Chapter 14

"What's wrong?" The man stopped and asked Philip.

Philip was stunned and said to the boy, "It's fine. My girlfriend was drunk.I am going to take her to rest. Sorry."

The boy didn't let him go, staring at Isabella. He was the oldest boy in his family, seeing too much conspiracy. The boy said, "She seems that she wasn't drunk."

Philip was impatient. He looked at the school ID card on the boy's cloth,threatened, "Boy, I remember. Austin, none of your business. You can't afford it."

"You're nuts!" Philip couldn't believe Austin just ignored his threats and called the cops, trying to make a run for it.

He motioned Ivry over. "If you think I'm the bad guy, let my buddy handle her. I'll leave, and you'll feel better,right?"

"No way," a tall guy jumped in and grabbed Philip. "Whatever's going on,wait for the cops to gethere before you go."

Austin found a chair and helped Isabella sit down, holding Isabella and waiting for the police.

Isabella handed her phone recording to the police, and they took Philip and Ivy away. Ivy messed up big time; she didn't clean up the wine glass and bottle Isabella used, so they got taken as evidence.

Isabella was sent to the hospital.

Michael listened to Aaron explain what happened in the car.

After hearing Isabella was okay, he called his lawyer first. "Throw the book at Philip. I don't want him seeing daylight again."

Then, he called Jeremy. "Why are you using a scumbag like Philip at the branch office? Are you in on this?"

Jeremy started sweating. "Don't say that. I'm innocent, and I don't want Qiana to get the wrong idea."

Michael ordered, "Fire Philip. Gather all the dirt on him and hand it over to the cops."

Jeremy was puzzled, thinking, 'Why is Michael so interested in this branch office? First, he orders road repairs and new streetlights. Now, he wants to deal with Philip in a day.'

"Michael, as Qiana's future husband, can I ask, is there someone you care about at the branch office?" Jeremy's curiosity got the best of him. Even though he knew he might not get an answer, he had to ask.

"Ask me again when you're actually her husband!" Michael said and hung up.

Jeremy, left hanging, couldn't help but feel sorry for Philip,who had messed with the wrong guy.

Jeremy picked up the phone and, with a forced smile, woke up the other execs one by one for an emergency meeting to figure out how to deal with Philip.

Aaron smoothed things over, and Michael went to the police station and gave Philip a beating.

Aaron, worried Philip might die, quickly said, "Mrs. Johnson is still in the hospital."

Only then did Michael stop.

By now, Philip got it. Isabella's husband wasn't the old man Ivy

mentioned but Michael, the guy who just beat him up. And he knew Michael, the future heir of the Johnson Group, the youngest grandson of the old chairman.

Too bad for him, it was too late.

At the hospital, Isabella was out of danger.

Austin got a call from home and had to say goodbye to her.

Before leaving, he asked for Isabella's WhatsApp and said, "Isabella,you remind me of my sister, so I feel close to you. If you need anything,just hit me up."

When the room quieted down, Isabella remembered Michael was still waiting for her to come home.

She nervously dialed Michael's number. "Mr. Johnson, I might not make it home tonight. It's not over yet. I'lI stay in the dorm for the night."

"Isabella, I miss you." Michael didn't call her out on her lie.

Hearing Michael's voice, Isabella couldn't hold back her tears.

"I miss you too. I really do," Isabella's voice was thick with tears.

"Isabella, don't cry. I'm coming to get you." Michael hung up and uirged Jerry,"Step on it. How much longer to the hospital?"

Jerry sighed, "Mr. Johnson, there's a traffic jam up ahead."

Michael didn't wait. He jumped out of the car and sprinted towards the hospital.

He ran all the way to her room. Before going in, he checked his reflection on his phone, trying to look less angry.

He was about to push the door open but decided to knock instead.

"I'm resting. Whatever it is, let's talk tomorrow!" Isabella's voice was low and hoarse,clearly from crying.

"It's me." Michael pushed the door ope and walked in.

Isabella didn't expect it to be him. The strength she had been holding onto all night crumbled, and she threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down like rain.

Michael had never comforted anyone before, nor had he ever said comforting words.

Seeing Isabella cry like this, all he could manage was, "Don't cry. I'm here.Why are you crying?"

Michael's awkward attempts at comfort didn't stop Isabella's tears; instead,she cried even harder, as if she wanted to let out all her grievances and sadness.

She cried until she was exhausted and finally calmed down.

"I'm fine, really. I just suddenly felt like crying." Isabella didn't know how to tell Michael about what had happened, nor did she know what the consequences would be if she did, so she insisted she was fine.

Michael knew the events of the day, but seeing Isabella cry like this,he began to worry if there was something he didn't know.

Michael looked at her seriously. "I don't care how you used to handle things. Now you're married to me, and I've got your back. No matter what happens, if there's any trouble you can't solve, you can tell me,and I'll help you. Don't put yourself in danger."

Isabella decided to tell him all the grievances and threats she had faced in

the past two days.

Michael had a good understanding of the situation, but he hadn't expected Austin to stay with Isabella for so long after taking her to the hospital,wondering what he was up to.

Michael was worried that Austin might have ulterior motives. He wanted to say something to Isabella but didn't know how to start.

Michael thought. 'Isabella doesn't know anything. I'll have to warn Austin when I get the chance.'

After Isabella finished speaking, she lowered her head and tightly closed her eyes, not daring to look at his face.

She didn't know how he would react after hearing all this. She thought, 'Is he angry? Maybe the next moment, he will even ask for a divorce. After all,I'm a troublesome person. Otherwise, why would I always get into these messes?

"You should have told me earlier." Michael held her in his arms, his voice low and tender.

"You're... not angry?" Isabella looked up from his embrace, hesitantly asking.

"Why would you be afraid of me being angry?" MichaeI was puzzled. This was what he most wanted to understand.

"Because I'm more afraid that you'll think it's my fault once you know."Isabella lowered her head, the light in her eyes dimming, curling up in the shadow of the lamp.

Michael hesitated,wondering if he should also address her inner issues.

"Remember I told you I was really afraid of the dark? That's because

something really bad happened to me when I was a child." After a moment of silence, Isabella began to speak slowly.