Chapter 1

Isabella Rosewood and her boyfriend had been together for ten years before she learned that her boyfriend had splurged all her money, which she had spent all those years living frugally just to save up, on her best friend.

That money was originally meant to fund her boyfriend's postgraduate studies.

…

Isabella never imagined that she would encounter such a heartbreaking sight after riding on the high-speed train for over ten hours to get to the city where her boyfriend was.

She had gotten together with her boyfriend, Brandon Scott, since they were in high school. Having been in that relationship for ten years, he vowed to grow old with her.

Yet, he was now holding her best friend, Abigail Stone, by the hand as they strolled together lovingly under the sycamore trees.

Abigail's baby bump was already starting to show. She was expecting.

Isabella felt her entire body go cold. It was as if every single cell in her body was about to freeze, and her limbs started trembling uncontrollably.

She couldn't believe that Brandon had cheated on her.

Nevertheless, his fingers were now intertwined with Abigail's. Also, that cloyingly sweet look in their eyes as they gazed at one another was enough to break down the steadfast trust Isabella had toward Brandon.

Brandon hadn't noticed Isabella. He and Abigail turned into the entrance of a building.

Standing alone under the scorching sun, Isabella was just like a child who had been abandoned. Not even the high temperature of 90°F was enough to bring warmth back into her heart.

Feeling unresigned, she called out, "Brandon Scott."

Through the glass doors, she could see Brandon's back stiffening up suddenly. He released Abigail's hand right away.

He turned around slowly. When he saw Isabella, the expression on his face turned from panic to awkward. It was an intriguing sight.

He uttered something to Abigail, and she remained standing at the same spot. He was the only one who hurried back out from the building.

"Isabella."

As Brandon stood face to face with Isabella, there was this look of helplessness in his eyes after being caught red-handed. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would've gone to pick you up."

In a bitter voice, Isabella said, "I thought I'd give you a surprise. I didn't think I'd give you a shock in the end."

Brandon studied Isabella with a gaze of guilt. At this moment, the exhausted and arrogant Isabella was like a puppet in the wind. She looked soulless and dead.

Isabella loved him for ten years, and she was once the ray of light that shone upon his life. He came from an underprivileged family. When they were still in school, he would get looked down upon by other students.

Even so, Isabella was never bothered by that. She encouraged him to pursue his dreams.

Since he didn't have money, she gave him all her savings earned from her job after graduation. Not only that, but she even took the initiative to take up the responsibility of caring for his parents after he left home.

Brandon was also aware that he owed Isabella way too much.

"Isabella, it's too hot outside. Come on in with me, and we'll talk." Brandon extended his arm to take Isabella by the hand.

Isabella took a few steps back and shoved his hand away.

Brandon froze on the spot, dumbfounded.

With a fierce glare, she scrutinized Brandon. "Brandon, I just want to get an honest answer from you. How long have you two been together?"

"Not long," Brandon answered in a low voice.

"And how long is that?" Isabella raised her voice to express her dissatisfaction toward him. She hated that he was hesitant to own up to what he had done.

"A year," he clarified.

Isabella staggered, and her face turned ashen.

"Brandon, how could you be so shameless as to ask me for money?"

"As a man, I know that it wasn't appropriate for me to use your money. But Abigail got pregnant unexpectedly. We really needed the money.

"As you know, I have to work on my thesis while I'm studying, which means that I don't have time to work and earn money. That was why I asked to borrow money from you."

Isabella stared at Brandon. At that moment, she suddenly felt like he was scarily unfamiliar to her.

"Brandon, I have given you a total of 200 thousand dollars over the last three years. I want you to return every single dime to me."

Isabella was a kind woman, but she was only generous toward those who were also kind to her.

Brandon became flustered. "Isabella, are you trying to push me to a corner? I don't have that much money right now."

Isabella's eyes reddened. "Don't push my buttons, Brandon."

Brandon's tone softened down. "Isabella, it wasn't all my fault that we ended up where we are today. I've told you that I feel really alone being here on my own.

"I really wanted a woman to be by my side to care for me, but you always turned me down by saying that you didn't want to live together before getting married.

"I am a man, but having a girlfriend felt as good as not having one. So, I couldn't help myself and ended up crossing the line with Abigail.

"Isabella, there is no right or wrong in love. Since you and I aren't meant to be, why don't you just give in so Abigail and I can be together?"

Isabella was infuriated by Brandon's excuses. He was such a jerk.

