CHAPTER 49

Chapter 49

grown up and won’t be smacked again. Our

Isabella saw the fleeting sadness in Rihanna’s eyes, thus patting her shoulder. “It’s fine. We’ve grown up moms are watching over us from above.”

A smile played about Rihanna’s lips. She nodded.

Isabella was stunned. “Rihanna, you look good when you smile.”

Unfortunately, Rihanna’s smile vanished.

After that incident, Isabella and Rihanna became closer.

Perhaps Louisa was pressured by Maguire Group and the HR department, for she did not mess with Isabella and Rihanna after stepping out of Nigel’s office. She purely rolled her eyes.

Isabella felt relieved, for getting fired for lack of ability was vastly different than that for accusation. She had always aced her studies, so her future would be ruined should she get expelled during the internship.

However, thinking of how Nigel acted the day before, Isabella decided to stay focused and alert.

‘Survival of the fittest, huh, she mused.

That day sailed by smoothly. When it was almost time to clock out, Isabella and Rihanna exchanged smiles. It seemed that the ordeal had passed.

They packed their things and exited Vaughn Corporation. At the intersection where they were going separate ways, Edmund in a beige suit was standing there elegantly. Behind him was a black car unfamiliar to Isabella.

for die

Seeing them, Edmund approached with a grin. “Ladies, care to join me for dinner? My treat.”

Isabella and Rihanna exchanged looks.

Edmund beamed and added, “Take it as a gift for sending me the design draft.”

Isabella shook her head. “We’re good, Mr. Maguire. We’re just doing our jobs. Besides, as you already know, it seems to be a mix–up.”

Edmund returned a friendly smile. “It’s not your fault. Your earnest execution of it means you’re responsible. For me, your conscientiousness has brought me great benefits, so I wanna express my gratitude.”

“Is that design draft that useful to you?” Rihanna suddenly spoke and looked straight at Edmund.

Isabella was surprised, not expecting Rihanna to speak. She was used to being the Rihanna’s spokesperson.

Under Rihanna’s gaze, gone was Edmund’s grin as he nodded earnestly. “Yup, that design might never see the light of day if left in Vaughn Corporation. Since I saw it by chance, I’ll make it a reality. Such was also the agreement i made with Mr. Langley”

Rihanna pursed her lips and stopped talking.

Edmund continued smiling. “What say you? Will you give me a chance to thank you

you?”

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Edmund was a decent man, or so was isabella’s first impression.

Edmund was not an old as

cold as Clayton Indeed, Clayton had never been cold to her, but she had witnessed Clayton’s icy, tough bearing in public. In his aura, giving in was one’s only choice

ikbo, Tdmund and Victor somewhat looked alike, but the former appeared warm and amiable, Victor, though, screamed a devilish seduction, eliciting vigilance in others involuntarily.

Edmund was deemed more humane than Clayton and Victor. All in all, Victor was a devil, and Edmund was only human.

the trio reached their destination, Edmund ordered some delicacies for them gentlemanly

Surprisingly, Rihanna probed deeper into Edmund’s design. Isabella was curious to see Rihanna like that it was the first time Rihanna chattered ever since they got acquainted, not to mention with a stranger whom they first met.

“Maguire Group has a newly–built condominium needing renovations. I’ve been scouting design drafts, and Vaughn Corporation also sent me one before, but it was meh. What you brought me, though, fits my concept. I talked with Mr. Langley, and we’re on the same page. As far as I know, the person in charge of Vaughn Corporation doesn’t value this draft much.” Edmund was patient with Rihanna and answered all her questions. He did not hide his interest in the unexpected design draft, nor did he gloss over how ignorant Vaughn Corporation was on talents.

Came Rihanna’s sneer, “Vaughn Corporation is overstaffed.”

“Does that mean Vaughn Corporation and Maguire Group will be working together?” Isabella asked while munching the food.

Edmund chuckled “We’ve reached a preliminary agreement today.”

“And there goes our design Rihanna sighed.

“You feel sorry for Vaughn Corporation, Ms. Leslie?” asked Edmund, wearing a smile.

Rihanna lowered her gaze “Vaughn Corporation owns some real estate. If only

i striking a collaboration with others” She was straightforward.

Habella beheld Edmund worriedly, for she knew Rihanna’s character.

y we could use it on our own project, it would’ve been better

Edmund did not take that to heart. “in recent years, Vaughn Corporation’s growth has been sluggish, which has everything to do with their employment mechanism. As you said, they’re overstaffed. A talent like Mr. Langley could’ve been a team leader in Maguire Group. Yet, in Vaughn Corporation, he’s been completely neglected. I get you, Ms. Leslie, but this is a management issue of Vaughn Corporation. We can do nothing. Still, if only there were more staff like you in Maguire Group.”

Rihanna hung her head low, feasting in silence.

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Chapter 45

Isabella blinked. “Are you good at poaching employees, Mr. Maguire? Getting staff like Mr. Langley and Rihanna.”

Her smile was bright and lovely

Edmund cackled. “The door of Maguire Group opens for all capable hands. Thinking of joining us, Isabella?”

