Chapter 7: Chapter 7

The moment Isabella and Alexander appeared, the peculiar atmosphere that had enveloped the entire room was broken. All eyes turned to them.

The butler stepped forward to take Alexander and Isabella’s coats.

“You’re back.” The moment Selena saw the two entering, she rose from the couch nervously and cautiously took Isabella’s hand, observing their expressions.

David, too, anxiously looked their way, but he maintained his dignity as the head of the family and remained motionless.

Selena, concerned, even asked Alexander what was going on when Isabella was taken away this morning.

Alexander merely told his mother to stay out of it.

David, on the other hand, sighed and told his son to handle everything. After all, Isabella had made a grave mistake this time. If Alexander didn’t take care of it, the issue couldn’t possibly be resolved.

They thought the worst-case scenario would be the two of them getting a divorce.

Initially, they didn’t want their eldest daughter, Evian Quirk, and her family to visit today, but Evian sounded upset and flustered over the phone, hoping to come home as soon as possible to discuss something with her parents. Thus, they had no choice but to let her come.

Evian and her husband Jasper Lawson surprised them with huge news, too.

Isabella, following the interaction pattern in her memory, responded with an indifferent nod, seemingly aloof and oblivious to social norms and etiquette.

Without mentioning what happened, Alexander first greeted Evian and her family.

Curiously, Isabella cast a glance at the four people seated on the couch.

An older woman with somewhat stern features lovingly cradled a young boy around eight or nine years old. The boy, appearing rather frail, clutched a Rubik’s cube, looking at it uneasily.

Beside her sat a slender man wearing gold-rimmed glasses. Though he wore a smile, he seemed aloof and distant.

Next to him was a woman whose smile was somewhat strained, yet her features exuded warmth and affability.

David and Selena didn’t feel it was appropriate to ask Alexander and Isabella about the results right then and there. They decided to first address the matters concerning Evian’s family.

Before they could say a word, a weathered, raspy voice said, “I thought they were divorced? Why did they come back together?”

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

“Mom!” Evian tried to intervene, but her voice, reflecting her upbringing as a well-bred young lady, lacked any real forcefulness.

She cast a worried glance in Isabella’s direction, while her husband Jasper remained silent, allowing his mother to speak out of turn.

Alexander frowned, yet he maintained his composure and said, “We’re not divorced, so of course we came home together.”

At that moment, both Selena and David looked over in surprise and delight. Finally some good news!

Jasper’s mother, Paula Reese, voiced her confusion, “But rumors about her making a mistake have spread everywhere in high society…”

Displeased, Alexander was about to explain when suddenly, Isabella chimed in, “Since when is the Lawson family part of high society? You’re even privy to insider news?”

The Lawson family was just an ordinary household. They had only managed to accumulate some wealth because Jasper was a rising talent in the medical field. Recently, they had collaborated with others to establish a private hospital, backed by support from the Quirk family. However, they were far from high society.

However, the truth was not always well-received. Paula’s face turned ashen, her voice trembling. “What did you just say? How dare you insult the Lawson family?”

With an innocent look on his face, Isabella waved her hand and said, “Why are you being so sensitive at your age? I didn’t say anything wrong or insult your family.”

How does it feel to be humiliated? Doesn’t feel great, does it? What are you putting on airs for? I’ve been kind enough to you.

Alexander decided against saying anything upon hearing Isabella curse inwardly.

Since Paula had been impolite first, Alexander wasn’t about to let his wife be bullied just to maintain the appearance of harmony.

He led Isabella to sit down, thinking it was tiring to talk while standing.

The moment they sat down, Alexander saw the astonished expressions of David and Selena, who was sitting across from them.

They were dumbfounded, wondering if they were hearing things. Was that Isabella’s voice? But she didn’t open her mouth at all!

Alexander’s expression shifted as he immediately turned to look at Evian, who was similarly bewildered while looking at Isabella.

Isabella and Paula’s verbal battle was still ongoing.

The latter fumed, her wrinkled face contorted menacingly. “As expected of an uneducated child!”

The Quirks’ faces fell.

The Jeannet family had been their friends for generations, and Isabella was raised by them and now married into their family, making her one of their own. This old woman had no right to criticize her.

Selena was about to retort when Isabella beat her to it. “True. No one ever taught me how to stoop to a lower level.” As Isabella spoke with sarcasm, she gave Paula a once-over, her expression displaying her disdain.

You call me uneducated like you’re the cultured one, yet you always insulted me and cursed at me whenever you got the chance, even introducing Alexander to some girl from your relative’s family. You sure are delusional for an ugly old hag.

