Chapter 269

When Catherine and the others arrived at Whitmore Manor and didn't see Isabella, they assumed she'd gone to the airport with Alexander to pick up Sophia.

Now that Alexander and Sophia had returned home, but Isabella was still missing, they found it strange.

Not that they particularly cared about Isabella's whereabouts. They couldn't be bothered to ask.

Alexander simply stated, "She's occupied."

Henry didn't question it and continued playing with Sophia.

Eleanor, however, understood the situation perfectly but chose to remain silent.

After dinner, Sophia entertained herself for a while before growing bored and deciding to call Isabella.

Even during holidays, Isabella refused to remain idle.

When Sophia's call came through, Isabella was reviewing documents sent by Frederick.

Seeing the caller ID and realizing nearly a month had passed since their last meeting, she answered casually.

"Hello?"

Isabella hadn't answered her calls for so long that Sophia had nearly given up hope.

Hearing her mother's voice unexpectedly, she squealed with delight. "Mommy!"

Isabella kept her eyes on the computer screen as she responded indifferently. "Hmm."

Sophia, oblivious to her mother's detached tone, excitedly announced, "Mommy, I'm back from Salzburg!"

Isabella hadn't even known her daughter left the country. She responded with a noncommittal hum.

From the moment Isabella answered, Sophia had been floating on cloud nine. She bounced excitedly on her bed.

"Mommy, when will you finish work? Are you coming home tonight? I want you to tuck me in! I have so many stories to tell you!"

"And I really want your pancakes tomorrow morning. When are you coming back?"

Isabella didn't mention she wouldn't be returning to Whitmore Manor. Instead, she said, "I'm swamped right now. Next month, I'll take you out."

It had been ages since their last outing. The thought made Sophia giddy with excitement.

"Next month?" Though only days away, it felt like an eternity to Sophia.

She pressed further. "Which day next month?"

Even through the phone, Isabella could feel Sophia's desperate need for connection.

Her grip on the mouse tightened before she finally said, "We'll see. I'll let you know when I decide, alright?"

"Okay."

"Have you bathed yet?" Isabella asked.

"Not yet. But soon."

"Then go take your bath. I have work to finish. I need to go now."

"But we just started talking!" Sophia protested, glancing at the call duration. "Mommy, it's only been two minutes! Can't we talk longer?"

"Next time when I'm free, we'll talk properly," Isabella replied.

Reluctantly, Sophia conceded. "Okay. But Mommy, you have to promise."

"I will."

Only then did Sophia whisper, "Goodbye, Mommy."

"Bye." Isabella ended the call immediately.

Sophia suddenly remembered the gift she'd bought for her mother. She opened her mouth to mention it, but the line had already gone dead.

Her small heart sank with disappointment.

Setting down her phone, she climbed off the bed and went to find Alexander in his study.

Alexander was in the middle of a video conference.

Seeing her enter, he adjusted his camera angle and muted the microphone. "What's wrong? Couldn't get through?"