She scoffed. "I'll let go for both of you to be together. But you have to pay me back whatever you owe me. I do not wish to see either of you moving forward."

Isabella did not want to continue this conversation with Brandon any further. She picked up her suitcase and strutted away.

Her best friend, Abigail, was just like a coward the entire time. She hadn't dared to face her at all.

Isabella bought a train ticket for the same day for her return trip.

…

After that breakup, Isabella felt like she had been intoxicated. Over the next few days, she lingered in a muddled state.

Despite being someone who never drank, she spent her days in a bar, numbing herself with all kinds of alcohol every day.

"Dr. Rosewood, drinking isn't good for your health."

This day, just as Isabella was feeling tipsy, she heard a rich and deep-sounding voice. Immediately after, a well-defined hand pulled the glass of wine out of her hands.

Isabella looked toward that person with a bleary look in her eyes.

He had the bearing of an upright and respectable person and a face that could possibly pass him off as a celebrity. It was a pity that his dark circles were really obvious—thanks to years of being tormented by insomnia. That being said, it did not take away any of that charm of his.

If anything, it only accentuated his dark and seductive presence.

Isabella recognized him. He was one of her patients who had a sleep disorder.

When he came to seek treatment, he was extremely succinct with the cause of his condition. He basically couldn't share freely about it.

Isabella did not prescribe any inhibitors to him rashly. Instead, she left him her number and told him candidly that he could call her when he had trouble sleeping.

They had a few conversations at night and had built a slight bond.

"Mr. Hayes, I just broke up with my partner." Despite being a reserved person, being intoxicated left Isabella wanting to announce to everyone that she went through a breakup.

Sebastian Hayes went silent for a moment. He comforted her, "You have just lost someone who didn't love you. That's all."

Thanks to those words of his, Isabella broke down completely. All those feelings that she had been holding back and suppressing burst from within.

She sniffled and choked, "I… I was together with him for ten years. We were planning to get married this year. But he had a secret affair with my best friend.

"My family has been pressuring me to get married. I don't even know how to explain this to them now."

At this point, Isabella grabbed her hair, tugging at it in agony until her scalp felt numb. This was the only way that she could feel less hurt.

"Marry me, then," Sebastian said in a relaxed voice.

Chapter 2

Isabella thought she was starting to hear voices after being so desperate to get married.

"Mr. Hayes, what did you just say?"

"Isabella, marry me. Although I'm not as educated as your ex-boyfriend, I will not live off you. I will be responsible for all our expenses.

"It's up to you how you wish to manage your own finances. More importantly, I will not betray you or do anything that will humiliate you."

If someone had proposed to her so rashly while she was sober, the reserved Isabella would've thought that he was insane. Now, however, Brandon had shattered her heart completely. On top of that, her family had been pressuring her to get married. So, she wavered.

Surprisingly, Isabella nodded. "Mr. Hayes, I'm willing to marry you, but I hope I can bear half the expenses between us. Males and females have equal roles in a family. I will have an equal say in everything at home, no matter how big or how small the matter is."

Since this was a marriage not based on love, she had to fight for equal rights.

Sebastian curled his lips upward slightly. How was a doctor from a top-ranked hospital with such meager income able to cover half the expenses at home?

"I respect your decision," Sebastian said.

"Shall we go to the city hall now?"

"Sure," Sebastian agreed readily.

…

After arriving at the city hall, Isabella felt even more tipsy as she felt the breeze blow against her face.

She stared at Sebastian with a dorky look on her face. The black suit he was in looked well-tailored and new, giving others the impression that he was solemn and reliable.

He wore a matching red shirt under his blazer and a navy blue necktie with diagonal stripes. Other than looking mature and prudent, he also gave off a youthful air.

He looked very much like a bridegroom.

Similarly, Sebastian was studying Isabella, too.

He had seen her in her white lab coat, looking serious and focused when she worked. That was when she gave off the feeling that she was a mature woman.

To Sebastian's surprise, he actually felt this sense of protectiveness when he saw her in her casual wear.

"Isabella, are you sure you've thought it through? Marrying me is a lifetime decision. My view on marriage is that we will be together till death do us part. Divorce will not be an option," Sebastian said.

Isabella's cheeks were flushed, and her steps were still a little unsteady. Even so, she responded with a firm nod. "That's great. Your view on marriage happens to be the same as mine."

Sebastian then started walking into the building.

Isabella followed stiffly behind him. They got to the counter, filled in the forms, and presented their IDs. After going through the series of steps required, their marriage certificate was handed to them.