Though Isabella used to lose her temper when it came to dealing with Alexander’s matter in the past, she was never harsh toward others. Though she was difficult to get along with, she mostly chose to ignore and disregard others.

That was the first time she openly expressed her anger. Both the Lawsons and the Quirks were dumbfounded, but the Quirks were more shocked to hear Isabella’s inner thoughts.

David and Selena exchanged glances, realizing they were not alone. They then looked at Alexander, who shook his head at them, and finally confirmed they weren’t hearing things.

We didn’t know Paula was so mean toward Isabella. How shameless!

“David and Selena, who initially thought Isabella had crossed the line by behaving that way toward an elder, chose to take their daughter-in-law’s side.”

Don’t even think about making our son and daughter-in-law get a divorce!

Right then, Evian, overcome with shock, blurted out, “Isabella, you…”

“Evie!” Alexander suddenly said, shooting a sharp gaze at his sister to prevent her from saying anything.

However, the others thought Alexander was warning Evian against intervening when the latter wanted to stop Isabella from insulting Paula.

Evian, her mind in complete chaos, dared not talk about the strange incident.

Jasper, who had remained silent all this while, was somewhat irritated at this moment. Isabella’s condescending remark had struck a nerve in him.

Supporting his enraged and stuttering mother, he shot Evian a displeased look.

An icy gleam flashed past his spectacles as he wordlessly instructed Evian to do something about it. He didn’t think he needed to get involved in such chaos, for it was too embarrassing.

Evian found herself caught between a rock and a hard place. In the end, she could only address Paula, “Mom, don’t be mad. Isabella is still young and foolish. She doesn’t mean any harm.”

Isabella, who was already twenty-four years old, was tickled pink by the way Evian tried to put an end to the fight.

However, Jasper was dissatisfied with how Evian handled it and shot her a harsh, reproachful glare.

Evian’s heart skipped a beat as she anxiously lowered her gaze.

David and Selena couldn’t stand watching their daughter be put in a difficult position, and Selena spoke. “That’s enough. Please forgive my daughter-in-law, Paula. Don’t hold it against a child. She’s just having a bad day.”

She sounded utterly biased, practically insulting Paula again. However, the Lawsons couldn’t argue with Selena like how they argued with Isabella, no matter how furious they were.

Displeased, Paula could only mutter under her breath, “We came to share some good news, but someone just had to kill the mood.”

However, no one paid her any attention, leaving her feeling awkward.

Selena turned to speak gently to Isabella. “You’re back late, Bella. Have you had dinner?”

Isabella got goosebumps at the sound of her name being called so intimately. After all, being an orphan, she had never been called so lovingly before. However, that felt great.

Selena’s so nice.

Selena was instantly elated to hear that. After all, Isabella rarely showed them any affection, always seeming to keep a certain distance. So that’s how she thinks of me! She must be shy and not know how to express herself.

When Isabella shook her head to indicate she hadn’t eaten dinner yet, Selena asked, “What would you like to eat?”

Isabella replied, “Whatever.”

Selena instructed, “Maria, prepare Bella’s favorite dishes, thanks.” After giving orders, she affectionately took Isabella’s hand and said, “I apologize for Alexander. He should’ve brought you home earlier. You must be starving.”

Alexander’s lips twitched. “Mom, I haven’t had dinner too.”

Selena added half-heartedly, “Prepare a portion for Mr. Alexander as well.”

In response to his mother’s perfunctory reaction, Alexander was at a loss for words.

Isabella was amused, but she suppressed her laughter upon meeting Alexander’s gaze.

Suddenly, a fruit platter appeared beside her.

“Have some fruits first,” David suggested as he casually slid the fruit platter toward her.

Isabella expressed her gratitude. David is a caring man, too. They’re such a loving couple.

Proud to hear that, David sat up straight.

Listening to Isabella’s inner thoughts and observing her parents’ amusing reactions, Evian felt her mood improve. However, her good mood was quickly interrupted by two disapproving gazes that left her feeling suffocated.

She knew her mother-in-law and husband were disappointed in her, thinking her family was neglecting her. However, she understood her family didn’t mean to ignore her.

Alexander noticed the predicament his elder sister was in, and his gaze changed.

Glancing at the child who seemed shy and preoccupied with the Rubik’s cube in his hands, Alexander surmised he might be autistic or suffered from inferiority complex. But considering the nearly-solved Rubik’s cube in his hands, I bet he’s intelligent. Chris and I used to enjoy playing with Rubik’s cubes when we were kids.

Recalling what Isabella had said inwardly earlier, he asked, “Who is this child?”