Isabella froze when he mentioned her name endearingly.

Her blank look cracked Edmund up. “Isabella, don’t you remember me?”

Isabella’s mouth went agape. She had no idea what that meant.

“Do I… know you? Have we met?” Isabella still had a roasted broccoli on her fork. She even forgot to put it into her mouth, staring blankly at Edmund. The man was dashing, but she had no recognition of meeting such a person.

Edmund picked up the cup and sipped the drink, eyeing Isabella seriously with a smile. “Is George your granddad?”

The roasted broccoli on Isabella’s fork fell onto her plate as she nodded blankly.

“And Irina your n

mom?” Edmund went on.

Isabella nodded again, putting down the fork involuntarily and asking in surprise, “How do you know?”

“You’re all grown up, but you still have the same look when you were a kiddo. Plus, you’re a spitting image of Irina when she was young. That’s how I recognized you at a glance,” came Edmund’s revelation.

Isabella’s eyes widened. She grabbed the glass and took a sip of water to calm herself down. It was the first time in so many years that someone mentioned her grandfather and mother in front of her.

“Do you not remember me? It’s Eddy.” Edmund’s smile disappeared, and there was pity in his eyes.

Isabella shook her head and gulped down her saliva. “I got sick when I was 13. I can’t remember a lot of things.”

Edmund’s visage turned grim. “13, huh… Was it after Irina’s passing?”

Isabella inclined her head with bitterness. She had only mentioned it once to Clayton and never again to anybody else. “I only remember things about Mom and Granddad before I fell sick and nothing else. Do you know my mom and granddad?”

Edmund felt sorry for Isabella. “Was your condition critical? Any underlying complications?”

Isabella shook her head. “I’ve been ill for a year and change. Only parts of my memory were gone. Everything else was back to normal.”

A sudden thought struck Edmund’s mind. “Isabella, after your mom passed away, my parents paid you a visit, but your dad told them you went studying abroad. Did you get sick abroad?”

That was isabella’s first time hearing it. Taken back at first, she smiled bitterly. “I’ve never been abroad.”

Edmund’s expression turned cold in a heartbeat. “Nathan lied? Had he been mistreating you?”

He suddenly held isabella’s hand and continued frostily, “What about you all these years. We thought you were having a whale of a time abroad and didn’t miss a thing back here, so you didn’t contact us.” happened? Fear not. You can talk to me. My y mom and dad have been thinking

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Chapter 49

Edmund’s hand was firm and warm, unlike Clayton’s. Isabella felt a familiar feeling of being cared for when Edmund had her hand in his.

“Are your parents my mom’s friends?” Her voice was trembling.

For denkey years, Isabella had never bumped into her mother’s friends again. When she recovered, she was sent to boarding school and asked not to introduce herself as Nathan’s daughter, let alone any relation with Sorenson Multimedia.

She was forcefully cast out of her world, not to mention having no memories, not even the chance of recovering them.

Hence, she grew up in solitude.

Edmund’s eyes shone with empathy. “My parents have always been on good terms with your mom. To be exact, my dad and your mom were childhood sweethearts. If it wasn’t because they both had to shoulder the duty of the bloodline as the eldest son of the Maguire family and the only daughter of the Sorenson family, they would’ve been together. Then again, my mom is also pals with your mom. What have you gone through all these years, Isabella?”

Isabella’s tears rolled down her cheeks.

She wiped them off and beamed. “Sorry, there are missing puzzles in my memory. I can’t think of anything, but it’s the first time somebody talk to me about my mom after so long

She wiped her tears again with the back of her hand.

Rihanna silently handed her a tissue.

Isabella took it and thanked Rihanna while wiping her tears away. She dared not look Edmund in the eye but smiled at Rihanna while whimpering. “Your mom’s no longer with you, too, right, Rihanna? I bet you’d also lose control if someone mentioned your mom.”

Without saying anything. Rihanna suddenly embraced Isabella and patted the latter on the back. In fact, she understood the feeling.

Just then, Edmund made a call. “Mom, it’s me. I found Isabella.”

He put the phone on speaker.

“Really, Edmund? Is she Irina’s daughter? Is it really Bella?” A surprised yet elated female voice sounded from the phone. “She must be a woman now. Let’s see… 22 years old. She’s a big girl now. How’s she? Where did you find her? Are you in Moulmore? When did she come back? Oh, crap! Your dad and I will only be back in two months time. Edmund, take good care of her, you hear? Tell her that we’ll see her first thing when we fly back. Hey, Tylert Tyler! Edmund found Isabella.”

Her excitement and surprise even spread through the phone. She asked a series of questions incoherently and then summoned another person over.

Then came a gentle man’s voice from the other end of the line. “For real, Edmund? Your mom told me you found Isabella.”

Edmund glanced at Isabella, who was utterly stunned, before smiling. “Yeah, Dad, I’m sure she’s Isabella because she looks just like Irina.” “Okay, ok

okay. This is great news. The man also sounded jolly. “Your mom won’t be done with her business here any time soon. We trust that she’ll be in good hands with you.”

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