As Isabella's health gradually recovered, the new school semester began. Perhaps sorrow had turned into joy, for her once misfortunate life seemed to take a turn for the better—her career was finally blossoming.Isabella’s designs quickly gained popularity among her classmates. Many placed orders for her affordable and stylish clothing. Word of mouth spread fast, and soon her customer base expanded from low-end to mid-tier clients. Her wallet grew thicker, and so did her confidence in earning her own livelihood.Theodore, lounging on the bed playing a game, casually reminded her, “Sis, people only have so much energy. Even if you’re a steel-strong Iron Lady, your daily output has its limits. That means your income will eventually plateau.”Isabella, realizing she was overwhelmed with orders, leaned in front of Theodore and humbly sought his advice. “What do you think I should do to break through?”Pausing his game, Theodore replied, “Sis, you have two options. The first is to shift to
Nathan couldn’t shake an inexplicable sense of irritation as he scrolled absentmindedly through his chat history with Isabella. Back then, she would reach out almost daily to greet him with good morning and good night messages. She eagerly shared the scenery she saw, the food she tasted—practically every tiny detail of her life. To him, it had felt annoyingly clingy. But ever since he had sent her abroad, it was as if she had vanished into thin air. She had not sent him a single message since then. How had he not noticed such a stark change in her behavior until now? The depth of his neglect towards Isabella was glaringly evident. He opened their chat and typed: “Bella, what are you doing? You haven’t reached out in ages. Are you mad at your husband?” After hesitating for a moment, he hit send. Moments later, a large red exclamation mark appeared in the chat window. Nathan froze. Had Isabella’s account been hacked? He quickly found her international number and di
One of Nathan’s friends patted him on the shoulder and teased, “Nathan, you’d better bring Isabella back soon. If one day she returns pregnant and asks for a divorce, you’ll have no choice but to cry.” “Also, if the famous Nathan gets dumped by Isabella, it’d be a real blow to your reputation.” Grinding his teeth, Nathan muttered, “She wouldn’t dare...” Ultimately, perhaps pressured by the impending company gala, Nathan chose to compromise. “Noah, book me a flight to the U.S. And buy some gifts for my wife,” he instructed. His assistant's expression was hard to read. “Yes, sir.” ---The next day. Nathan boarded a flight to the U.S., carrying a ragdoll cat as a gift his assistant had purchased. He had finally decided to personally bring Isabella back home. He thought to himself, *This trip will make up for the months I’ve ignored her. When I arrive, I’ll coax her a little, and she’ll happily follow me back.* ---Nathan went to the Smiths’ house. Six months ago, he h
Nathan returned to the capital alone. When Nathan's father learned that Nathan had not brought Isabella back, he erupted in rage. He berated Nathan furiously: "I opposed your marriage to Isabella back then, but you insisted on marrying her to save your 'pure-hearted love.' Since you married her, you should live a good life together and work as a team. Though Isabella's family background isn't great, she is obedient and filial. We accepted her. Yet, you still entangled yourself with her Sis... You've broken Isabella's heart; that's why she refuses to come back!" The more Nathan's father spoke, the angrier he became: "If Isabella won’t return, then you have no reason to attend the Hill family's annual gathering. It would only invite ridicule." Nathan's mother paled with fright. "Honey, Nathan will definitely bring Isabella back. Please give him some time." Nathan was the Hill family’s only son, but that status depended on his ability to sustain the family's enterprise.
Theodore stumbled out of his room, looking flustered. "Sis, what’s wrong?" Isabella glared at him, her eyes brimming with tears. Her shoulders heaved as she struggled to contain her anger. "You’re faking being sick just to avoid school... Do you even understand? **Of all pursuits, studying is paramount!** If you don’t want to be bullied anymore in the future, you must study hard!" Theodore instantly caved, his sharp peach blossom eyes drooping. "Sis, I was wrong." Isabella’s voice trembled with frustration. "Theodore, I am willing to shield you from storms, but the world is vast, and not all storms can be blocked for you." "Reflect on this properly." She angrily grabbed his school bag and slammed the door on her way out. Theodore pouted. "Why is she so fiery?" When the door creaked open again, he smirked knowingly. "I knew she couldn't stay mad for long." However, the sound of polished leather shoes echoed in the room. Theodore’s heart sank as a stern middle-aged man s
Theodore's voice was icy cold: "This is my home. I come and go as I please. You have no say in the matter."The eldest master of the Sanchez family glared at him, his face twisted in rage. "This is *my* home. I've lived here since I was a child. And you? This is probably the first time you've set foot here in sixteen years!"Theodore retorted, "You dare speak of rights when you're the intruder?"The eldest master turned red with anger. "I'm a full twelve years older than you—my mother knew my father long before yours ever did—"Theodore cut him off, his tone sharp: "Need a lesson in law? According to the Civil Code, only children born to married couples are legitimate. Since your mother never obtained a marriage license with my father, she bore you as a mistress."The eldest master’s face flushed crimson with fury. "You just wait—I’ll have Father kick you out!"At that moment, the butler stepped out of the study. He glanced at the fuming eldest master and then at the composed
