tightly.
Anouk's grip was firm, almost desperate, as if she was afraid Isabella might walk away.
Isabella hesitated, then explained, "I'll get a towel for you to wipe off the sweat."
Anouk's anxiety eased a bit. She gave a sheepish smile and released Isabella's hand.
Isabella returned with a dampened towel and began gently wiping the sweat from Anouk's forehead. As she did, she pointed to the purse on the nearby chair. "This is your bag. You might want to check it to make sure nothing's missing."
"No need," Anouk said, her voice relaxed. "It's just some insignificant stuff. Losing it doesn't matter."
Isabella was taken aback. From what she had picked up, besides a phone, the cosmetics and jewelry, along with the purse itself, were quite valuable. Losing any of these would be a significant loss, but Anouk seemed indifferent.
However, it made sense—after all, for someone wealthy, money might not be a big deal. It was people like Isabella, who struggled with every penny, that felt the sting of loss.
"What's your name?" Anouk asked, looking at her with genuine curiosity.
"Isabella Miller."
Anouk smiled warmly. "That's a lovely name."
Isabella paused, then added, "Nina says it's the name my mother gave me."
Anouk's eyes flickered with a shadow of sadness, but Isabella was too absorbed in her own thoughts to notice.
"I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable," Isabella said, feeling a bit awkward.
She rarely talked about her parents, as those memories were painful scars. Even with Nina, she seldom brought them up. Yet, she found herself unexpectedly sharing this now.
Anouk studied Isabella's expression closely. "Is your mother no longer around?"
Isabella shook her head. "I'm not sure. She might still be out there, or she might not be."
"I never met her. She abandoned me."
"No, she didn't abandon you!" Anouk's voice took on an emotional edge, her eyes misting over with a trace of urgency, as if she was on the verge of revealing something important.
But when Isabella looked at her, Anouk quickly looked away, trying to compose herself. "What I mean is, no mother would willingly leave her child behind. Your mother might have had her reasons."
Isabella sensed that something was off with Anouk, but before she could ponder it further, the door to the private room swung open. The server ushered in a tall, imposing man.
"Mom," the man said, walking briskly to Anouk's side. "Are you alright?"
Anouk shook her head, reassuring him, "I'm fine. Thanks to Ms. Miller here, who saved me when she happened to pass by."
Only then did the man turn his attention to Isabella.
Isabella stood up, offering a polite nod. "Hello, Mr. Black."
It was then she realized the man before her was none other than Quentin Black—the very same person she had seen discussing business with Nathaniel just minutes ago.
Isabella couldn't believe how small the world could be.
Quentin extended his hand. "Hello, I'm Quentin Black."
Considering Quentin's potential acquisition of the Landon Group's shares, Isabella quickly shook his hand. "I'm Isabella."
"Ms. Miller, thank you for saving my mother," Quentin said warmly.
"It was nothing," Isabella replied hesitantly. "Mr. Black, may I ask you a question?"
"Certainly. As long as it's within my knowledge, I'll answer honestly."
"Did the deal with Nathaniel go through?"
Quentin smirked. "That's a matter of business confidentiality."
Isabella was taken aback by his response.
"However," Quentin continued, "since Ms. Miller saved my mother, and I did promise to be open, I'll tell you this: the deal is done. Nathaniel has sold me 20% of the Landon Group's shares."
"May I ask another question?" Isabella inquired.
"Go ahead."
"Why did you buy the Landon Group's shares? Do you know Charles?"
Quentin exchanged a glance with Anouk, then smiled. "Regarding your first question, it's related to my mother, so you should ask her directly. As for the second, I can assure you that we have no ties with Charles. The decision to acquire the Landon Group's shares was entirely my mother's."
Isabella breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they weren't affiliated with Charles' group, she felt things were under control.
Isabella's curiosity about their motives got the better of her, so she turned to Anouk. "To be honest, Mr. Landon from the Landon Group is my fiancé. I came here today to persuade Nathaniel not to sell his shares because I thought he was dealing with Charles. Lady, if it's not too much trouble, could you tell me whether you're on friendly terms with the Landon Group or not?"
Anouk gave a reassuring smile. "Rest assured, I'm definitely not an enemy of the Landon Group. The only reason I bought Nathaniel's shares was to give my daughter a welcome gift. If the Landon Group or Ms. Miller ever needs any assistance from us, just let us know. Once you're a shareholder, you're part of the family. Besides, Ms. Miller, you saved my life."
"I see," Isabella said, her worries finally easing.
At that moment, the server knocked and entered, handing over a black USB drive. "Mr. Black, here's the item you requested."
Quentin took the drive and dismissed the server.
Turning back to Isabella, Quentin offered her the USB. "This is the surveillance footage from Nathaniel's room. It contains evidence of his harassment. If you need, I can assist in reporting this to the authorities and act as a witness."
Isabella was taken aback.
She hadn't expected Quentin to be so thorough in his consideration.
What shocked her even more was the realization that there was a camera in that private room.
The Blue Horizon Cafe, a popular spot where Nathaniel was a top-tier member, was known for its discretion. It was highly unlikely they would install cameras in private rooms to invade their clients' privacy—such actions would be both unethical and detrimental to their business.
So the only conclusion was that Quentin must have set up the surveillance himself.