"Congratulations on your marriage!" the staff member congratulated them. "Both of you are the best-looking couple I've ever met."

Isabella mumbled, "Thank you."

Sebastian had probably heard too much flattery in the past, so he was numb toward the staff member's praises. He tucked their marriage certificate into his suit.

Then, he stepped forward with those long legs of his, striding out of the building.

Isabella picked up her pace, trotting along behind him. Suddenly, Sebastian stopped to wait for her when he realized she hadn't caught up with him.

Isabella wobbled forward to catch up with him. She chuckled awkwardly and said, "I can't run fast. My legs are too short."

Sebastian then directed his gaze to her legs. She had fair, slender, long legs that were more attractive than most models'.

Out of the blue, Sebastian picked her up in a princess carry. "I'll carry you," he said.

…

The next day, Isabella woke up with a splitting headache.

The first thing she saw was an enchanting, handsome face that made her jump out of her skin. Instinctively, she lifted her covers to ensure that she was still fully clothed before she breathed a sigh of relief.

Sebastian was an exceptionally light sleeper. He was alerted the moment Isabella's breaths became uneven. He opened his eyes slowly.

With those alluring eyes of his, he spotted the panicked look on Isabella's face. He brushed his finger gently over her nose. In a tender voice, he said, "Don't worry, Bella. I will not hurt you."

The tensed-up muscles in Isabella's body became a little more relaxed. That being said, her eyes were still filled with wariness.

Sebastian frowned. He reached out for the marriage certificate on the bedside table and handed it to her.

"We got married. You haven't forgotten, have you?"

Isabella gulped. Fragments of her memories came back to mind. Then, she hung her head low in dismay.

"Are you regretting it now?" Sebastian asked.

Before Isabella could shake her head, he continued, "There's no use regretting it. You were the one who dragged me to the city hall yesterday.

"You have to take responsibility for what you did. You can't go back on your word after sobering up and make me a divorcee."

Gallantly and confidently, Isabella said, "Don't worry. I'll take responsibility for my actions."

That being said, she cussed at herself deep down. Why did she get herself married to some random man?

What if he was… a domestic abuser? A self-made man? Or perhaps an egoistic man?

Suddenly, Isabella's phone rang. She took a quick glance at the screen of her phone and saw Brandon's name displayed glaringly on it.

She looked over at Sebastian. In a slightly awkward manner, she said, "My… My ex-boyfriend is calling."

Respectfully, Sebastian asked, "Do you need your husband to help you out?"

The word "husband" woke Isabella up instantly. She was already a married woman. She shouldn't be getting herself involved with any other men.

She rejected the call.

However, Brandon didn't give up. He called again.

Sebastian extended his arm. "Give me your phone," he said in a slightly domineering tone.

Isabella was stunned for a moment. Then, she placed her phone onto his palm.

Sebastian took her phone and answered the call.

Brandon's anxious voice sounded from the other end of the call, "Bella, you've finally answered my call! Something happened at home. Go and check on my mom immediately. My younger sister said Mom hasn't been having much appetite lately, and she would cough up blood.

"Can you also send her to the hospital while you're at it? Look after her for a few days on my behalf. I will treat you to something nice after."

"Are you done?" Sebastian interrupted Brandon in a dull voice.

Brandon was absolutely staggered. After a long while, he exclaimed, "Who are you? Why are you answering Isabella's phone?"

Sebastian warned, "Isabella has broken up with you. Do not bother her again with any of that nonsense in your family from now on. She doesn't owe you anything.

"I will show you who's boss if you continue harassing her."

Upon saying that, Sebastian ended the call coolly.

Nevertheless, Brandon called back a moment later.

Isabella answered the call in an annoyed tone. She said, "Brandon, we have broken up. Your family's issues have nothing to do with me anymore. Do not ever call me again."

"Isabella, who was that man earlier?" Brandon questioned in frustration.

"Brandon, you no longer have any right to probe into my personal matters," Isabella answered frigidly.

Brandon was taken aback for a moment.

Thereafter, he let out a heavy sigh. Helplessly, he said, "Isabella, I know you were greatly affected by our breakup. But do not stoop so low and get involved with any random bastard out there. Doing so will make me feel guilty."

"Brandon, let me remind you again. We are no longer friends. We are strangers. Please stay away from me from now on," Isabella uttered through gritted teeth. She despised him.

Brandon attempted to lure Isabella. "Isabella, those professional notes of yours are still at my place. Are you not going to go over there ever again?"

