"Do you hate me?" Isabella asked him.Luther did not respond to her question, opting for silence as he continued eating his dinner. That version of him reminded Isabella of their first meeting during that winter break, when he had been equally stubborn, keeping to himself without saying a word.However, Isabella was not one to feel awkward and decided to shift the conversation. "Dad, is he always this silent when you're with him?""Pretty much," Joshua admitted. Luther was not one for idle chit-chat. He would always communicate work-related matters efficiently, conveying what needed to be said concisely. In fact, over the years, Luther rarely engaged in small talk.Isabella glanced at Luther but refrained from saying more. Instead, she savored her meal, stuffing piece after piece of meat into her mouth. After a few bites, she praised the staff who had prepared the beef stew, commenting on their excellent culinary skills. The beef stew prepared at home was relatively healthier
Luther's eyes darkened, avoiding Isabella's gaze.Attend..."Dad, have more." Isabella continued eating her beef stew, serving Joshua some vegetables. She acted like the previous conversation was just a brief exchange between friends.After dinner, Luther chatted with Joshua for a while before leaving. As soon as he departed, Joshua went to Isabella's room. Isabella was engrossed in a game with her best friends and Nick when he entered. Right when the game reached a crucial point, Isabella told Joshua, "Ten minutes."Joshua nodded, taking a seat on the nearby couch.Isabella's friends on the other end of the game asked, "What do you mean by ten minutes?""That we're finishing the game in ten minutes. I have something to do after," Isabella replied. "What could you possibly have to do? It's already late at night," they asked. However, their curiosity got the best of them, and they continued, "Aren't you in Jiverton to pursue someone? How's the progress?""Zero progress," Isab
Luther was lying on his bed in a loose-fitting robe, with only the bedside lamp casting a soft glow in the dim room. He held a picture frame containing a photo of a girl in a school uniform, her smile radiating warmth. If Isabella were there, she would immediately recognize the girl in the photo as herself. Luther could not bring himself to put the picture down and had been staring at it for quite some time. He had always lived a solitary life, but since Isabella's unexpected appearance that afternoon, his thoughts and emotions were spiraling out of control.Around two in the morning, Luther turned off the bedside lamp, but the photo remained in his hand. He tossed and turned in bed until six in the morning. Unable to sleep, he decided to get up and change into some comfortable casual clothing before going for an early morning run.Over the next few days, Isabella did not reach out to him. She spent her time either accompanying Joshua around various places or catching up on what
Isabella said, taking a small sip of her drink and acting a bit tipsy, "Even though it's in the past, those childhood memories have always stayed with me. I bet you don't know how I felt when I didn't receive your replies."Luther noticed her mood change. Isabella leaned on the table, tilting her head to look at him. "Luther, do you find me annoying?"Luther noticed her reddening cheeks and her slightly playful tone. He decisively took her glass, saying, "You're getting drunk. I'll take you home."Isabella shook her head. "No."Regardless of her protests, Luther took her belongings and carried her out. His gaze was unreadable, and he held back whatever emotions erupting from his heart.Why did she still want to drink despite her low alcohol tolerance? "Why didn't you respond to my messages back then?" Isabella murmured in his arms.Luther hesitated for a moment."Why did you disappear without a word? You have no idea how sad that made me."Luther placed her in the passenger
Seeing Isabella's uncharacteristic behavior and realizing she was too intoxicated to remember, Luther accidentally said, "Who told you I had a girlfriend?""You said it," Isabella accused him.Luther's gaze gradually darkened. "You believed it just because I said it?"Isabella nodded, appearing extraordinarily docile."I don't have a girlfriend. I lied to you. Now, be a good girl and get some rest. I'll take you home in the morning." Luther locked eyes with her, speaking authoritatively but laced with gentleness."Then why did you tell me you had a girlfriend?" Isabella seemed to be challenging him more fiercely on this issue.Luther concealed his emotions and replied, "No particular reason.""If you don't tell me, I won't go to sleep," Isabella pouted, transforming from her carefree and assertive self during the day into a little crybaby.Luther stayed quiet, his emotions churning within.Isabella, with her enchanting eyes, locked gazes with him. As their eyes met, Luther alm
Isabella took her toiletries and made her way to the bathroom. He saw her wobble over and asked, "Are you sure you can manage?""Mmhmm..." Isabella nodded in response.After she entered, Luther closed the bathroom door. He had prepared the bathwater for her, but given her tipsy state, he still felt somewhat concerned.Ten minutes passed, and Isabella was comfortably soaking in a bubble bath. Her thoughts turned to Luther. Since she was 'drunk', should she put on her clothes neatly or just slip into something casual? Either way, it did not seem entirely appropriate for a young lady.While lost in these thoughts, she heard a knocking at the door. She had not even had a chance to respond when the bathroom door was pushed open, catching her off guard. Luther was supposed to be an honorable man... Could he possibly be faking it?"Hello, I'm Tatiana, your boyfriend's neighbor. He called for help, so I've come to assist you. Is it okay if I come in?" a sweet, friendly female voice gr
Luther stood by the bed, gazing at Isabella for a while. Then, he pulled the blanket over her before leaving the room. However, as he lay in the guest room, he found it hard to fall asleep. His mind was consumed by the questions Isabella had asked him while she was intoxicated, along with the accusatory tone in her voice.Luther had tried to regain his composure and reason, but he had overestimated his self-control.Early the next morning, Luther got up despite having only slept for a few hours. Despite appearing cold and distant toward Isabella on the surface, his actions proved that he was actually thoughtful. When Luther was done preparing breakfast, Isabella had just woken up. She wanted to say something, but Luther's cold words came first. "Finish washing up, have breakfast, and go home."Isabella asked, "Can't I stay here and hang out for a while?"Luther, thinking about the pile of things in the study, did not hesitate to reject her. "No, you can't." "Why?" Isabella
However, what really stood out to Isabella was his possessive statement, 'Don't even think about letting another man hug you!'If Luther did not like her, he would not have said that. "What's your plan after this?" Joshua asked. "I'm going to stage a little act with Nick and make him worry," Isabella replied, understanding Luther well. Since Isabella knew Luther would not allow her to go out with someone else, Luther would likely follow her discreetly if she went out with Nick. Then, they would intensify the performance, and she would make her intentions crystal clear. By doing so, it would be hard for Luther to deny his true feelings."But before that, I need to confess to him first. I have to let him know my true feelings," Isabella added after giving it a thought. "You didn't tell him while you were with him last night and this morning?" Joshua asked, a bit curious.Isabella shook her head. "No, the time wasn't right."With his apparent reluctance to be around her, confe