The air around them seemed to freeze as their lips met for a few seconds. Just as Ethan realized what was happening and was about to push Isabella away, she released him. Then, she provocatively glanced at Sandra, who stood behind them in astonishment."Did you see it clearly? I don't want your precious Ryan," Isabella said, looking directly at Ethan. "The one I'm interested in is him!"Sandra's gaze remained filled with disbelief. She opened her mouth to say something, but Ethan's cold voice interrupted her."Get lost!"Sandra had been dating Ryan for three months and had seen Ethan before, but she dared not provoke him. She hastily walked away.Isabella crossed her arms and turned to Ethan with a radiant smile. "How did I get rid of her? Should we continue?""I want you to leave too," Ethan replied.Isabella didn't move, and Ethan didn't say anything more. He turned and walked away.Isabella quickly grabbed his arm. "Wait!"Facing his unfriendly gaze, Isabella continued to smile. "L
Isabella stepped out of the bath feeling refreshed and comfortable. She returned to the sofa, picked up her phone, and checked for any friend requests. To her disappointment, there were none. Wasn't being an attractive chat companion enough for Isabella?She chuckled to herself, knowing well that even if Ethan clicked on the link, he wouldn't add her as a friend. She was just teasing him, after all."I'm Isabella," she typed.After finishing her skincare routine, there was still no reply from the other side. Before going to bed, Isabella sent another text message.Ethan, upon receiving the message, felt nauseated. A hint of curiosity flashed through his eyes as he wondered where she got his phone number. Was it from Nathan?He didn't dwell on the question for long. He had initially planned to block this number, but hesitated when he clicked on the "Block" option. Eventually, he tossed his phone aside and went to sleep.The next day, Isabella unusually woke up early and sent a text mes
Meanwhile, in another ward on a different floor, Ethan poured a glass of water for his grandfather, who sat in front of the hospital bed, looking at him with a worried expression."I don't know how much longer my body can hold up, Ethan! My biggest regret now is not being able to see you get married and have children."Upon hearing this, Ethan helplessly pursed his lips and chuckled. "Grandpa, you just had a diabetic episode because you sneaked some sweets last night. It's not a terminal illness."Grandpa angrily placed the water glass on the table, causing it to clatter. "You ungrateful grandson! Do you have to wait until I can't speak in this hospital bed before you rush to find a girlfriend?""Grandpa, that's not what I meant.""Then explain it to me. When are you going to find a girlfriend and introduce her to me?"Ethan replied, "Right away.""Get out! Get out!" Furious, Grandpa knew Ethan was just humoring him. "I can't stand to see you!"Ethan complied with Grandpa's wishes. "T
After arriving at the company, just like before, Isabella, who had no appointment, was stopped by the receptionist. Isabella frowned and dialed Ethan's number, but no one answered. She looked at the vigilant security guards nearby.This time, Isabella didn't make a scene and obediently sat down on the sofa in the lobby. She waited for a whole hour. Usually, it was others who waited for her, but this time, Ethan made her wait. Isabella guessed that Ethan had already left.Just when she was about to give up, the elevator door opened not far away, and a man in a black suit with a cold aura walked out. Isabella's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly stood up and quickened her pace. However, she was stopped by the security guards before she could approach.Isabella frowned and looked at the security guard. "Step aside. I know your boss." The security guard looked skeptical. Ethan had already walked over."Boss," the security guard respectfully greeted and then looked at Isabella. "This woman has
Seeing that trying to establish a connection was futile, Isabella changed her strategy."Ethan, that actress is not as beautiful as me and her acting skills are inferior," Isabella stated.Ethan didn't deny it, but he added, "But she has more fame than you.""How vulgar! I'll have fame in no time," Isabella retorted confidently.Ethan looked up and began to mock her, "By getting into fights? Flirting with other male celebrities?"Flirting with male celebrities? Isabella furrowed her brows, "I'm talking to you seriously! Ethan, my performance in this film is definitely better than that actress. You invested so much money, so you must want this movie to be a huge success, right?""Yes, she might not have your looks and acting skills, but she has one thing you lack: reliability," Ethan replied.When casting actors, the most important factor is reliability. Ethan knew that with Isabella's temper, she might have offended someone during the process, and he didn't want to clean up the mess f
The next day, Isabella slept until noon. After having lunch at home, she took the medicine prescribed by the doctor the day before and returned to her room. Sitting in front of the dressing table, the rash on her face was not much different from yesterday. Isabella frowned slightly. Did she just let Amelia off the hook? That's not like her. This time, Isabella had no intention of tattling on her two brothers either. Just like the day before, after dressing up meticulously, she drove to the film shooting location. It was currently the rest time just after everyone had lunch. Isabella went straight to the rest area and encountered Sandra on the way. Their eyes met, and without waiting for the other to say anything, Isabella immediately smiled and said, "Disappointed that you weren't replaced as the second female lead? Well, I have Ethan backing me. They can't replace me with an actress who doesn't demand a fee!" Sandra didn't initially recognize the woman in front of her, but upon he
The reality show started recording in the afternoon of the second day. After waking up, Isabella picked a casual gray outfit from her wardrobe, styled her hair into loose waves, and applied a bold red lipstick. Off she went! Just like the name suggests, the reality show "Journey Around the World" had a total of five guests who formed teams to travel to different cities. Today's live broadcast was just a preview with all five guests together. Isabella drove alone to the filming location. As she parked her car, the cameraman was already capturing footage with his camera. Knowing that today's episode was being broadcasted live, Isabella smiled at the camera and greeted, "Hi, everyone, I'm Isabella." The first season of "Journey Around the World" was a big hit with many fans, and the audience was already waiting in the live chat. Various comments appeared on the screen. "Who is this? I don't recognize her." "But she looks so beautiful, even without makeup! I love her natural look."