That reminded Isabella of those medical notes that she lent to him. Those were accumulated over years of her pouring out her blood, sweat, and tears.

At that moment, a look of hesitation flashed across her otherwise determined gaze.

Sebastian noticed the worried look in Isabella's eyes. He asked, "Is there something you need to get from Scott Residence?"

Isabella nodded. "My medical notes."

Sebastian offered, "I'll take you there, then."

They then heard Brandon say, "Isabella, remember to take my mom to the hospital."

Chapter 3

Isabella hung up on Brandon right away.

Sebastian drove his car over. About an hour later, Sebastian and Isabella came to the front of a resettlement building.

As Sebastian studied this tattered and old residential area, he noticed the stench coming from the trash room and the dirtied stains that were on the stone slabs, which made up the floor.

The germophobic Sebastian was instantly overcome by a feeling of nausea.

Isabella looked back at him. "How about you wait for me in the car instead?"

Sebastian nodded. "Okay."

The moment Isabella left, he slipped back into his car as quickly as he could, winding up the windows. Only then was he able to suppress that feeling of disgust within him.

There were no elevators in this residential complex. As Isabella ran up the stairs in the stairwell, Sebastian kept his eyes on her through the car window. His eyes filled with delight and affection.

After climbing up the stairs, Isabella arrived on the seventh floor. She stood in front of unit 701 and knocked.

She knocked for quite a while before Brandon's younger sister, Eira Scott, came to open the door. The moment she saw Isabella, she whined, "Isabella, what took you so long?"

"I'm just here to take what I left at your place," Isabella explained straightforwardly. She could tell that Eira had misunderstood her intention for dropping by.

Eira was shocked. "But Brandon said that you were coming to take Mom to the doctor's."

In an icy voice, Isabella said, "I am just a psychiatrist. I'm afraid I can't help with your mom's condition."

Eira was extremely displeased. "So, you're cutting us off after your breakup with Brandon?"

She continued grumbling, "Brandon had never lived together with you. Plus, he has never considered hiding his feelings for Abby from you. He just felt bad about hurting you because he could see how devoted you were to him.

"That was why he kept dragging it out and hadn't told you the truth. Why do you have to be so petty?"

Isabella turned livid with rage. Based on Eira's words, she was already aware of Brandon's affair. Yet, Eira chose to hide the truth from her while she enjoyed being cared for by Isabella as though she deserved it.

Isabella ignored Eira. She marched past her, entered the study, and carried the box of her cherished items out.

Suddenly, Eira pulled Isabella back. "Isabella, since you're already here, why don't you just take my mom to the hospital?"

Isabella no longer wanted to be the Scott family's caretaker who was at their beck and call with no compensation. She shoved Eira aside angrily.

Firmly, she said, "It's not on the way."

"You are a doctor. How could you neglect the sick?"

Isabella paused. It would be unprofessional of her to ignore the patients around her.

The responsibility of a doctor was to lessen any suffering their patients were going through. Even a convict on death row had the right to receive medical attention.

Isabella stepped back in. "Where's your mother?"

Eira pushed open the door to the master bedroom. Through the gap in the half-opened door, Isabella could see Chloe Waters sitting on the bed.

She looked gaunt and pallid, and she had a blank expression on her face. The puddle on the floor next to her was a clear indicator that she had experienced urinary incontinence.

At just one glance, one would be able to tell that something was really wrong.

As a doctor, Isabella couldn't care less about any personal grudges. She dashed into the room and performed a series of checks on Chloe.

She looked at the dilation of her pupils and checked on her heartbeat and pulse. In the end, she chided, "Your mom is in such a critical state. Why haven't you taken her to the hospital?"

Eira was flustered. She said, "I'm not a doctor. How would I know that she's in a critical state? She was still fine yesterday.

"Isabella, what should I do?"

Eira had just entered university. She had never seen anything like this. All of a sudden, she became panicky. All her confidence from earlier vanished.

In a frigid tone, Isabella said, "Ask your brother."

Eira picked up her phone as quickly as she could and dialed Brandon's number. After a few words, Brandon got her to hand her phone to Isabella.

Isabella refused to take his call, but Eira stuffed her phone into her hands.

"Isabella, Eira is still young. She doesn't know how to make major decisions like these. I'll leave it all to you to decide. I believe you'll be able to help my mom with getting through this."

Isabella scoffed. "Brandon, did I ever do anything to wrong you in my previous life? I am not obligated to help you out with your problems."

