Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
“Oh…” Isabella fell silent, feeling a bit agitated.
“I heard what you said,” Andrew stated calmly, “so I’ll leave you alone from now on.”
His tone was as soothing and gentle as always. Yet, Isabella felt a sense of distance. She caught her breath, feeling almost choked. Instinctively, she grasped his hand and questioned, “And you? Were you thinking of me when you flirted with that other woman?”
“That other woman?” Andrew raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah.” Isabella was slightly irked. Was he going to deny it? But then, Andrew’s face broke into a smile, his dark eyes lighting up. “It looks like you are jealous, aren’t you?” Isabella hesitated. Why did both he and Susan think she was jealous?
“How could I be jealous?” she protested loudly. “I just don’t think it’s right for you to behave like that!”
“Okay, I understand. Since you don’t approve, I won’t do it again,” Andrew responded with a light smile, appearing to be content.
Feeling both embarrassed and frustrated, Isabella shot him a glare and turned away. But he caught her wrist with his dry, warm hand. Behind her, he said in a low, compelling voice, “Have you considered my earlier suggestion?” Isabella stopped in her tracks. Wasn’t he drunk then? She remained silent.
“If you’re still unsure, I can give you more time,” Andrew said in a low voice.
“Okay,” Isabella responded abruptly. She realized she didn’t want to witness him being close with another woman. “I agree,” Isabella said, gazing into his dark eyes.
A spark seemed to light up Andrew’s deep eyes. He grinned and said, “Well, you are my girlfriend now. We’re going to have wonderful times ahead.” Isabella nodded with a sense of pride.
The mood was getting better until the woman who had been playing games with them earlier approached. “Oh, you’re here,” she said with a smile.
Isabella’s brow furrowed slightly. Was she here to bother Andrew?
“You…” Just as Isabella was about to speak, the woman asked, “Andrew, have you made it up with your girlfriend?”
“What?” Isabella was taken aback. What did she mean by that?
The woman just looked at Andrew with an inquisitive look.
“Yes, I have. You can leave now,” Andrew responded, his tone cold and stern.
The woman muttered in displeasure, “You’re so harsh. Isabella, just a heads-up, you should keep your guard up when you’re with him. He can be quite harsh.”
“If you don’t leave now…” Andrew warned the woman.
Frightened, the woman responded, “Then I’ll head home now.”
With that, she left. Isabella, still in shock, gazed at Andrew blankly. He cleared his throat and said, “She’s my sister.” Then he added, “It’s true.”
Isabella’s eyes widened slowly. Reflecting on her earlier jealousy, she suddenly felt embarrassed! “Why did she refer to you as Mr. Klein then?”
“Her identity can’t be known in public,” Andrew explained casually.
“Well…” Isabella bit her lip, realizing her reaction had been somewhat childish. Noticing her expression, he could tell what was on her mind. He embraced her and said, “I’m glad you got jealous over me.”
Feeling the warmth of his body and the scent of his cologne, Isabella wanted to argue, but she stopped herself when she noticed his joy. She closed her eyes, savoring the peace of that moment.
After their walk, they headed back, not anticipating the arrival of two unexpected guests. Everyone’s eyes were drawn to the two figures on the sofa. One was a young woman in a striking red dress, radiantly beautiful. The other, an older woman in her forties, was clearly her mother.
Elaine was seated across from them, engaged in conversation but looking distressed. Dane and Waylon were also nearby. The others seemed to be enjoying the spectacle.
Isabella scowled. She was unfamiliar with the mother and daughter but sensed trouble brewing. Andrew lowered his voice and explained, “They are Tatiana Fernandez and her mother. Tatiana is engaged to Howard. Given their actions today, it seems likely they are here to call off the engagement.”
Marriage alliances were common among wealthy families. But how would Howard feel if the engagement was broken off now?
Elaine said in a cold voice, “Do you really want to call off the engagement now, Mrs. Fernandez? Your husband once pleaded with us to agree to this marriage.”
Elaine was visibly upset and didn’t mince her words. The Fernandez family didn’t hold the same status in Gemond as the Patton family. At best, the Fernandez family was considered middle class. Tatiana was hardly a match for Howard when they got engaged.
Back then, the Patton family consented to the marriage because Howard’s and Tatiana’s grandfathers were army comrades, and the pair had grown up together.
“Mrs. Patton, you shouldn’t speak like that. Who could have predicted Howard would turn out this way?” Luna Fernandez forced a smile and argued. “My daughter is still young. She can’t be expected to live like a widow, can she?”
