Chapter 60

Isabella was feeling pretty down all the way until her shift ended.

She had no clue how to break the news about the business trip to Michael.

Michael was super sensitive, and she was worried he'd overthinkit since she was going with Vaughn.

She mulled it over all day but still couldn't figure out what to do.

After work,Isabella headed downstairs and didn't see the usual black business car. Instead, she got a call from Michael. "Isabella, Grandpa's not feeling well, so I'm heading back to the Johnson Villa. I called Robert, and he'll come to pick you up. Just hang tight for a bit."

"Okay. Don't worry about me. Go check on Grandpa and drive safe,"Isabella said.

She waited in the garden downstairs for a while, but Robert still hadn't shown up. Just as she was about to call him, her phone rang.

"Mrs. Johnson, our car got rear-ended on the way, and we're dealing with it now. It'll take me about half an hour to get there. Please wait for me at the office," Robert said.

"Robert, no rush. I can just grab a cab home," Isabella replied.

"That won't do, Mrs. Johnson. If I don't pick you up, Mr. Johnson will be upset," Robert insisted.

"It's fine, Robert. We just won't tell Mr. Johnson. I'll take a cab home, and that's that!" Isabella said firmly.

She walked to the roadside to hail a cab.

A white sports car pulled up beside her.

The window rolled down, revealing a stunningly beautiful woman.

"Ms. Taylor, where are you headed? I'll give you a ride," Qiana offered.

"You are..." Isabella found her familiar but couldn't place her.

"Don't you remember me? I got lost in your company, and you helped me out," Qiana reminded her.

"Oh, right. I remember now," Isabella said, blushing a bit.

"Have you hailed a cab yet, Ms. Taylor?" Qiana asked.

"It's tough to get a cab at this time. I'll wait a bit longer," Isabella replied.

Qiana suggested, "Let me give you a ride. You helped me last time,so let me return the favor."

"No need. I'll wait a bit longer; I'm not in a hurry to get home," Isabella said, not wanting to interact more with a stranger.

"Are you worried I'm going to hurt you or something? Don't worry.Our companies have business dealings, so we'll be seeing each other often. You don't need to be afraid of me," Qiana said, reading Isabella's mind.

Seeing that her little thoughts were exposed, Isabella didn't insist further and got into Qiana's car.

However,she didn't sit in the front passenger seat but apologized to Qiana and sat in the back.

"Thank you," Isabella said, feeling a bit embarrassed for troubling Qiana.

Qiana said, "No problem. It's a quick drive. Ms. Taylor, where do you live?"

Isabella gave her address, and Qiana smiled meaningfully.

Isabella was worried Qiana would find it too far and feel bad, so she offered,"I live a bit out of the way, so... you don't need to feel bad; I can take a cab home."

"Ms. Taylor, what a coincidence! I live there too," Qiana said.

"Really?" Isabella was surprised. Not many people could afford a vlla in Silvercrest City.

"Yes. Ms. Taylor, you're so young and already own a villa here. That's impressive," Qiana praised.

"The villa belongs to my... husband," Isabella said, still feeling a bit shy about mentioning Michael in frónt of others.

"Ms. Taylor, you look so young. How come you're already married?" Qiana asked,surprised.

"I got married for my grandmother. She was seriously ill and wanted to see me married," Isabella explained.

"So,you and your husband aren't really married?" Qiana asked,even more surprised.

Isabella replied, "We are really married. Before the wedding, my original fiancé cheated on me, and I had no choice but to marry my husband.I owe him for that."

Qiana said, "It's a blessing you didn't marry that scoundrel. How's your current husband?"

At the thought of Michael, Isabella's eyes lit up. Qiana saw this through the rearview mirror and smiled.

Isabella said, "My husband is great, very gentle, and attentive. He treats me

very well. He usually picks me up from work every day, but he didn't come today because his grandpa is sick."

"Ms. Taylor, aren't you going to visit him?" Qiana suggested.

"His family doesn't know about me yet," Isabella sighed helplessly.

"Oh?" Qiana was puzzled.

Isabella explained, "At first, he didn't want his family to know about me.

Later,he wanted to introduce me to them, but I'm afraid..."

"Afraid his family wouldn't accept you?" Qiana asked.

Isabella nodded.

"You're such a silly girl," Qiana shook her head and sighed, continuing to ask. "Aren't you afraid he's deceiving you?"

Isabella shook her head and said, "I have nothing to be deceived about. I have no money, no looks. He helped me when I was at my lowest. I owe him. If he ever wants to leave me, I won't make a fuss."

"You've fallen for him, haven't you?" Qiana asked confidently.

Isabella didn't deny it, "Maybe. He's the best person to me in this world.besides my grandmother."

The car quickly drove into the villa area, and under Isabella's guidance,Qiana parked at the entrance.

"Thank you. Come in and have a cup of tea," Isabella invited.

Qiana declined, "No need. I've enjoyed our chat. I quite like you. I live in the third house ahead. You can visit me when you have time. Here's my number; you can call me."

Isabella noted it down, feeling warm inside. It felt good to be cared for.

"How should I addressyou?" Isabella suddenly realized she didn't know Qiana's name.

"You can call me Qiana," Qiana made a beautiful turn with her car, waved at Isabella, and shouted, "Don't forget to call me."

Isabella nodded, watching Qiana drive to the third house ahead before entering her own home.

That evening, wvhen Michael returned home, Robert told him about the car accident and how he couldn't pick her up.

Michael asked, "How did you get home?"

"A beautiful woman gave me a ride," Isabella said. "By the way,Michael,she said she lives ín our neighborhood. Should I bring her something to thank her?"

"She lives in this neighborhood? What's her name? How did you meet?"Michael asked a series of questions.

Isabella replied, "She told me to call her Qiana. She said she lives in the third house ahead. We met at the company; she got lost, and I helped her out. I didn't expect to run into her again today. It was quite a coincidence."

"Your meeting was indeed quite a coincidence," Michael said with a cold smile.

"By the way, Michael, Qiana gave me her number. Look," Isabella showed her phone to Michael and said, "Qiana also said not to forget to call her.She's really enthusiastic!"