Chapter 31
Samuel’s s grip on the steering wheel relaxed a bit, the oppressive aura around him dissipating. Finally, he calmed down as Isabella raised an eyebrow.
Samuel leaned back against the seat and said softly, “We’re married. You don’t need to worry about what others think.” With that, the tension in his brow eased even more..
is wife.
It was only natural for Samuel to protect his
“Besides, your father is stubborn. If you could have solved this, it wouldn’t have dragged on for so long.” Samuel added, turning his gaze back toward her.
Isabella shook her head in disagreement. “It’s not the same.”
Samuel frowned, but Isabella smirked lightly, explaining. “Before, I cared too much about how they felt; I didn’t want them to be upset. But now, I don’t want to make myself miserable anymore. I refuse to endure everything like before. My mindset has changed, and I won’t be wishy–washy. Her eyes narrowed a bit, a chilly glint flickering in their depths.
Samuel fell silent, but there was a hint of pain in his gaze. What has she been through all these years? he wondered.
Isabella kept her eyes focused on the road as she continued, “Only through greater despair can I sever all ties. The final words dripped with resolve. Her grip on her phone tightened.
These were battles she had to fight on her own. No one could help her–if they did, she might never escape this predicament.
Samuel’s gaze lingered on Isabella, noticing how she slightly raised her chin and stared ahead with eyes that looked a bit lost. Ultimately, he decided to support her. His voice was soft. “I’m always here for you.” The unspoken message was clear: if she needed anything, he’d be there to handle it right away.
Isabella’s heart fluttered involuntarily. She instinctively glanced at him, and her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions. If Samuel keeps treating me this well, will I end up falling for him? And if that day comes, what should I do? she wondered.
The car suddenly lurched forward, snapping Isabella back to
overthinking things? It’s better to just take things one step ality. She instinctively bit her lip, thinking, ‘Have I been
anyway. I just don’t measure up to him.‘
at a time. Besides, Samuel and I won’t have a future together
Isabella sat quietly in the car, her thoughts drifting away. When she finally noticed the unusual route they were taking, she turned to Samuel with a hint of confusion. “Where are we going? This isn’t the way home.”
The car sped on without slowing down as Samuel’s gaze remained focused ahead. His voice was calm and steady. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Isabella’s eyes narrowed in curiosity, but she decided not to press further..
After about 30 minutes, the car came to a smooth stop. Isabella instinctively glanced outside and was surprised to see at popular barbecue restaurant.
Samuel turned his head slightly to look at her and said coolly, “Let’s get out. We’re here to eat.”
Isabella was taken aback. Earlier, she had chatted with Megan for over an hour and mentioned Samuel’s preferences–he wasn’t exactly a fan of this kind of food.
Before she could voice her surprise, Samuel had already opened the car door and stepped out. “Anything will do,” he said casually.
Isabella blinked, skepticism flashing in her eyes. There was no way she would believe that. This was a lively street, and there was no way he would have hit this kind of traffic unless it was planned.
Her mind raced with thoughts. He must have brought me here to cheer me up, given how I’ve been feeling low earlier. A flicker of warmth spread through her as she quickly followed him.
Samuel walked fast, and before long, Isabella found herself trailing behind. She picked up speed in an attempt to catch up, but just then, Samuel slowed down, clearly waiting for her. A smile broke across her face as she hurried to walk alongside him into the restaurant.
Chapter 31
Inside, the atmosphere was surprisingly quiet. Aside from the servers, there were no other customers in sight. Isabella paused, glancing at her wristwatch–it was 8:15 PM. This was typically peak dinner time, and she couldn’t help but feel something was
off.
She realized he wasn’t just casually stopping for a bite. He actually knew she loved barbecue, and he’d picked this place even though he himself wasn’t a fan.
“Welcome! Please follow me, a server greeted them.
Isabella shifted her gaze to Samuel, not saying a word as she followed him deeper into the restaurant, a mix of surprise and warmth filling her heart..
Isabella followed the server as they guided her and Samuel to their seats. As the servers began to serve the dishes one after another, Isabella’s surprise deepened. Earlier, she thought Samuel was merely guessing her love for barbecue, now, she was sure that he had known. The table was filled with her favorite foods. There was no way it was just a coincidence.
With a complex expression, Isabella glanced at Samuel but found him maintaining his usual aloof demeanor as if everything happening around him was wholly irrelevant to him.
“He’s actually willing to put in the effort to investigate my preferences? With his status and capabilities, he could have easily ordered anything without wasting time on me. Does that mean his earlier claim of wanting to be with me for a lifetime was genuine?‘ Isabella trembled at the thought.
She watched as Samuel prepared the utensils, her emotions swirling within her. She parted her lips, ready to say thank you, but stopped herself. He didn’t like such polite formalities since they just created distance.
After a moment of consideration, she finally spoke softly, “I didn’t expect you to reserve the whole place in advance.”
Samuel placed the utensils in front of her with methodical precision and then met her gaze. His voice was calm. “Yeah. I just don’t like it when there are too many people around.”
Isabella bit her lip, falling silent.
Samuel quickly got a fire going. Before Isabella had a chance to do anything, he placed some beef on the grill to cook. While Isabella was still a bit lost, he put the cooked beef on her plate. “Have some first,” he said.
His demeanor made it seem entirely natural for him to do such things, which left Isabella momentarily speechless.
The waitstaff couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with envy. They had been watching the couple since they arrived, drawn in by their undeniable chemistry. It was clear to everyone that they were a perfect match. As they sat together, Samuel’s gentlemanly care for Isabella made the others even more envious
“They look so good together! And her boyfriend is so sweet!” one of the waitresses exclaimed.
“Thinking about how my boyfriend treats me, I just want to scream. No comparison, no pain, right?” another added with a dramatic sigh.
“Why is it so unfair? I want a boyfriend like that!” a third chimed in.
“Girl, are you sure you even deserve someone like him?” another teased.
Although the staff tried to keep their voices down, their comments reached Isabella’s cars loud and clear. She tightened her grip on her fork, instinctively glancing over at Samuel. However, Samuel surprised her with his comment.
18