In the end, none of the five contestants guessed the song "Isabella." However, Charles's words were heard by everyone, and the barrage in the live chat kept scrolling."Wow! I didn't even know this song as a long-time fan. I'll go listen to it right away!""Huh? What's the point of liking it if she couldn't even guess it? Didn't she claim to be a big fan of Betty?""She's not likable. Can she just quit the show and stay away from Charles and Eric?"In the end, out of the twenty songs, only seventeen were guessed correctly. The director announced that they had earned a total of $1,700 in funding. Isabella's expression faltered because she knew that this reality show would span three days for each city, and $1,700 for three days was not enough. The director handed her the cash."Alright, today's live broadcast ends here. See you all tomorrow for the first episode's recording. Goodbye, everyone in the live chat!"The barrage in the live chat kept scrolling."Why should she handle the mon
Isabella and Ethan's wedding was filled with luxury and extravagance. Just like the proposal, they invited reporters and many of Isabella's fans, making it a grand and spectacular event.On stage, Isabella wore a pristine white haute couture wedding gown, with each piece of jewelry worth billions. She looked breathtakingly beautiful, standing beside Ethan in his black suit as they exchanged vows and rings. Witnessing this scene, everyone was moved to tears.When the photos of the wedding were posted online, everyone sent their blessings. Along with the well-wishes, everyone couldn't help but envy Isabella.During the wedding ceremony, Sophia and Charles almost got into a fight while fighting for the bouquet.Ryan confessed his sincere feelings to Sandra once again, but Sandra didn't accept his proposal. She didn't believe in the idea of a prodigal son turning over a new leaf.Annie also confessed her feelings, but Eric rejected her once again. Eric had moved on from Isabella but had n
Soon, it was the anniversary celebration of the Turne Group. Despite the family's initial reluctance to host the event due to recent events, Benjamin refused and hoped that life would return to normal for everyone.At the banquet, Isabella's identity was already known to everyone. But on stage, after grandparents announced Sherry's identity, everyone was once again shocked.Isabella looked at the absent-minded Sherry and asked, "Tricia, what's wrong?""Colin was supposed to come today, but he called me half an hour ago saying he had something to attend to and would be late. I feel something is not right," Sherry replied.Ethan, who was nearby, remembered Nathan, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, and said, "I hope nothing bad has happened."Isabella glared at him and said, "Don't worry, maybe he's preparing a surprise for you."Just as Sherry was about to nod, she received a call from Colin. Something had indeed happened, but it wasn't about Colin—it was about Nathan.Ethan, Isabella
In the blink of an eye, two days had passed. Isabella and Ethan took Leo to the amusement park, and the little one was very happy. His illness was slowly improving, but Isabella was still worried because there was still no news of Sara.Early on the third day, as the photos of Isabella and Ethan playing in the amusement park with Leo spread on the internet, they quickly became a hot topic. Leo already bore some resemblance to Isabella, and with the photo circulating, people started speculating about unmarried parenthood, Isabella's secret child, and various other rumors.While Isabella was having breakfast and watching the entertainment news, she hadn't even had a chance to contact Ava to clarify the situation when both her and Ethan's phones rang simultaneously. It was her father calling on one line and his father on the other.Isabella and Ethan exchanged a glance and stood up to answer the calls. On the other end, Caleb's voice came through with an air of aggression. "Isabella, wha
Upon waking up, Benjamin immediately removed the needles and went to the pediatric ward to find Sara. Isabella didn't stop him; she knew she couldn't. Upon entering the ward, Benjamin didn't see Sara's figure, and his eyes dimmed instantly.Seeing their arrival, Leo immediately put down his phone and walked up to Benjamin, furrowing his brows as he asked, "Where's Mommy?"Benjamin crouched down, looking at Leo's innocent face, and his deep eyes turned red again. He hugged Leo tightly.Leo was confused and pushed him away, asking, "Where's Mommy?"Benjamin looked at him and softly said, "Your Mommy has something to take care of, so she went away for now. She asked me to take good care of you.""That's impossible! Mommy would never leave me with you."Isabella chuckled and said, "If you don't believe it, you can call your Mommy to confirm."Leo quickly took out his phone and dialed his Mommy's number, which was answered promptly."Mommy, where did you go?""Leo, Mommy has something urge
