abcnovels
Chapter 540
Chapter 540
Chapter 540
Chapter 540 The Naked Insult
“Of course, it’s true,” Gilbert said confidently. “Of course, it’s true,” Gilbert said confidently.
“Am I not good enough?” Isabel cracked a pure and innocent smile.
He stared at her smile and steeled himself. “Good? Am I supposed to believe you’re the only one nice to me? Do you really think you’re my only admirer? With a snap of my fingers, people are willing to sleep with me. Can you do that? Don’t think too highly of yourself. It’s all about knowing your place.” His words were an open insult, and she immediately lost her composure.
Her eyes reddened as she stared intently at him with exhaustion and determination showing in her gaze. “Fine, if that’s how it is, let’s give it a shot. I’ve heard that when you’re with someone you like, you can feel it—”
Her words made him increasingly uncomfortable, and his smile froze when he looked at her.
Afterward, Isabel gently undid the buttons on her shirt one by one, with a hint of girlish tenderness and shyness on her face. As she took off her top, revealing her soft pink bra, Gilbert finally snapped out of it. Grabbing a coat from the back of a chair, he covered her and shouted, “Isabel Lynwood!” He called her full name for the first time, furious.
When she heard that, she shivered, possibly from the cold but more likely from fear. However, the fact that her actions had angered him gave her a strange sense of relief. Does this mean I have a special place in his heart?
“This is your first time doing something like this, and I hope it’s your last. Don’t do this again,” he said with a slightly annoyed expression. Nevertheless, his words did not reflect his concern for her, and he
continued, “Otherwise, I won’t be able to face your sister.”
“Can you stop bringing up my sister?” When Isabel heard his words, the light in her eyes slowly faded. Unable to contain her anger, she pushed him away hard. “Gilbert, tell me straight up if you don’t like me. Can you stop using my sister against me?”
“Why don’t you ever listen? It’s not about that—” Gilbert rubbed his brow and noticed the tears in her eyes. He clenched his teeth and steeled himself again. “Even if I do use your sister against you, so what? She’s beautiful, bold, and way more interesting than you. You’re not my type.”
“Gilbert, I know you don’t want me to like you, but you can’t treat me like this—” She choked out through her tears, unable to stop them. “My sister is already pregnant, so why are you still thinking about her? Gilbert, you say I’m boring, but you’re the most boring person in the world!” she yelled, unintentionally striking a chord with him.
He stood up from his chair, grabbed her shoulders, and looked at her anxiously. “What did you say? She’s pregnant?”
“Yes, pregnant! It’s the result of her love for Callum and has nothing to do with you.” Isabel wiped away her tears, which were already streaked across her face.
After hearing that, Gilbert’s face turned deathly pale, and he slowly released his grip. As if recalling something, he opened the door and prepared to leave.
“Where are you going?” she called after him, but he continued straight down the stairs as if he hadn’t heard her. So, she gave chase, following closely behind him, only to see the man hurrying away. Then, she shouted from the top of the stairs, “Gilbert, can you stop being stupid for once? You always call me stupid, but can’t you see what you’re doing?”
After hearing that, there was a brief pause in his footsteps, and he quickly walked away. As the door slammed shut, Isabel slid down the banister and collapsed on the floor, tears streaming down her face.
With Gilbert’s clothes on her, her exposed skin hinted at her earlier boldness. Still, he wasn’t interested in her at all. In his eyes, Elspeth is the only girl he has been infatuated with since his youth. Even though she is already married and pregnant, he loses control whenever her name is mentioned. Am I really wrong? With that, she rested her head on the stair railing, her heart calming down. If my presence really troubles him, leaving might be a good option.
…
On the other hand, Gilbert arrived at the Winthrop Residence, practically barging into the living room.
At that moment, Callum and Elspeth were cuddling on the couch watching TV, with her nestled in his arms as they laughed and chatted. Seeing Gilbert enter unannounced, they both froze.
Callum reacted first, his face turning cold. “What are you doing here?”
Gilbert’s face showed a trace of embarrassment, having come in such a hurry that he had even forgotten to think of a proper reason. The moment he saw her, his mind raced while quickly coming up with a perfect excuse. “I want to discuss something with Elspeth.”
She straightened up upon hearing that, her eyes calm and serene. “What is it? Go ahead.”
“It’s about Isabel.”
Her face finally showed a hint of emotion. “What happened to her? Is she in trouble?”
He has rushed in with urgency; could something have happened to her? At that thought, Elspeth couldn’t help but clench her fists.
“No, she’s fine. The thing is, I think living with Isabel is a bit inappropriate and not good for her reputation. So, I bought her a house near the Winthrop Residence. If it’s okay, she could live here with you guys looking after her. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Gilbert had thought it through, and if it wasn’t because she knew how Isabel felt about him, Elspeth would’ve applauded him.
“Nonetheless, you know how Isabel feels about you.” She wanted to test his intentions. If he had no feelings for Isabel, the two living together would significantly negatively impact her emotions. After all, living long-term with someone you loved but couldn’t have could be pretty depressing.
“I can’t let her stay with me because I know this. Moreover, I don’t want to hold her back.” He took a deep breath, finally laying all his cards on the table.
However, Callum wasn’t happy because he found Gilbert’s behavior suspicious, especially his frequent glances in Elspeth’s direction.
After hearing that, Elspeth could only sigh and say, “Alright, let’s do as you say. Isabel can move in today.”
Suddenly, Callum chimed in, “If it’s possible, Mr. Payne, please don’t come over here and disturb Isabel. If she sees you, it might bring back memories, and it wouldn’t be good if she can’t forget the past.” He pretended to be concerned about Isabel but warned Gilbert not to have improper thoughts about Elspeth.
Gilbert nodded upon hearing that, his heart aching. “I know; I won’t.”