Chapter 89 Self-Deprecation
After locking the door, the temperature inside the house calmed Nina's heart a bit.
Charlie had changed his shoes and walked into the living room. Nina noticed his leg and asked, "What happened to your leg?"
"Don't mention it." Charlie sat on the sofa, lifted his foot, and placed it on the coffee table. "I got bumped downstairs just now and fell into a flowerbed. I've twisted my ankle. Hurry up and come take a look, grab a bottle of topical ointment, and rub it in for me. It's killing me!"
Nina took the ointment and squatted down to massage Charlie's ankle.
"Where did you go this afternoon?" Charlie asked, "Why are you only back now?"
Nina then mentioned her visit to the Landon family, where Zoe invited her to work as a nutritionist.
Before she could finish, Charlie interjected, "Go. Ten thousand dollars a month, plus a private car service, why wouldn't you go?"
"Did you agree to it?" asked Nina.
"What's there to disagree about? It's ten thousand dollars, who wouldn't go for the money?" sad Charlie.
Nina knew that Charlie was as money-obsessed as she was; after all, they were both from the working class and understood the importance of money. But hearing him say this still made her feel a bit uncomfortable. "Didn't you say before that I should stay at home and focus on preparing for pregnancy because I'm in poor health?"
Charlie waved his hand. "Preparing for pregnancy and working as a nutritionist at the Landon family are two different things. They don't conflict."
"Do I need to inform Bella about this? After all, Seb is her boss. Going to his house as a nutritionist might cause her some trouble." Nina had some concerns.
"Are you crazy? What's there to tell her about this kind of thing? Can she offer you ten thousand dollars a month?" Charlie stared, "What trouble could there be? You do your thing, and she does hers."
Nina fell silent. Deep down, she still felt like she should tell Isabella about this.
Seemingly understanding Nina's thoughts, Charlie threatened, "Let me tell you, there is no need to disclose everything to Isabella. If she really cared about us, she wouldn't have let us go to the Landon family and endure such humiliation for no reason."
Nina frowned. "That was your decision to go."
"I went for her sake, thinking she could marry into wealth and have a worry-free life for the rest of her days. Who knew she would be so foolish, giving up a good life just like that, and causing me to lose my contract too." Charlie ranted, "I'm telling you, I'm not done with her over this."
Seeing Charlie so angry, Nina compromised. "Okay, I'll listen to you. I won't tell her for now."
"Not just for now, never tell her anything again." Charlie rolled his eyes. "What a mess!"
At that moment, Isabella and Seb were still trapped in the car.
Half an hour had passed, but the rescue team had yet to arrive.
Isabella curled up in Seb's arms, feeling that time had never been so long and unbearable in her life.
Her heart was beating fast. Her mind was still fuzzy, and the thought of Seb pressing and kissing her moments ago made her hair stand on end.
Not only her, but Seb's heart was also pounding intensely. Both of them were drenched, yet they could still feel each other's warmth.
A beam of light shone down as the rescue team arrived.
Seb reached out, pulled down Isabella's dress, then opened the car door and carried her out.
The rain was still pouring outside. Isabella wanted to get down and walk, but Seb didn't give her the chance. He carried her straight into the rescue vehicle that had come to pick them up.
After placing her in a seat, Seb went back.
When he returned, he had two more bags in his hands.
From one of the bags, he took out a scarf and wrapped it around Isabella.
Isabella recognized it as the first scarf Seb had given her as compensation. She had initially refused it.
Unexpectedly, Seb had kept it and even stored it in the trunk all this time.
The other bag contained a set of skincare products for pregnant women. "This was originally meant for you. Since you guessed it was from me, don't return it."
Isabella's heart raced. "Mr. Landon."
"Still calling me Mr. Landon?" Seb reached out and caressed her cheek, his eyes burning. "After kissing and touching, you think I can't bear this responsibility?"
Isabella was completely bewildered. Wrapped in the scarf, she looked like a wounded kitten, gazing at him with watery eyes. "Mr. Landon, what do you mean?"
"Literal meaning." Seb ran his fingers through her hair. "Don't burden yourself mentally. Since I've done it, I'll take responsibility."
"What about Vanessa?" Isabella asked.
Seb furrowed his brow, "I'll handle her."
The car started.
Seb reached out to touch Isabella's hair, hooked his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her into his embrace.
Isabella stiffened, then pushed him away, saying firmly, "Mr. Landon, I have a child."
"You still want to marry Matthew Landon?" Seb frowned.
Isabella felt a pang in her heart. Not because he mentioned Matthew, but because she was lying to Seb at that moment. "After all, he is the child's father."
Seb stared at her for a few seconds, then burst out laughing in frustration. "Isabella Miller, what should I say about you?"
'Stubborn as a mule.' Seb wanted to scold her, but he couldn't bring himself to say a word of reproach to her.
Isabella looked at her knees and spoke words that went against her heart. "Unless Mr. Landon can accept it."
"Accept what?" Seb asked.
Isabella paused, met his gaze, and said, "Accept being a stepfather."
"Isabella Miller!" Seb's face darkened for a moment. "I can accept you having a child with someone else, except for Matthew Landon."
Emma and Matthew were already enough for Seb to handle. He wouldn't even think about letting Matthew's child call him dad in the future.
Isabella nodded slightly, her voice soft. "Then there's nothing more to say."
Seb gritted his teeth. "At this point, are you still willing to have the child?"
"Yes." Isabella was stubborn. "After all, he is a life."
Seb turned his head in frustration, refusing to look at her. After a while, his deep voice came. "Never belittle yourself at any time."
Isabella's heart clenched. She bit her lip heavily, and remained silent with her head bowed.
She and Seb were destined to be like this.
No matter what, Isabella couldn't ruin Seb and Vanessa's engagement.
The first time was an accident; she couldn't control it. Moreover, at that time, she wasn't aware of the relationship between Vanessa and Seb.
It was a mistake, but indeed an unintentional one, which she could somewhat justify to her conscience.
If she were to make the same mistake again, she would truly be devaluing and degrading herself without any bottom line.
When the car arrived at her dormitory building, Isabella got out, and Seb didn't immediately leave but sat in the car, quietly watching her go upstairs.
It wasn't until Isabella entered the dormitory that she heard the engine start, the sound fading away.
In truth, Seb was a genuinely good man. Despite his cold demeanor, he was warmer and more considerate than Matthew. Even when angry, he wouldn't abandon her and leave, nor would he throw a tantrum.
He was indeed a man of great character.
Isabella's fingers caressed her abdomen as she murmured, "Baby, if he didn't have Vanessa, maybe I could have accepted my mistake. But now, baby, don't blame me. I really can't give you a good life, and I'm afraid you'll end up like those children in the orphanage, so I can only..."
She closed her eyes, unable to speak the rest of her thoughts, letting the tears fall silently.