"Of course." The elders nodded in agreement. Families like the Sanchez, the Browns, the Hills, and the Millers, towering financial empires, had patriarchs with unparalleled wisdom and experience. Their ability to evaluate potential successors was unmatched. Anyone who caught their eye was undoubtedly a promising candidate for inheriting a financial dynasty. While the Hill family previously groomed Nathan, their recent promotion of Caleb hinted at ambiguity in the Hill Group's line of succession. Seeing Caleb basking in the spotlight, chatting animatedly with the family heads, Nathan felt the stirrings of crisis. His face darkened and remained that way. As if things weren’t bad enough, a mocking voice broke through his thoughts. "Feeling sidelined, Mr.Hill?" Nathan turned to see his good friend Guillermo Sanchez approaching with two glasses of drinks. Handing him one, Guillermo remarked, “Nathan, don’t blame me for pointing out the obvious, but your move to replace your w
Rumors about Nathan Hill’s favoritism toward a mistress over his wife quickly spread through the elite circles, sparking outrage among noblewomen and debutantes. Nathan’s father had to expend significant effort to quell the damaging gossip. Though the situation was resolved, Nathan’s reputation suffered. Frustrated and disappointed, his father rewarded Caleb, Nathan's half-brother, with control of a few more companies. To reclaim his former glory, Nathan decided to pin all his hopes on the luxury brand company he had recently established. This endeavor was his only chance to prove his business acumen and redeem himself. Furthermore, he needed to show the world that his closeness with Victoria was purely for professional purposes. --- **In Milan** The preparation for the fashion design competition was nearing its end. Isabella had crafted numerous outfits but lacked a design catering to the upper-class market. It wasn’t because she lacked the skill, but rather because she cou
She had no choice but to wear a false mask, responding to him with feigned politeness:“At that time, I had just donated a kidney, my health wasn’t good. How could I possibly conceive and give birth?”Nathan didn’t press the issue any further. After all, he had no expectations of having a child with Isabella.“It’s better you didn’t have the child. A mother like you, so irresponsible, doesn’t deserve to bear my child.”His words stung, and Isabella clenched her hand into a fist under her sleeve, her nails digging into her skin. But when her eyes caught the smug look on Victoria’s face, she suddenly deflated.She forced herself to adopt a fake, sweet smile. “Hubby, if I don’t have children, you’ll end up without heirs.”Nathan was furious, but Victoria was unbothered. “Isabella, these days, what successful man doesn’t have a few charming women on the side? What successful man doesn’t have a few illegitimate children?”Isabella smiled calmly, her tone sharp as she retorted, “Oh, but the
Nathan was so angry his blood rushed to his head. He stood up and rushed upstairs, with Victoria following closely behind.When they reached the top, they discovered that Isabella had placed a video speaker at the hallway entrance, where it was playing a street dance tutorial video, accompanied by loud, energetic rock music.Isabella, dressed in a dance outfit, was moving her body to the beat, but her movements were awkward and uncoordinated.Nathan’s face darkened as he walked over and immediately turned off the speaker.Isabella was about to lash out in anger, but upon seeing Victoria standing behind Nathan, she quickly turned her frustration into a smile. “Hubby, I’m getting in shape. Once I’m fit, let’s have a baby.”She said this as she walked over to Nathan, naturally taking his arm with a sweet, loving gesture.Victoria’s face twisted in displeasure.Her mouth opened several times, but she couldn’t find the right words. Finally, she closed her lips, unable to speak due to her e
Guillermo’s gaze, sharp as a venomous snake, was fixed on Theodore. The moment Theodore entered Isabella’s guest room, Guillermo’s temper flared up instantly.“Who’s staying in that room?” he asked suspiciously.“Sir,” the assistant leaned in and whispered into Guillermo’s ear. “The one staying in there is the young lady you asked us to inquire about.”Guillermo’s mind immediately flashed with the image of a fashionable woman. A strong sense of jealousy seeped into his voice: “How does he know her?”The assistant replied, “Who knows?”Theodore knocked on the guest room door, and Ava opened it for him.“Ava, where’s my Sis?” Theodore asked.Ava looked frustrated. “She went back to the Hill family.”Theodore’s expression tightened, and he asked, his voice tinged with barely contained anger: “She still can’t forget about him? He’s just a dog, why’s she still thinking about him after all this time?”Ava shook his head. “No, it’s not like that. She went back to gather evidence.”“Evidence?