Brandon humbled himself and coaxed, "Isabella, I know that I wronged you. But you are a medical professional. It is against your professional ethics to neglect the sick.

"You will receive retribution for this."

Isabella clenched her teeth in anger. "Brandon, you are shameless."

Half an hour later, Sebastian spotted Isabella carrying an old woman on her back down the stairs from afar. He got out of his car immediately.

He ran toward her and moved Chloe onto his back instead. "Bella, let me."

When Eira saw Sebastian, she was awestruck by that air of classiness around him and his enticing features. Her eyes then lit up when she spotted his Mercedes-Benz that was worth close to seven figures.

"Isabella, who's this? He looks wealthy. Is he single?"

Isabella disregarded her. Instead, she assisted Sebastian by opening the car door for him so that he could lower Chloe into the car.

After that, Sebastian got into the driver's seat. Isabella wanted to take the passenger's seat at first, but Eira got there before she did.

"Isabella, I get motion sickness in cars. Can I sit at the front?" Eira inquired coquettishly.

Isabella was taken aback. She had never heard about Eira getting motion sickness in cars, though.

Eira had just got into the passenger seat when Sebastian booted her out in a frosty voice, "This seat is reserved for my wife."

Eira's face was red with embarrassment when she got out of the passenger seat and moved to the back seat reluctantly. But she was stupefied to see Isabella getting into the passenger seat instead.

"How could she be sitting there?" she mumbled.

Unfortunately, Isabella and Sebastian were people who did not say much. So, no one answered her.

At the hospital, Isabella took advantage of her role as a doctor and applied for Chloe to be given priority in receiving medical attention. Nevertheless, Eira did not move a muscle when it was time to settle the hospital bill.

Isabella shoved the hospital bill to her. "Go and make payment."

Eira was confounded. "I don't have any money. Isabella, since you're already helping out, you should just help us all the way…"

Out of habit, Isabella retrieved a bank card from her pocket. She was about to hand it over to Eira when Sebastian held her back.

That stern voice of his intimidated Eira greatly.

"Reach out to your brother if you've got no money. Isabella's money doesn't just fall from the skies.

"She and you are completely unrelated. Why do you have to guilt-trip her like that? This is where our help ends. Bella, let's go."

Eira felt utterly humiliated.

It was midday by the time Sebastian and Isabella emerged from the hospital.

Sebastian received a last-minute call from work. He gazed at Isabella apologetically. "Bella, the chairman of my company dropped by unannounced.

"I'm really sorry, but I have to make a trip to work."

As an employee herself, Isabella understood the helplessness of an employee who was being constrained by their company's rules.

She waved at him and urged considerately, "I'm fine. Go ahead and head to work, then. We'll keep in touch."

Sebastian shoved his car keys into Isabella's hands. "Take my car. I'll pick you up, and we can go back home together later."

Right after saying that, he hurried over to the bus stop across the street.

Isabella watched Sebastian, feeling dumbfounded. She saw him squeezing into the bus that was jam-packed with passengers, looking extremely out of place.

That sight evoked a bizarre feeling within her.

Chapter 4

Isabella drove Sebastian's Mercedes-Benz back to Meadowridge and parked the car in the garage. Then, she took the elevator upstairs.

Her initial plan was to sneak home. To her surprise, she found her mother, Rachel Morgan, standing right in front of her the moment she opened the door.

"Bella, you're home!" Rachel pulled her to the couch and sat her down excitedly. Then, she started with her series of questions for Isabella.

"How has wedding planning been going for you and Brandon? Has he agreed to have the wedding ceremony on New Year's?"

Staring at the look of anticipation on Rachel's face, Isabella wasn't sure how she could update Rachel on the latest events.

"Mom, the wedding isn't happening."

Rachel shrieked. "What do you mean that the wedding isn't happening? You gave me your promise when you left home, saying you would definitely be able to persuade Brandon to marry you this time.

"I have even informed our relatives and friends to come attend your wedding reception during the New Year. You're putting me in a tight spot here."

Isabella lowered her head and kept quiet.

Rachel yelled angrily, "Our family has given in so much! We're not asking for wedding gifts or a matrimonial home. We are basically handing you, our daughter, to Brandon on a silver platter. What else is he dissatisfied with?

"Isabella, I want you to call Brandon now. I want to hear from him personally when he actually plans to marry you."

Isabella felt like she was in an awkward position. She had broken up with Brandon, so she never considered contacting him again.

