Chapter 36

As soon as Michael got home, he spotted Isabella chilling in the garden.

Under the flowering tree, with the lamp casting a soft glow, Isabella looked stunning. Her long dress was swaying in the evening breeze, making Michael's heart skip a beat.

"You're back?" Isabella greeted him casually. "I need to talk to you.Wanna shower and change first or...?"

Michael could tell something was different about Isabella tonight. She had makeup on and looked extra charming.

"Sure, I'll shower first," Michael said. "Come here and give me a hug."

He reached out, trying to wrap his arms around her waist.

Isabella subtly dodged and urged, "Go ahead, I'll wait for you here."

Michael felt something was off. 'Lately, she's been fine with me hugging her. What's different this time? Maybe she thinks I'm dirty because I haven't showered!

He quickly took a shower. Initialy, he put on some comfy loungewear, but thinking about how dressed up Isabella was, he changed into a suit to match her vibe and headed back to the garden.

Isabella was sitting in a wicker chair,lost in thought.

Michael walked over, sat down opposite her, took her hand, and asked,"What's in your mind? You look quite serious,"

Isabella snapped out of her daze, looked up at him, and said seriously,"Mr. Johnson, thanks a lot for your help. I never got the chance to repay you,and I don't know how to. Now, I... I don't want to trouble you anymore, so I'm stepping back."

She pulled out a piece of paper from the file bag on the table and continued, "This is the divorce agreement I drafted. Take a look, and if there are no issues, we can...we can get divorced tomorrow."

Isabella thought she was prepared, but saying those words made her heart ache terribly, and she almost could㎡'t continue.

Michael was shocked by Isabella's wvords!

"Isabella, are you serious?" Michael asked.

Isabella nodded.

"Can you tell me why?" Michael asked, feeling weary.

He felt like he was going crazy with these two women he loved the most.One was setting him up on blind dates, and the other was suddenly asking for a divorce.

Isabella replied, "Mr. Johnson, I think we both know the reasons deep down. Let's keep some dignity for each other."

"Know the reasons deep down? Tell me, what should I know?" Michael was angry that Isabella never had confidence in their marriage.

She had been with Olivia all day today. Michael wondered if Olivia had said something to her.

After finding out Olivia's number with Aaron's help, he called her. "Hello,this is Michael."

Olivia said, "Michael, you jerk, are you here to get scolded? Isabella likes you so much, but look at the bad things you've done."

Michael asked, "What are you talking about? You said Isabella likes me?"

Olivia retorted, "I said you're a jerk and don't deserve Isabella's love!"

Michael hung up the phone and thought, 'Olivia said Isabella likes me. So why does Isabella want a divorce? I must be missing something.

Michael asked, "Robert, where did Isabella go today?"

Robert replied, "I picked Mrs. Johnson up from the mountains, went to Summit Serenity Sanctuary to visit Mrs. Taylor, then she and her colleague went shopping on the commercial street, and in the evening, I picked her up from a newly opened restaurant."

Michael understood. Isabella must have seen him on the blind date, so she brought up divorce.

He couldn't help but laugh and felt much more at ease.

Michael hurried back to the garden.

Isabella was still sitting in the wicker chair, lost in thought. Michael walked up behind her and hugged her.

Isabella snapped out of it and tried to push him away, but Michael held her tighter, making it impossible for her to move.

"Let go of me. Let's talk properly," Isabella said.

She thought to herself, 'Michael went on a blind date, and I've made my stance clear. Why is he still messing with me?

"I'll hold you like this while we talk," Michael cooed.

He picked Isabella up, sat down in the wicker chair, and placed her on his lap.

Isabella struggled, but Michael was too strong, and she couldn't break free.

"Move again and face the consequences," Michael warned, his hips thrusting upward. Isabella clearly felt the change in Michael's body and

stopped struggling.

Michael looked at Isabella's flushed face and couldn't help but kiss her."Isabella, you saw me on the blind date," he said with certainty.

Isabella nodded.

"And then?" Michael asked.

"You have someone you like, and IIl divorce you immediately. I won't cling to you," Isabella said, lowering her head to hide the emotions in her eyes.

Michael smiled bitterly. "Isabella, do you have no feelings for me at all?Won't you fight for me?"

Isabella shook her head. "Mr. Johnson, I have no right. I owe you. The best I can do is step back and let you be with the person you like."

Michael sighed. Despite the fact that he had said many times that he was serious about their marriage, Isabella still didn't believe him, just like Qiana,stubborn.

"Isabella, it's not like that," Michael explained. "Today's blind date was arranged by my sister Qiana, but I messed it up. Qiana even beat me up.Check it. It still hurts."

Michael felt wronged, holding Isabella's hand and guiding it to his abs.

"That was your sister Qiana?" Isabella remembered the beautiful woman holding Michael's arm.

"Yes," Michael nodded. "I didn't need a blind date, but she insisted on arranging it. To make her give up, I had to go and handle it myself.I went a bit overboard this time, so Qiana won't arrange any more blind dates for me."

Isabella was curious. "What did you do?"

Michael replied. "Actually, it's not entirely my fault. I asked Aaron to find some dirt on the blind date, and Aaron, being crude, found her sex photos with her ex-boyfriends. But Isabella, don't worry. I didn't look at them."

Isabella pinched his abs in anger.

Michael continued, "Isabella, in situations like today, you can come directly to the second floor to find me. You have that right to do so."

Isabella said, "I can't go to the second floor. Even being on the first floor with Olivia is a luxury for me. If I go to the second floor, we won't have money for food next month."

"Didn't I give you a card?" Michael reminded her. In his memory,Isabella had never used it since he gave it to her.

Isabella mumbled softly, "I have my own money."

Michael's eyes deepened, and he sighed helplessly.

Indeed,not everything could be solved with money. Things that couldn't be solved with money were even more troublesome.

Michael buried his face in her chest and said, "Isabella, let me introduce you to Qiana,okay?"

"What?" Isabella was surprised.

"Don't you want to meet my family?" Michael lifted his head, unhappily pinching her chin.

Isabella shook her head.

He had said before that he couldn't introduce her to his family yet. She thought he wanted to keep it a secret forever and didn't expect to meet

Michael's family so soon.

"I don't know," Isabella said apprehensively, "Will she dislike me? Will she look down on my background? Will she..."

"Qiana..." Thinking about how difficult Qiana could be, Michael sighed and said, "Let's just go with the flow."

After all, with Eric being the worst-case scenario, he wasn't afraid of Isabella being exposed to them.