Isabella took a bite of her pizza and casually glanced at Nathan. “You, born with a golden key, eating abalone and bear paws every day—aren’t you enjoying life even more than I am?”Nathan: “...”“Can you even compare with me?”Nathan muttered under his breath, his voice low but still full of arrogance, which irritated Isabella. She frowned.She gave him a disdainful look. “Am I missing a heart? Or maybe an eye? Nathan, we’re both human beings, so be kind. We’re equals. You’re not more noble than I am.”Nathan was taken aback, but his handsome face darkened immediately. “Sharp-tongued. If you’re so capable, stop being a parasite.”Isabella retorted, “I’m your wife. Your income is half mine. I’m using your money, and it’s completely legal. If you don’t like me being a parasite, then why don’t you divorce me?”Nathan choked on his words, stunned by her boldness. He had never imagined that the Isabella who used to be so pliable would now defend her interests so fiercely with the law.He
Isabella didn’t plan to stay at the Hill household permanently, so she packed only the bare essentials.It didn’t take long for her to settle in, and she sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought.She needed to find a way to quickly gather evidence of Nathan's infidelity; only then would she have any leverage to negotiate a divorce.However, Nathan was a typical idealist. He loved Victoria, and although his love was passionate and maddening to others, Isabella had never personally witnessed any solid evidence of their illicit relationship.It seemed that she would have to do something to expose the truth.Isabella took out her phone, then went to the guest bedroom, lay down on the bed, and snapped several pictures. She arranged them in a nine-square grid and posted them on her social media, visible only to Victoria.Her caption read: *“Thanks to my husband for decorating this room for me. It's so romantic. I really like it.”*With the post complete, she returned to her room and wait
Nathan’s handsome face was as cold as ice.It was an insult. A tremendous, shameful insult. A beggar with nothing to her name actually preferred to leave him with nothing rather than stay married.Nathan felt a surge of blood rushing to his head."Isabella, I don’t agree to the divorce," he said, his voice dark with rage.He hung up the phone, slamming it down.Isabella’s negotiation had failed, and her mood was deeply depressed.She curled up in a corner of the sofa and picked up her phone, posting on various forums: *I want to divorce my scumbag husband who keeps a mistress, but he refuses to divorce me. Any advice?*Before long, the replies began piling up.While the comments were mixed, there were some insightful suggestions among them. One comment stood out the most:*“Since the scumbag loves his mistress, things should be easier. As long as you can stomach it and pretend to be affectionate with him, I guarantee the mistress will get uncomfortable and cause a scene. Let her help
Ava snorted, "This man is truly a businessman. Even when he does something kind, he calculates it all clearly. Had I known he was this type of person, I wouldn't have cared about the little favors he offered."Isabella thought for a moment, then said, "If he won't divorce me, then I'll have to resort to legal means."Ava replied, "But a divorce lawsuit is a long battle. You hate him so much, but you'll have to face him every day. Won’t that be torturous?"Isabella thought about it, then endured the immense physical and emotional discomfort and said, "Then I'll just have a good talk with him."Isabella chose to call Nathan after 9 PM, knowing that this was the time he would likely be free.The phone rang twice before someone picked up."Hello, who is this?"A soft, coquettish voice—it was none other than Victoria.Isabella froze for a moment. "Put Nathan on the phone."Hearing her younger Sis’s voice, Victoria was clearly startled. She couldn’t speak for a while.After a long pause, sh
Isabella couldn't help but chuckle, "I'll come over once I finish what I need to do."Theodore was overjoyed. "Sis, I'll wait for you."The rest of the banquet went very smoothly.In the past, the Sanchez family’s gatherings mainly involved people from the business circles. However, this time, prominent figures from the elite social and cultural circles were also invited. These big shots, who were usually out of reach for the business crowd, held the power to control the economic lifeblood of the business world.As the saying goes, “refined and popular tastes can coexist,” and their presence seemed to cleanse the air of the usual commercial vulgarity.The businessmen at the venue scrambled to flatter these influential figures. Guillermo’s invited guests, it seemed, had all turned against him and were now fawning over Theodore.Guillermo and Mrs. Sanchez were left out in the cold, seething with anger.In a corner, the Sanchez family patriarch and his son stood among the crowd, with the
Guillermo was dumbfounded.Theodore said, “This is some authentic antique. A few years ago, it sold for billions at auction. This is the cheapest piece of calligraphy in the venue.”“Big Brother, why don’t you guess who owns this priceless original?”Upon hearing this, Guillermo was completely dumbstruck.“This is impossible. How could you have gotten such an expensive piece of calligraphy?”Theodore glanced at Nathan and Victoria, his eyes cold. “So, get your troublesome friends out of here. I don’t welcome troublemakers.”Both Nathan and Victoria’s faces turned ashen, darker than liver.Guillermo quickly reassured Nathan, “They’re important guests I invited...”Theodore ignored him completely and walked straight up to Isabella. His cold demeanor instantly softened as he said, “Sis, thank you for coming across the ocean to attend my coming-of-age ceremony.”Isabella cleared her throat, her voice a little hoarse, “I can finally rest easy.”Theodore was no longer the defenseless, helpl