Rachel became more enraged when she saw how unmoved Isabella was. "Brandon has just been dragging things out with you. I reckon he doesn't even have the intention to spend the rest of his life with you.

"If he truly loved you, he could very well further his postgraduate studies after marrying you."

Isabella could feel the temperature on her face rising.

Rachel was right. Brandon was not as in love with her. She was too conceited before.

From the very beginning, she concluded that he was the one for her. As such, she treated him well, single-mindedly. Yet, she didn't realize that feelings were volatile and that he had already betrayed her.

"Mom, how about I just break up with him…" Cautiously, Isabella tried to sound Rachel out.

However, Rachel flew into a rage and pulled her by her ear. She reprimanded, "Are you dumb? You have invested ten years of your time in Brandon.

"You supported him financially with all the good stuff, but you're wanting to dump him when he's finally about to graduate and support you back? Wouldn't you have then invested all that for nothing?

"Besides, you're getting old. How are you going to find someone better than him?"

At this moment, Isabella's father, James Rosewood, pushed the door open without warning. He lifted a glaringly bright wedding invite in his hand.

However, he froze on the spot when he noticed how upset Rachel looked.

Rachel hit the roof when she saw the wedding invite. "Why are you holding that in your hands? Our family doesn't need that anymore. Throw it away."

But James held the wedding invite close to his chest as if it were some treasure. He explained, "My dear, this wedding invite isn't ours. Our neighbor, Ethan Stone, gave this to me."

Then, he twitched his nose to adjust the gold-frame glasses on his nose. Excitedly, he said, "Bella's best friend, Abigail, has found a wealthy husband.

"When Ethan bumped into me earlier, he was bragging about his daughter. Even though she isn't highly educated, she found herself a smart boyfriend.

"She even managed to get pregnant with his child, so they are preparing to get married this New Year's."

Isabella's spirits were dampened. Brandon and Abigail were getting married during New Year's?

During her relationship of ten years with Brandon, she tried to persuade him as much as she could, but he always gave all sorts of excuses and refused to get married.

Nevertheless, he was actually getting married to Abigail after just one year of being together?

So, had he even truly loved her during the last ten years?

Rachel became even more worked up. She couldn't be resigned, knowing that Isabella had been outdone by the average Abigail.

She growled her final warning at Isabella, "Isabella, look at Abigail. She managed to also get herself a husband who has a PhD, and they are getting married and starting a family after dating for a year.

"How about you? Whatever it is, you and Brandon have to get married on New Year's."

James attempted to ease the situation by saying, "It's a good idea to get married on New Year's. Ethan and I have agreed to have a double wedding. We have to make this wedding ceremony a big one."

"Dad, Mom, I don't want to get married on New Year's," Isabella protested.

Right after she said that, Rachel flew off the handle. She roared, "You are not my daughter if you do not get married on New Year's!"

Due to being too worked up, Rachel started showing symptoms of a heart attack unexpectedly. Her lips turned visibly purple. Meanwhile, Isabella was so frightened that she didn't dare to say anything else.

She nodded meekly. "Don't be mad, Mom. I promise I'll get married on New Year's."

These words were way more effective than heart relief pills. Rachel's condition actually started to stabilize.

After Rachel fell asleep, Isabella retreated to her own room, feeling heavy-hearted. As she lay on her bed, she started mulling over the wedding on New Year's.

Would Sebastian be willing to celebrate their wedding together?

Isabella thought back to the countless times in the past when she tried persuading Brandon to get married. She always ended up feeling miserable after being turned down.

This time, she did not have a single ounce of confidence within her.

As if she spoke of the devil, Sebastian called, giving Isabella this feeling of relief. She felt like she was in luck.

She answered his call.

Sebastian sounded somewhat delighted as he said in his sexy voice, "Bella, I'm at your door. I'm here to take you home."

Isabella was so startled that she almost lost her grip on her phone. It was only at this moment that she remembered Sebastian saying this morning that he would pick her up after work.

But she hadn't told James or Rachel about her flash marriage.

She ran into the living room and opened the door for Sebastian. She whispered, "My mom had a heart attack… Don't say anything about our flash marriage for now."

Sebastian was slightly stunned. Was she asking him to hide the truth about them being married?

At this moment, Rachel asked in a weak voice, "Bella, who's here?"

Isabella lied, "Oh, it's one of my patients."

James supported Rachel as they walked out of the room. They were both dumbfounded when they saw the valuable gifts Sebastian had in his hands.

