Chapter 4

Nicholas' eyes searched the desk in his study, as he looked for his ear pods which he had placed here the previous evening. He knew none of the maids would dare to steal something so dear to him, or even take it away from the table since they all knew what it meant to him.

"David," he called his assistant who was standing just a few metres behind him.

"Yes, Mr Hunt."

"Ask Marcus to compile the list of maids and butlers who got in here since yesterday morning. I need all of them in the next one hour," he ordered.

"Yes Sir," David replied. Still standing in that same spot, he sent a message to the butler before assuming his normal posture.

Nicholas' gaze swept around the room one last time, the frown on his face deepening.

"What is Isabella doing?" he asked.

"Mrs Hunt has been in her room since yesterday morning, together with her friend, after the latter was caught trying to leave the mansion," David reported, his voice sounding like that of a robot. 

"They wanted to escape?"

"It does not seem so, according to the guard. He said Mrs Hunt's friend was alone."

"Has her dress been delivered?" Nicholas asked again. And from his softened gaze when he asked that, David knew he was referring to his wife.

"It has but..."

"But what? They aren't up to her taste? Who are the designers who made such clothes with low taste?" 

"It's not about that, Sir. Mrs Hunt didn't even let them in her room, and she refused to try the clothes on. She blatantly rejected them," David explained.

Nicholas sighed heavily when he heard that, his eyes emitting a cold and steely gaze. He walked out of the study, walking in the direction that led to Isabella's room.

The designers were still outside, and Nicholas waved them off with his hand before entering Isabella's room.

"What are you..."

Nicholas cut himself off when he saw how shocked she was immediately he entered. She was sitting on her wheelchair and staring out the window, while a piece of paper rested on her laps. Her hair was let loose and resting on her shoulders, while she wore a faded pink night gown that exposed her pale collarbones.

Nicholas blinked repeatedly, trying to regain his composure before talking.

"What happened? I heard you didn't come out today," he asked.

"I was read— no, I was checking out the speech you gave to me." As she talked, Isabella's hand went behind her hairs, removing the device in her ears.

"How about the designers outside? Could you not spare a little time to see them?"

Isabella shifted uncomfortably under his scrutinizing gaze. Angela had come to see her earlier and had told her how the clothes looked, with most of them being either sleeveless or backless. She could not wear them because of the mark on her back and arms.

"I can't choose anyone..."

"Then see them and tell them what you want! Must you always try to show how—"

He turned away from her abruptly, and Isabella completed the sentence in her head.

'...how stupid you are? How undeserving you are of the clothes?'

"You must be ready by 4pm tonight. You will be greeting the guests with me as my wife."

Gripping the device tightly in her hands, Isabella breathed a sigh of relief when he walked out. 

A knock on the door made her look up.

"Come in," she called out loud. 

A middle aged woman with a wide smile plastered on her face, walked into the room. Her eyes widened slightly when she noticed Isabella sitting beside the window, but she was quick to school her face into a stoic expression.

"Pleased to meet you, Mrs Hunt."

"Me too," Isabella answered, knowing it was fake enthusiasm that the woman had.

"Mr Hunt told me that you seem to have a different preference..."

★★★

Isabella stared into the mirror, wondering where the angel staring back at her came from. After surrendering herself to be pampered and dolled up by the makeup artist that was employed, she couldn't recognize herself.

Now, the employees had dismissed themselves when they were done with her, and she was waiting for Angela. Wheeling herself to the door, the sound of the wheels creaking, grated her nerves as she felt irritated by it.

The door opened as soon as she got there, and Angela was behind the door. 

"How are you doing, Bella...?" Her jaws fell when she took in Isabella's whole appearance from head to toe. In fact, the only blemish to her now was that old wheelchair she was sitting on.

"The wheels are creaking, Angela. What if it annoys him?" Isabella asked.

"I will try to push you slowly so it doesn't creak that loud. It's not like we have enough money to buy a new one which will be better than this," Angela said, walking around to stand at Isabella's back. She was dressed in a white knee length gown, contrary to Isabella who was wearing an overflowing light blue gown, with intricate beadwork and shimmering fabric.

The friends got out to the large living room in no time, and there they saw David waiting for them.

"Mr Hunt asked me to deliver this to you," he informed, gesturing at a large wheelchair at his back.

At a glance, Isabella could tell it was not like the manual wheelchair she had which she had been using since she was ten, but an automatic one. With this, she didn't need to stress her arms or wait for Angela's help before she moved from one place to another!

Drunk in excitement, she wheeled herself to the new wheelchair and stared earnestly at Angela, who smiled and lifted her from one wheelchair to another, shocking those present in the living room.

David was one of those who didn't bother to hide his shock. Who knew strength lied in those bony hands?

Snapping out of his thoughts, he asked, "Are we good to go now, Mrs Hunt?"

Isabella nodded and looked down at the buttons on the right hand arm rest of the wheelchair. Each button had a series of letters written on it and she had to look up to Angela for guidance.

Immediately David turned to lead them out, Angela bent slightly and swiftly whispered all the instructions on the buttons.

Just then, the large front doors of the mansion swung open, as the butler announced,

"Mr and Mrs Yates have arrived!"

Isabella stiffened immediately.