Chapter 253

They'd been aware of this situation for ages. Yet when Genevieve brought it up again, Penelope still broke into a delighted smile. Victoria, however, kept her nose buried in her textbook, showing zero reaction.

Eleanor mirrored her daughter's indifference.

It was as if Isabella Sinclair had become utterly insignificant to them.

Noticing Genevieve was about to continue chattering, Eleanor said coolly, "Genevieve, Victoria's studying. Don't distract her."

"Oh—"

Genevieve shot a glance at Victoria, who was absorbed in her reading. "Didn't the tutor come this morning? It's past five already, and she's still hitting the books. Just watching her exhausts me. Aren't you tired, Victoria?"

Penelope chimed in, "Of course she is. But she's ambitious. I've always told you to learn from her, but you never listen."

Then, with a sugary smile, she added, "But Victoria, as crucial as hard work is, you should take proper breaks. Why don't you come have a snack first?"

Without lifting her eyes, Victoria replied, "No need. Alexander invited me to dinner. I'll leave after this."

After wrapping up her gaming session, Isabella returned to the Sinclair residence and spent three solid hours polishing her thesis. Once satisfied, she emailed it to Frederick.

Stretching her stiff muscles, she headed downstairs—only to find her grandmother standing at the front door in the dead of winter, seemingly waiting for someone.

Isabella frowned and hurried over. "Granny, you—"

Before she could finish, the sound of tires crunching on gravel cut her off.

Just as she reached the doorway, a car pulled into the driveway. Moments later, Sophia burst out of the vehicle. "Mom! Granny!"

"Oh, my darling!" Margaret's eyes crinkled with joy as she bent down, arms wide open.

Sophia had initially been running toward Isabella, but upon seeing her great-grandmother's gesture, she pivoted and hugged Margaret first.

"Have you eaten? Are you hungry?" Margaret asked.

"Dad and I had dinner out, so I'm full." After answering, Sophia wriggled free and tiptoed toward Isabella. "Mom, hug me!"

Isabella scooped her up. Though she caught a faint whiff of perfume clinging to her daughter's clothes, her expression didn't flicker.

This time, Alexander hadn't bothered to drop Sophia off personally.

The car door had been left ajar, so the driver stepped out to close it before nodding respectfully to Isabella and Margaret. Then he drove away.

With school the next day, Sophia didn't stay up late. After her bath, she went straight to bed.

Isabella tucked her in, then grabbed her phone and fired off a text to Alexander:

"Have the driver pick Sophia up tomorrow afternoon. And stop dropping her at my place without notice."

Alexander didn't respond.

The next morning, after seeing Sophia off to school, Isabella headed to work. Only then did Alexander finally reply:

"Okay."

Isabella read the message, set her phone aside, and dove into her tasks.

Two days flew by, and the weekend arrived.

On Saturday morning, Isabella received Frederick's reply: "No issues. Ready for submission."

It had been weeks since she'd last seen Nathaniel or Frederick.