He had expensive vodka—James' favorite. He also brought expensive supplements for Rachel.

Were those gifts to bribe his doctor?

"Um… Mr. Hayes, we have been a working-class family for generations. Bella had to work hard to get a job like hers. Please don't give us any gifts.

"It would not be worth it if she ends up losing her job," Rachel refused Sebastian's gifts.

Sebastian looked askance at Isabella with a displeased gaze. Because of her lie, Rachel had now assumed that he was a patient who was here to bribe her.

Throughout all the years of his life, he was the one people wanted to bribe. He had never bribed anyone.

"Mrs. Rosewood, even though I am Dr. Rosewood's patient, we are also close friends in private. These gifts are just a small gesture of my respect to you."

Feeling relieved, Rachel welcomed Sebastian warmly. "Since you're friends with Bella, stay for a meal with us."

"Sure," Sebastian agreed willingly.

Rachel was stunned. That was just a casual, mindless remark. Why did he agree to stay?

With a sullen look on her face, she said to Isabella, "Bella, I'll leave you to cook up some good dishes for your friend tonight. We've got truffles, lobsters, and beef in the fridge.

"Cook them all."

James, on the other hand, led Sebastian to the couch. "Come, Sebastian. Have a seat."

Isabella took another uneasy glance at Sebastian.

James and Rachel usually disliked her friends of the opposite gender. What would they do to make things difficult for Sebastian today?

Chapter 5

"I'll be off to prepare dinner." Isabella kept turning around to look as she headed to the kitchen.

She breathed a sigh of relief on Sebastian's behalf once she saw how hospitable James and Rachel were toward him.

When she got to the kitchen, she took some ribs, fish, and seafood out from the fridge… While she was relieved to find that they had enough ingredients, she came to a realization.

Those were ingredients for Brandon's favorite dishes—sticky pork ribs, grilled salmon, and seafood jambalaya.

Yet, she was now cooking for her newlywed husband, Sebastian.

Isabella put back all those ingredients into the fridge. In the end, she decided to make aglio olio with a fresh salad on the side.

James and Rachel sat on the couch while scrutinizing Sebastian with their sharp gazes.

All along, they had only one assumption about all of Isabella's male friends who came by their place. They assumed that those men had ulterior motives with Isabella.

However, Isabella was already attached. In order to preserve Isabella's reputation, James and Rachel would repel Isabella's male friends as much as they could.

"Sebastian, Isabella and Brandon are getting married on New Year's. Make sure you come for their wedding then."

Sebastian lifted the corners of his lips. James and Rachel were asking him to attend the wedding of his wife with another man?

Too bad he was not open-minded enough to do that.

"On New Year's? Unfortunately, my wife and I are also planning to have our wedding on that day."

When that day came, he would also be there at the wedding ceremony. Otherwise, there wouldn't be anyone being Isabella's groom. He was definitely not going to put her in an embarrassing situation.

Rachel peered at Sebastian's fingers. Her keen observation led her to notice the absence of a ring on his finger.

"That's such a coincidence! Sebastian, remember to give me an invite. I will find time to attend your wedding celebration."

Sebastian reciprocated by saying, "Do give me a copy of the invite to Bella's wedding, too."

"Babe, the wedding invite."

James pulled open the drawer at the tea table. He then handed an invitation that they had printed beforehand.

Sebastian received the invite with both his hands. With his sharp eyes, he studied the names written on the invitation.

A shape of a heart was printed around Brandon's and Isabella's names while the phrase "Happily Ever After" was written on the invite.

The smile vanished from Sebastian's face. He hadn't expected Isabella and Brandon to have been at the stage where they were discussing marriage.

He was an extremely competitive person. Brandon was part of Isabella's past. How could he be resigned to losing to him?

"I see that Brandon has finally come round. Congratulations to Bella for finally having her wishes come true!" He emphasized the word "finally", accentuating the difficulties Brandon had put Isabella through.

James's and Rachel's faces dropped. An explicable feeling of rage swept over them.

"Where is the groom planning on having the wedding?" Sebastian pressed on.

James and Rachel looked even more upset. Their family, the Rosewoods, was on the losing end when it came to this wedding. It would be humiliating for Isabella if news about this went out.

"At Rose Estate," James answered. He was the one forking out money for Isabella's wedding, so he chose a location that would be easily accessible for everyone.

Sebastian knitted his brows together. "Rose Estate has Mezzonian architecture that was left behind from the previous century. They only accept clients who are civilians having foreign wedding ceremonies.

