Chapter 3
Now that she had repaid her debt of gratitude and had no other family, she just wanted to accomplish
what she had left unfinished back then.
A few days after submitting the application form, her phone suddenly rang. She picked it up to see an
unfamiliar number.
The voice on the other end was filled with excitement and joy. Isabella quickly recognized the voice of an
old classmate.
“Isabella, you really plan to come back? Everyone in our circle has heard about this. Back then, you were the most talented among us, but suddenly disappeared. The professor keeps lamenting how unfortunate it is. Now that we’ve heard you’re returning, the professor is so happy he hasn’t slept in days. We’re all so glad for you! It seems the academic world is going to be shaken up!”
She could detect the teasing tone in their words and smiled faintly, finally regaining her long–lost smile.
“Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll dedicate all my time to academia. As for everything else, I don’t need it.”
Before she could finish speaking, the door was suddenly pushed open. Alexander and Benjamin’s voices rang out simultaneously, “What do you mean by ‘don’t need it‘?!”
She didn’t expect them to suddenly return and overhear her phone call. Isabella’s heart jumped.
Instinctively, she hung up the phone and turned to face them, hiding the slight surprise in her eyes, keeping her face calm.
“Nothing. I was just cleaning up the room and found some things I don’t use often. I plan to throw them away in a couple of days. I don’t need them.”
Alexander still found it a bit strange, his eyes staring at her, almost as if he wanted to burn a hole through her.
But she remained calm, showing no sign of guilt.
He then lowered his gaze, clearly thinking he was overthinking it.
“You two are back already?” With their doubts dispelled, she subtly changed the subject.
As soon as she said this, Benjamin didn’t hold back and started complaining. “I couldn’t get used to the food and living outside, so I came back. You still haven’t cooked? I want braised spare ribs.”
She frowned and instinctively glanced at Alexander, only to find that he, too, stood there without saying a
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Chapter 3
word, just watching her with an expression that clearly indicated he thought the same as Benjamin.
She pursed her lips and turned toward the kitchen, suddenly feeling a bit absurd.
Over the years, she had played the role of both a maid and a wife, taking care of these two men, afraid of
making any mistake that would upset them. In the end, she had truly become their servant in their eyes,
without respect or a single word of thanks.
Isabella was busy for a long time before finally bringing the meal to the table. Seeing that the two of them
sat down side by side so naturally, she sat on the other side and suddenly spoke.
“We should call the old servants back.”
When Isabella and Alexander first moved into this villa, there had been many servants. However, the
servants didn’t cook to his liking, and when taking care of him, they didn’t do as well as Isabella did. Since
Alexander didn’t like having people around, he had sent all the servants back to the old house.
Alexander furrowed his brows. This was the first time she had made such a request.
“Why?”
“After I leave, no one will be here to take care of you. It’s better for you to get used to it in advance.”
She still maintained her calm demeanor, but her tone made his frown deepen.
“Leave? Where are you going?”
Benjamin also finally put down his chopsticks and looked at her with a trace of disdain in his eyes.
“Are
you mad because we’ve been busy taking care of Auntie lately? But if you leave, where else can you go?”
Alexander’s gaze became profound as he looked at her.
Isabella had never worked, had no family background, and no education.
If she left the Carter family, left him, where could she go?
She wouldn’t leave, never would.
Neither of them took this as anything important, and Isabella didn’t explain further. She just sighed softly.
The meal ended hastily, and no one brought up the subject again.
In the middle of the night, Isabella and Alexander lay in the same bed. Neither could sleep.
She had long gotten used to this life of sleeping next to him but dreaming different dreams. With him lying far away, she closed her eyes and slowed her breathing.
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Farewell Without Return
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Chapter 3
Suddenly, the position next to her shifted down, and a heat source appeared. He naturally reached up and wrapped his arm around her waist, his hot breath spraying on her neck.
Sensing his intention, Isabella was about to push him away when she suddenly heard a low, husky voice.
“Olivia…”
The affection in his voice was almost overwhelming. In an instant, the name “Olivia” rang in her mind, reminding her of every time they were close, every time they shared intimacy, and each time he called out that name. A feeling of disgust suddenly surged in her heart.
She suddenly pushed him away with all her strength, causing his consciousness to fully return.
A look of confusion flashed in his eyes, not understanding why she was acting this way.
