Chapter 169
Cameron fick antsy watching, but he didn’t dare make a move on Isabella now. No matter how much his desires clouded his judgment, he knew how to weigh the pros and cons. He couldn’t make a move on her until he was fully recovered.
The next day, Isabella got to the office early this morning. As she got out of the car and closed the door, she saw Celine in a white dress at the building entrance.
Dear at any moment.
Celine’s face was pale and she looked very tired. The light breeze made her seem like she could disappear at
Isabella frowned, wondering how Celine had become so worn–out in such a short time.
As soon as Celine saw Isabella, a smile appeared on her face, but she hesitated slightly as she walked toward her, seeming a bit shy.
Isabella walked up to Celine, who gave her an anxious look before she could sprak. “Hells, shall we sit over there?” Following Celine’s gaze, she noticed the café next to the company.
Isabella’s eyes shifted slightly, but she nodded, not declining the offer.
The two quickly entered the cafe, and a waiter brought over two Americanos, bowing respectfully. Please enjoy, ladies.”
After the waiter left, babiella took a sip of her coffee and looked at Celine with curiosity. “Did you need something from me?”
Celine kept her head down, avoiding Isabella’s eyes, her fingers nervously fiddling on the table. After a long pause, she finally whispered, “I’m sorry
about last time.”
Celine had been wanting to apologize to Isabella for a while, but she was nervous and afraid Isabella might not want to see her. It took her a lot of courage to come inday
Isabella remained indifferent. “You’ve already apologized over the phone, so it’s fine, Celine’s actions did disappoint her, but she could somewhat understand why. After all, Celine was in need of money
It was just that they probably couldn’t go back to how they used to be
Celine Immediately looked up at Isabella, tears glistening in her eyes, and shook her head. “I know what I did must have let you down. After all those years of friendship, I sold you out,” At this moment, she couldn’t hold back her tears anymore.
She wiped away her tears and continued with a choked voice. “But I still want to apologize to you in person. Even if you don’t forgive me. I have to do this.” She stood up and bowed deeply in front of Isabella.
Celine’d been mentally tormented all this time. If she had known earlier that Ivana dragged Bella just to get some guy to sleep with her and ruin her reputation, she would never have done that.
Ivana told her that the family always wanted to reconcile with Isabella, but Isabella never agreed. So they resorted to the extreme measure of bringing babella back.
Celine had always yearned for family love, with her mother lying in bed suffering from illness all these years. She hoped her mother would recover so they could be happily together.
That was why she recognized the value of family ties and didn’t want Isabella to have a falling out with her family.
But she could never have guessed the Stout family would do such things to Isabella. Even a tiger wouldn’t eat les cubs, yet they meant to ruin lubella’s reputation.
Celine really regretted it now, but she couldn’t say much. Saying more would just sound like excuses, but she didn’t want to lose such a good friend like Isabella
Isabella paused for a moment with the coffee cup in her hand, her cool eyes fixed on Celine. She asked calmly. “After all the scheming, if 1 just say “1 forgive you, will it really make you feel better!”
Even if it could, the last time she said it, it didn’t really make Celine feel any better
Celine’s body suddenly tensed up, and she lowered her head even more.
Isabella continued, “Celine, we’ve known each other since high school. To me, you’ve always been a hardworking and determined girl. Even when life was tough, you never gave in.”
Those were also the qualities that attracted Isabella to Celine. She felt a deep sympathy for Celine. In all these years, Celine never reached out for help in her own struggles, Isabella wanted to help, but Celine always refused.
Chapter 169
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Isabella gently rubbed her fingers on the coffee cup, her gaze fixed on Celine. “I really admire you, but you made a mistake. Why didn’t you ask me for help when you needed money! Do you really see me as a friend?
Celine immediately shook her head, but then lowered it again, unable to answer or figure out how to respond. Her heart was filled with guilt
But her tears kept falling uncontrollably. She wanted to speak, but the words were stuck in her throat. She knew she had made a mistake.
Kabella’s gaze was complex as she softened her tone while looking at Celine and continued, “Honestly, I don’t blame you. Don’t overthink it
Celine looked up at Isabella, shook her head, and choked out “it’s because I see you as a friend that I didn’t want money to come between us. I w afrand it would ruin our relationship”
But things didn’t go as planned. Their friendship was ruined in the end. She continued, “I almost wish you hated me so that I could feel a bit better about everything”
still able to choose forgiveness. Celine thought Isabella shouldn’t forgive
That was just how Isabella was. Despite everything that happened, the was still her
Isabella sighed lightly, “You’re just not meant to be a villain. What’s the point in putting yourself through this” She glanced at her watch. It w already eight o’clock. She had a meeting with the design department at nine that she coullo’t miss.
got up and waved to a waiter, who quickly came over, and she directly said, “Check, please”
Isabella goi
The waiter came with a mobile payment device, and after Isabella paid, he bowed respectfully and said, “Thank you.”
Isabella gave a slight nod, and after the server left, she turned to Celine and gently said, “Let the past be the past. Live well and work hard.”
Celine felt a lump in her throat as she looked at Isabella, wanting to say something but stopped. Without looking at her Isabella stood up and said. Thave a meeting soon, so I need to leave.”
Isabella took a few steps, then suddenly paused and turned back to look at Celine. “Don’t do anything foolish like this again. As I said before, if there’s a problem, just come to me directly” With that, she turned and strode away.
Celine watched as Isabella walked away, her grip on the coffee cup tightening. Betraying Isabella was a one–time deal. She wouldn’t do it again. Before, she didn’t know the full story. Now that she did, if she still acted in the same way, she really didn’t deserve to be called a decent person.
Forty minutes later, dressed in casual clothes, habella headed straight to the designt department’s meeting room with her sketches and tablet. Today was the day of the design department’s team meeting, aimed at selecting the entries for the competition happening in a month. Early in th morning, the designers from the department arrived at the company to get ready for the meeting.
the
Isabella had just taken her seat when Laura walked into the meeting room. Laura’s eyes lit up when she saw Isabella, and she quickly walked over to sit beside her.
on as Laura sat down, she nudged Babella’s arm with her elbow and whispered after glancing around the meeting room. “ML Sout, I heard that Mr. Stout is coming today.”
Isabella wasn’t surprised, considering how crucial the Masterpiece Award was for the Stout Group. It practically decided the future contracts for the company. Their ability to reach new heights depended on it.
Isabella shook her head and replied, “Really? I don’t know”
Seeing that Isabella didn’t want to talk more about it, Laura didn’t press any further and focused on the work in her hands.
People gradually filled the conference room, and soon, every seat around the table was occupied.
When Hudson and Ivana walked in, many attendees looked up to greet them politely. “Good morning, Mr. Stout Good morning. Ms. Ivana Stout.”
Ivana responded with a smile and instinctively glanced over to where Isabella was sitting. She greeted everyone warmly, while lubella was leti unnoticed. This preferential treatment made her feel very satisfied.
She thought it made no difference even Isabella was Dr. Lovett? At Stout Group, only positions mattered. Being in a higher position than Isabella Ivana was naturally more embraced by everyone
SIND GIFT