The autumn wind blew over the two of them, and Benjamin's words resonated in Sara's ears. Her eyes turned red. There were many things she wanted to say, but in the end, she pushed Benjamin away. Sara knew that she couldn't hide it anymore. Karl had already been exposed, and it wouldn't take long for Benjamin to uncover everything. She held back the tears in her eyes, pushed Benjamin away, and spoke with an icy tone, "Yes, I am Sara." Although Benjamin was already certain in his heart, hearing her admission still stirred something within him. It was good. She was still alive. He began, "Sara..." Before he could finish his sentence, Sara interrupted him. Her voice was ice-cold to the extreme. "Benjamin, I am Gordon Jones' person. I approached you from the beginning with a purpose. I have never loved you. And appearing before you as Rita is also part of a plan to harm your family." Benjamin's gaze flickered. He believed her words. "No, you couldn't have never loved me. You've alway
Isabella stood frozen, watching Rita. This was definitely the most exciting scene she had witnessed in her over twenty years of life. Sara wasn't dead! And she had a son? Isabella felt an urge to grab a bottle of makeup remover and splash it on this "Rita's" face!Sara's words fell on Benjamin's ears, but he didn't say anything. He simply stared at her intently, sensing the attention from onlookers. Benjamin reached out and pulled Sara into the elevator, leaving quickly."Mummy!... Let go of my mummy!" Leo was about to chase after them, but Isabella hurriedly held him back. "Little one, your mummy and my older brother have something to talk about. Are you feeling sick? Should I take you to get an injection?"Upon hearing this, Leo felt like crying!"Bad aunt, let go of me!" Leo struggled, but he couldn't match Isabella's strength."What bad aunt? Call me Auntie!"Arriving in the hospital room, as Leo was about to run after them, Isabella held him back and smiled, saying, "Don't worry,
After lunch, Isabella went to Turne Group and told Benjamin that Karl already knew that he and Ethan hadn't broken up. While speaking, Isabella stared at Benjamin and asked, "Big brother, why do you look so pale? Is your cold not better yet?"Benjamin coughed lightly and replied, "I just took some medicine. It's nothing, don't worry."Isabella frowned, quickly got up, and touched Benjamin's forehead, which was very hot. "This is not okay! Come on, let's go to the hospital and see a doctor."Isabella directly snatched the files from Benjamin's hand, closed them, and urged him to go to the hospital.Upon arriving at the hospital, Benjamin stood still. In the crowd not far from the lobby, he stared intently at a familiar figure.Over the years, he had come across numerous people with back figures similar to Sara's, and the most similar one was Rita. And at this moment, the person was indeed Rita.Following Benjamin's gaze, Isabella said, "Isn't that Rita? We couldn't find her whereabouts
At this moment, Karl was in a small villa in northern Myanmar. Many people were surprised by Ethan's online announcement that he and Isabella hadn't broken up, but Karl wasn't surprised at all."Dad, give up! It's impossible for us to destroy the Turner Group with our current capabilities."He had been monitoring the Turner Group for years but hadn't found any leverage. Now, with the addition of the Adams Group as their collaborators...Beside Karl sat a man in his fifties, sitting in a wheelchair. He had gray hair, a weathered face, and his eyes were fixed on the blooming magnolia outside the window—Maisie's favorite flower.Gordon Jones's gaze was cold. "Give up? Have you forgotten how your mother died? And your uncles? It's all because of their family.""If only you had made Isabella fall in love with you back then, there wouldn't be the Adams family helping them now!"Karl fell silent. If it were anyone else, he would have wholeheartedly helped his father, but the other person was
Kathy, sitting on the couch, was happily scrolling through her phone, watching Isabella being criticized. Ever since Ethan and Isabella's relationship was exposed, Kathy had been keeping a close eye on Isabella. She knew that Isabella's popularity in the entertainment industry was growing, and she would eventually surpass her. So Kathy decided to expose her.Although Isabella's identity was from the Turne family, Kathy believed that as long as she could ruin Isabella's reputation, it would be enough. What could Isabella, who was now infamous, do to her?Setting her phone aside, Kathy was about to go to the refrigerator to grab a drink when the door opened. It was her father returning home. Kathy looked puzzled and asked, "Dad, didn't you just go to the company? Why are you back?"Before she could finish her sentence, her father slapped her across the face.Kathy was stunned, "Dad, you..."Her father interrupted her angrily, "Look at what you've done, Kathy! Couldn't you have discussed