Chapter 11

Isabella found the entire situation utterly ridiculous as she listened.

Alexander and Victoria had only met after her marriage to him. So Victoria was fully aware of their relationship. There was no way Reginald didn't know Alexander was her husband. He must have known all along.

Yet he shamelessly encouraged a relationship between Victoria and Alexander. It showed how little regard Reginald had for her, despite being his daughter too.

Alexander agreed to Reginald's request.

They exchanged a few more pleasantries. Isabella watched as Alexander waited for Reginald to get into his car and leave before driving off himself.

Given Alexander's status, he rarely showed such courtesy except to select elders of the Whitmore family. Clearly, he held Reginald in high esteem because he was Victoria's father.

Isabella remembered how Alexander had treated Charles and Margaret. His attitude had always been cold and distant. Even when she carefully mentioned Charles's past difficulties, he had refused to help.

Yet for those Victoria cared about, his attitude was completely different.

The way he treated her compared to Victoria was night and day. This was the stark difference between love and indifference.

After Alexander left, Isabella remained standing there for a long time before finally entering The Grandeur.

That evening, after work, Isabella went home to collect the gifts she'd prepared for the Whitmore elders. Then she drove to Whitmore Manor.

Located on the capital's outskirts, Whitmore Manor was surrounded by lush mountains and peaceful scenery - perfect for the elderly. The only downside was its distance from downtown.

The drive took Isabella ninety minutes.

As she parked and gathered the gifts, she heard Sophia's cheerful laughter from inside.

Eleanor sat near the entrance. She spotted Isabella immediately and beamed. "You're finally here, dear. Come sit with me."

While Eleanor greeted her warmly, Catherine Whitmore's reaction was quite different. Victoria and Nicholas didn't look pleased either. Their smiles vanished the moment they saw Isabella.

Isabella noticed but didn't care as much as she once would have.

She offered a faint smile and handed the gifts to the approaching housekeeper before greeting Eleanor. "Good evening, Grandmother."

"Good evening," Eleanor replied, her face lighting up as she guided Isabella to sit beside her. But her smile faltered as she looked closer. "You've lost weight! Has Alexander been mistreating you?"

Isabella lowered her gaze. "No, I've just been busy lately."

It was partly true. Alexander hadn't mistreated her directly, but her mood often suffered because of him.

Plus, she'd been immersing herself in AI research every night after work, sometimes until dawn.

Her recent weight loss was partly due to this.

Before Eleanor could respond, Victoria scoffed. "From how you say it, anyone would think your job is so crucial the entire Whitmore Group depends on you."

Catherine, ever elegant, sipped her drink coolly. "If working at Whitmore Group exhausts you so, perhaps you should quit. After all, no one forced you to work there."

Victoria laughed. "Exactly! Maybe someone just can't bear to leave."

Eleanor disliked their sarcastic jabs at Isabella.

She was about to intervene when Isabella spoke first. "I've already submitted my resignation. Once I complete the handover, I'll leave Whitmore Group."

Her words stunned Catherine and Victoria into momentary silence.

Eleanor frowned. "Isabella—"

"Is Mom here?" Sophia's voice cut through the tension as she descended from the second floor via elevator.

Seeing Isabella, she looked genuinely happy - they hadn't spoken in over two weeks. She ran over and hugged Isabella tightly. "Mom!"

Isabella hesitated briefly before returning the hug gently. "Hello, sweetheart."

Eleanor decided to drop the earlier topic with Sophia present.

Smiling warmly, she said to Isabella, "It's been ages since I had your tea. Would you make me a cup?"

Having grown up with Margaret, Isabella had developed exceptional tea-making skills.

"I'd be happy to," Isabella replied, "but dinner is almost ready—"

Victoria, who preferred coffee, disliked seeing Isabella showcase her tea skills. She interjected, "Exactly. Dinner will be served as soon as Alexander and Henry return."

Right on cue, Alexander entered.

He greeted Eleanor and Catherine first. When his gaze landed on Isabella, he quickly looked away and sat in a single-seat couch far from her.

Seeing Alexander, Sophia immediately left Isabella's side and ran to him. "Daddy!"

Alexander gave her a brief hug before scanning the room as if to speak. Then Henry arrived. Much younger than both Alexander and Victoria, the lively teenager bounded in energetically.

He playfully vaulted over a couch backrest, landing neatly on the cushions. Seeing everyone gathered, he grinned. "Were you all waiting for me?"

Victoria smacked his head affectionately. "Of course! We've been starving because of you."

While Alexander was reserved and Victoria fiery, Henry brought joy to the family. His arrival visibly brightened Catherine's expression, while Eleanor looked even more delighted.

Noticing the late hour, Eleanor instructed the staff to serve dinner.

The nine of them dined together. Eleanor sat at the head, with Alexander, Sophia and Isabella on one side.

Eleanor smiled at Sophia. "Sophie, switch places with your father so your parents can sit together."

Eleanor had always tried bringing Isabella and Alexander closer. The others were used to her efforts and didn't react, knowing them futile. Despite years of meddling, Alexander's attitude toward Isabella hadn't changed.

Everyone knew it was pointless. Even Victoria merely smirked sarcastically and took a random seat without comment.

Though Alexander disliked Eleanor's arrangements, he rarely contradicted her on minor matters. His silence signaled acquiescence.

Unlike before, Isabella felt no joy or hope at Eleanor's matchmaking.

She kept her expression neutral, though her smile remained gentle as she addressed Eleanor. "It's alright, Grandmother. This seating arrangement is fine."