Chapter 168

After hanging up the phone, Michael threw on an apron and got to work in the kitchen. Over the past few days, he'd picked up a bunch of new recipes to help ease Isabella's stress, hoping to show his love through some tasty meals.

Just as he finished the last dish, he heard a car engine outside-Isabella was home from work.

The moment she walked in, the delicious aroma hit her.

"Take off your coat and wash up. I've got some new dishes for you to try," Michael said with a grin, setting the food on the table.

Isabella dashed to the bathroom, washed her hands, and then plopped down at the dining table.

Michael grabbed a bottle of red wine, poured them each a glass, and sat across from her.

"So, what do you think of the PR person I found for you?" Michael asked, a curious smile on his face.

Isabella nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You're incredible! I can't believe you landed the PR queen for me, and even more, you saved her life!"

Michael's smile faltered for a split second but quickly recovered.

'Damn it, what did Juniper tell Isabella? Looks like Isabella asked her the very thing I was worried about. Why didn't Juniper mention this on the phone earlier?' Michael thought, feeling a bit annoyed.

Meanwhile, in her office, Juniper sneezed.

"Feels like I forgot something," Juniper muttered, rubbing her nose, but she shrugged it off.

Isabella went on about her day, talking about Odette's provocations, John bringing in a PR team, and how she ended up kicking him.

Michael listened with a faint smile, but his mind was elsewhere.

'Why does Mason always want John to get close to Isabella?' Michael wondered.

He'd always been puzzled by the relationship between Isabella and Mason. Mason claimed he looked out for Isabella because her grandfather adored her, and as a friend of her grandfather, he felt obliged to care for her too. But there was a big flaw in that logic: Bianca and Isabella shared the same grandfather, yet Mason treated Bianca very differently.

'Maybe I should ask my dad; he might know something,' Michael thought, narrowing his eyes.

"What are you thinking about? Did you even hear what I just said?" Isabella waved her hand in front of Michael's face, a bit annoyed by his daydreaming.

"I was telling you about my day, and you were off in la-la land. What were you thinking about? You're not thinking about another woman, are you?" Isabella swirled her wine, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

Michael quickly shook his head. "No way, you're overthinking it. I was just amazed at how fate works. If I hadn't saved Juniper back then, the PR team I could get for you might not be as good as John's."

Isabella immediately stood up, walked over, and hugged Michael. "Don't worry about it! That idiot John gets played like a fool by women. If it weren't for his good background, he wouldn't have achieved half as much as you have."

She was trying to comfort Michael, hoping he wouldn't feel bad about the situation.

Feeling Isabella's warm embrace, Michael had a different thought.

"If it makes you happy, I don't mind you thinking about other women," Isabella smiled, gently stroking Michael's face.

Michael rolled his eyes. He knew better than to fall for that. When your partner told you it was okay to think about others, it was either a test or a joke. Taking it seriously would only lead to trouble.

"I'm not interested in other women. You're the most beautiful woman to me," Michael said, standing up from his chair and gently stroking Isabella's hair. "But you seem unconvinced, so let me prove it."

Isabella was puzzled. "How?"

Michael leaned in and whispered in her ear, "How about I show you my stamina in bed? That should reassure you that I'm faithful."

Isabella's face turned bright red.

"I haven't even eaten yet," Isabella said, trying to run away, but Michael grabbed her from behind and lifted her onto his shoulder.

"But I can't wait any longer, my dear," Michael said with a laugh, carrying Isabella to the bedroom.

Michael threw Isabella onto the bed, and they playfully wrestled, shedding their clothes piece by piece.

Soon, scattered coats and underwear lay on the floor, and the room filled with their moans and gasps.

While Michael and Isabella were enjoying their intimate moment, a figure arrived at Lumaria's airport.

Bianca was dragging a suitcase, but this time she wasn't in a wheelchair; she was returning home as a healthy person.

'Tomorrow I can finally be back with John! I haven't seen him in so long, I miss him so much! I hope that bitch Isabella hasn't had any contact with him while I've been away,' Bianca thought, her eyes flashing with resentment. Just as she was about to board the plane, her phone rang.

"I told you to stay there for a while longer. Recovering too quickly will raise suspicions," a deep, angry voice said on the other end of the line.

Bianca pouted dismissively. "I've been here long enough. Didn't we already come up with a reason? I got some meds from some medical expert, and they really helped me recover fast."

"Those were just medications! They don't work miracles," the man on the other end shouted angrily.

Bianca remained indifferent. "Relax, Isabella and John are clueless about the meds. They'll just think it's some miracle cure. It's no big deal. Alright, I'm boarding now. Goodbye."

With that, Bianca hung up the phone.