The room fell into a heavy silence. A murderous glare took over Dane’s and Waylon’s expressions. The audacity of the Fernandez family was astonishing. How could they be so bold in the Patton family’s home?
Elaine was so infuriated she became lightheaded. Had Luna suggested ending the engagement privately, Elaine might have considered it. But to do so publicly at a banquet, and to disparage Howard in such a manner, showed a blatant disregard for the Patton family.
Elaine responded angrily, “Mrs. Fernandez, have you forgotten that Howard was injured while saving Tatiana? Without him, Tatiana would have lost her life.”
Upon hearing this, Tatiana pursed her lips, a mix of annoyance and embarrassment washing over her. Luna patted Tatiana’s hand to calm her and said to Elaine, “Exactly. That’s why Tatiana stayed with him all these years. But Howard has taken up so much of her youth. He can’t keep doing that, can he?”
“You—“
Howard had risked his own life to save Tatiana, effectively ruining his own prospects. How could the Fernandez family dismiss that so lightly?
Elaine was so furious she struggled to catch her breath. Waylon supported her and faced the mother and daughter, demanding, “Do you even have a conscience?”
Before Waylon could continue, Dane cut in. He stared icily at the mother and daughter and said, “Without Howard’s heroism, she wouldn’t even have her life, let alone her youth. Your family has no shame.”
The bystanders were close to the Patton family, and upon overhearing the exchange, they quickly showed their disdain for the Fernandez family.
“The Fernandez family has no decency. Do they even deserve to be in the top family circle?”
“Exactly. Tatiana clung to Howard because she saw a bright future with him. We all know that. Now that he’s useless to her, she’s getting rid of him.”
What Tatiana had done would ensure that nobody in their right mind would want to marry her.
When Tatiana heard the crowd’s mockery, her face went pale. She felt they were all quick to judge without understanding. If they were in her shoes, with a disfigured and disabled fianc?, they might flee even quicker. She had devoted years to Howard—it was time she sought her own happiness.
Tatiana looked pleadingly at her mother. Luna was somewhat embarrassed, yet resolute. “I understand your discontent. But Tatiana never asked Howard to save her. She’s old enough to enter a marriage now. I can’t let Howard hold her back any longer. Mrs. Patton, you have two daughters; you must understand me.”
“I will never do such a heartless thing,” Elaine retorted with a sneer.
Luna looked clearly mortified after being rebuked. She said, “Regarding the engagement…”
“I refuse to call it off!” Elaine retorted sharply, her tone dripping with bitterness. She held deep resentment towards this ungrateful family and was determined not to let them have their way.
“I agree to call it off!” A voice suddenly pierced the heavy silence from upstairs.
Everyone looked startled, and soon a figure in a wheelchair appeared from the elevator. To accommodate Howard, the family had installed this elevator.
Seated in his wheelchair, adorned with a hat and a mask, Howard exuded a serene and dignified aura despite his injuries. Observers could still detect traces of the charismatic charm he possessed in his youth. The thought of his scarred skin, however, filled their hearts with sorrow.
Tatiana’s heart raced when she spotted Howard—for he was a man she had deeply loved, the once dreamt-of partner for many in Gemond. Fate had dealt him a harsh hand, stirring a deep sense of pity within her. Had Howard not suffered so, Tatiana would never have thought to end their engagement.
Now, tears filled her eyes as she looked at him. “Howard, I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need for apologies. From here on, our paths diverge,” Howard responded, his voice still gentle but carrying a subtle note of detachment.
This response left Tatiana with a poignant sense of loss, feeling as though something valuable had drifted away. After speaking, Howard turned and wheeled himself away.
Elaine’s heart ached even more as she watched her son move off. She then coldly said to Luna, “Since Howard has consented, you should leave. We are through with this.”
Luna sighed. “Mrs. Patton, I understand your distress, but I did what I thought best for my daughter.”
Sensing the scornful looks from those around her, Luna could not bear to stay and quickly departed with Tatiana.
“Disgusting! The Fernandez family, I’ll remember this. When I get home, I’m telling my father we’ll cut all ties with them!” someone muttered in anger.
Another observer, watching the two people leave, said, “I think I know why the Fernandez family is so bold now. A relative told me he saw Tatiana in Ansport with a wealthy young man!”
“Really?” another exclaimed, surprised.
Families from Ansport were influential. They had the clout to overshadow any family from Gemond. Everyone’s faces showed a subtle change. If Tatiana was indeed seeing someone from Ansport, it explained their confidence in calling off the engagement. They no longer had to worry about repercussions from the Patton family.
Feeling the onset of a headache, Elaine massaged her temples. Isabella quickly came over to help soothe her.