Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Chapter 22 “Isabella.”

Caught off guard, Isabella barely had time to react before Nathan had risen to his feet and strode toward her. His strong, vice–

like grip clamped down on her wrist, holding her in place.

Isabella stared at him coldly, her expression detached as though he were a complete stranger. Her distant gaze stabbed at him like a dagger.

“Isabella, why are you in Milan? Didn’t I tell you to stay obediently in the United States?” he demanded angrily.

A mocking smile tugged at Isabella’s lips. He had sent her to the U.S., and now he expected her to comply without question? Did he see her as nothing more than a thoughtless accessory to his life?

Nathan hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. “Even if you wanted to come to Milan, you should have informed me beforehand.”

At that moment, Victoria appeared, stepping forward with a falsely concerned expression. She adopted the tone of an elder Sis, speaking down to Isabella.

1214 E Chapter “Bella, do you know how worried Nathan was when you disappeared? You shouldn’t act so recklessly.”

She assumed Isabella would accept her reprimands like before, but Isabella merely studied them both with a playful glint in her eyes. She smirked as if enjoying an inside joke.

“He was busy doting on his ‘white moonlight.‘ When would he have had time to worry about me?”

The words left both Nathan and Victoria visibly uncomfortable.

As if to salvage his image as a husband, Nathan hurriedly explained, “Bella, I went to the U.S. to find you.”

The Isabella of the past might have been moved to tears by his effort. But now, she only felt the sting of irony.

“When was that?” she asked with a pause. “If I remember correctly, before I left, you promised to fetch me after three months.

But you didn’t go to the U.S. until last week...”

Her words became sharper, stripping away Nathan’s façade. “If the Hill family hadn’t needed their daughter–in–law to attend a company gala to uphold your ‘perfect husband‘ image, you probably wouldn’t have bothered making the trip.”

Nathan’s face turned ashen. The Isabella standing before him was no longer the submissive woman he knew. Her sharp 12 14 Chapter 22 words felt like slaps to his face, one after another.

Victoria, stung by Isabella’s sarcastic tone, tried to maintain composure. “Bella, why have you become so harsh?”

Isabella’s gaze turned to her, piercing. “You don’t like my harshness? Then maybe don’t do disgusting things–like knowingly being the third party in a marriage.”

Caught off guard, Victoria’s face crumpled as she began to sob, her voice trembling.

“Bella, how can you misunderstand me like this? Nathan and I were childhood sweethearts, first loves even. But ever since he married you, he’s been an upright gentleman and has never overstepped boundaries with me.”

Isabella’s eyes dropped to their interlocked fingers, a faint mocking smile curling her lips.

Realizing this, Nathan awkwardly released Victoria’s hand, though his tone turned defensive “Isabella, don’t make me out to be someone so vile. I already told you–I’ll take responsibility for you for the rest of my life. You don’t need to test us.”

Isabella let out a cold laugh. “Take responsibility for me? How, exactly? By abandoning me overseas and leaving me to fend for Chapter 22 myself? Is that how you take responsibility for your wife?”

Nathan flinched, guilt flashing across his eyes. “I gave you money, but you refused to take it “Because I don’t want anything to do with you,” Isabella replied sharply.

Her words left Nathan speechless. For the first time, he found himself at a loss in front of her.