"Other than their affordability, there's nothing good about that place. It's quite unfair for Bella to have her wedding there."

James and Rachel lowered their heads as their hearts ached for Isabella.

A sly and gleeful look came across Sebastian's prideful eyes when he managed to put Brandon down in the ditches.

When Isabella came out of the kitchen with the dish of aglio olio in her hands, she noticed James and Rachel looking defeated while Sebastian looked like he had won a battle.

She was a tad surprised. Her argumentative parents actually lost to Sebastian, who was a man of few words?

The moment Rachel noticed the simple dishes on the dining table, she grumbled, "Bella, didn't I tell you to cook with seafood and truffles? How could you prepare these for our guest?"

The term "guest" emphasized the distance between Sebastian and their family.

Isabella explained, "Sebastian has severe gastritis. He's not allowed to have anything too rich."

Rachel fell silent.

Looking at the aglio olio on the dining table, Sebastian could clearly see that the ingredients used were ones that were nutritious.

The salad that was prepared was also filled with colorful vegetables. The ingredients complemented one another well and were nutritious. This spread of food looked simple but was actually carefully prepared.

A gush of warmth flooded Sebastian's heart. He had simply mentioned his severe gastritis in passing when he went to Isabella for his treatment. He hadn't expected her to remember that he had such a condition.

As expected, Isabella was a caring and warm-hearted woman.

Sebastian pulled out a chair and sat down on it naturally.

When Isabella walked over to the table, she took the seat by his side naturally.

Rachel and James shot one another a look. A feeling of doubt rose within them.

"Bella, how did you know about Sebastian's gastritis?" Rachel started launching her attacks at Isabella.

Isabella almost spat the pasta out of her mouth. "H-He's my patient."

"But you are a psychiatrist. Do psychiatrists treat patients for gastritis, too?" Rachel persisted.

Isabella answered, "Many psychiatric patients come with gastrointestinal issues, too."

Only then did Rachel give up. She even glanced sympathetically at Sebastian. "Sebastian, don't worry. Isabella might be young, but she is very skilled at what she does. I'm sure she'll be able to treat you."

Rachel emphasized the doctor-patient relationship between Isabella and Sebastian.

Sebastian looked at Isabella and nodded. "Yeah, I trust Bella."

This turned out to be a stressful meal. Rachel and James kept harping on about Isabella getting married while emphasizing that her husband-to-be was someone other than Sebastian.

At the same time, Sebastian would insult Brandon any chance he got.

Isabella breathed a heavy sigh of relief when dinner was over. While James and Rachel did the dishes in the kitchen, she seized the opportunity to urge Sebastian to leave so that she could avoid getting into trouble.

"Sebastian, I'll see you out."

Sebastian was taken aback. With sadness in his eyes, he gazed at Isabella. "And you?"

Isabella whispered, "Look at how wary my parents are of you. You won't be able to take me away today."

Sebastian furrowed his brows. "When will you be coming home, then?"

Isabella hesitated.

Sebastian leaned into her ear and whispered, "Don't forget that I am a normal man. I do not wish to be living separately from my newlywed wife for such a long time."

Isabella's ears turned red. She nodded shyly. "I'll try my best."

Sebastian straightened his back. He then bid goodbye to James and Rachel. "Mr. and Mrs. Rosewood, I'll be off. Thank you for having me."

James spoke up, "Goodbye." There was a hint of delight in his voice.

Isabella announced, "I'll see him off."

James and Rachel remained silent.

After leaving Rosewood Residence, Isabella and Sebastian walked, side by side, in an alley in the residential area.

All of a sudden, Sebastian stopped in his tracks and extended his hand toward Isabella.

Isabella was scared stiff. She was anxious about being close to someone of the opposite gender.

When she was still together with Brandon, they spent their first few years dating platonically. The first time Brandon tried to sneak a kiss on her, she gave him a slap out of reflex, resulting in him feeling extremely wronged.

Subsequently, Brandon would always have to ask cautiously whenever he wanted to hold her hand.

Seeing as Isabella wasn't making any moves, Sebastian dominated the situation. He took her by her hand, wrapping it in that broad palm of his. Then, he continued walking with her in tow and did not say a word.

Isabella felt like she were Sebastian's pet.

When they got to the parking lot, Sebastian spun around unexpectedly. A tender look of joy came across his eyes as he put his arms around her shoulders.

"Darling, let me hold you."