Chapter 11 Romantic Restaurant
Isabella hesitated for a moment, but seeing Richard, as Julia's guardian, simply standing aside with a gentle smile, watching them, she slowly crouched down.
Reaching out to gently pat Julia's head, Isabella smiled too, "You need to listen to your brother from now on and not wander off."
Julia nodded vigorously, then immediately grabbed Isabella's hand and tried to drag her upstairs.
Isabella still sought Richard's permission, "Mr. Spencer, I..."
Richard waved his hand dismissively, "Julia has been talking about wanting to see you this whole time. She's prepared lots of treasures to show you."
Being pulled by Julia, they ran up the winding castle-like staircase of her home. The first room after turning left was Julia's bedroom.
The moment the door opened, Isabella felt like her world had been engulfed in pink.
Everything visible was pink - cute Hello Kitty wallpaper covered the walls, a large canopy bed sat in the center of the room, and even the bedding was pink, shimmering with a pale golden glow in the sunlight.
Julia, like Olivia, absolutely loved pink.
Isabella had an inexplicable feeling that if those two ever met, they'd get along wonderfully.
Just looking at this room, she could tell that Richard must care deeply for Julia.
For a moment, her heart felt like it was being pricked by a needle.
Isabella was all too aware of the contempt Olivia faced from the Montagu family at home.
Despite similar circumstances, the difference was staggering.
Julia held a sparkling silver tiara in her hands, standing on her tiptoes to place it on Isabella's head.
Her eyes were round and bright. "No one at home plays with me. Isabella, will you play with me?"
The little tiara felt surprisingly heavy on her head.
Isabella could tell clearly that the pink diamonds embedded in it were certainly not fake.
To be so generous with a child's toy showed just how wealthy Richard truly was.
Being rich had so many advantages. Isabella looked down at Julia, unable to stop thinking about Olivia.
She couldn't help feeling melancholy, and it showed on her face.
Two small hands touched Isabella's brow, as if trying to smooth away the wrinkles.
Julia looked worried, "Isabella, don't you like playing with me?"
Those watery eyes were heartbreaking to look at.
Isabella quickly shook her head at Julia, giving her a reassuring look, "I love spending time with you."
"Isabella, you looked really sad just now," Julia said seriously.
She sat beside Isabella, tilting her little head, "Isabella, why are you sad?"
Despite being so small, her expression was like that of a little adult.
Almost possessed, Isabella found herself confiding her troubles to Julia.
Afterward, Isabella felt somewhat regretful.
Julia was only a five-year-old child; even if she heard it, she might not understand.
What was she thinking? Isabella felt a wave of guilt wash over her.
Unexpectedly, Julia looked at Isabella very seriously.
"Isabella, I think you did absolutely the right thing."
"If they don't like you, that's their loss, not your fault at all!" Julia pouted, already feeling hostile toward the husband Isabella had mentioned.
Her eyes rolled around as a brilliant idea popped into her little head.
She pulled Isabella's hand and stood up, asking familiarly, "Isabella, don't think about those annoying things anymore. Let's go eat dinner together!"
When they came downstairs, Richard was on the phone. Seeing them, he immediately hung up.
Richard smiled at Isabella, his expression full of helpless affection, "I hope Julia didn't trouble you too much."
Julia heard this and protested unhappily, pouting in her own defense, "Isabella and I had the best time! Richard, you're just jealous of me!"
"Richard, since Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa keep pushing you to get married, why don't you just be with Isabella? I really like Isabella anyway."
Julia's random matchmaking left both Isabella and Richard's faces written with embarrassment.
This was only their second meeting, after all.
That comment startled Isabella.
Richard also frowned slightly, looking at Isabella with eyes full of apology and sincerity, "I'm sorry, Ms. Capulet. My sister just has a rather spirited personality."
Isabella shook her head gently, "It's fine. Kids say the darndest things."
Julia stuck out her tongue, then went to her tablet to choose a restaurant for dinner, finally pointing randomly at one at the top of the list.
"Let's go to this restaurant for dinner!"
Isabella glanced casually at the screen.
Whether intentional or not, the restaurant Julia had chosen happened to be at the top of Seaside City's recommended romantic restaurants list.
She instantly felt awkward, casting a help-seeking look at Richard, "Mr. Spencer, this restaurant doesn't seem quite appropriate, does it?"
Richard also glanced at the screen, his gentle, placid smile freezing at the corners of his lips for a moment.
But after just a moment, Richard regained his composure.
Before he could speak, Julia jumped in, "Why isn't it appropriate? The online reviews are all really good; it should be delicious, right?"
With Julia saying that, they couldn't very well refuse.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, the server led them to a window seat with an ocean view.
This was the most expensive restaurant in the most expensive district of Seaside City. The location and view were both exceptional, offering a 360-degree panoramic view of the ocean.
They'd barely sat down and warmed their chairs when Julia actively jumped down and pulled the server away to find the restroom.
Only Isabella and Richard remained at the table, looking at each other awkwardly.
How could Isabella not see through Julia's intentions?
Being so obviously set up by a little girl the same age as her own daughter left Isabella feeling extremely embarrassed.
Richard looked at her, equally helpless.
"Julia is the only girl in our family for three generations. She's been completely spoiled since birth. Ms. Capulet, I'm truly sorry."
Finding himself in an equally awkward situation, Richard apologized to Isabella in his gentle voice.
Elegant, warm—it was hard to imagine what flaws Richard could have.
God seemed to have been particularly kind when creating him, giving him handsome features, a privileged background, and a gentle temperament.
His attitude helped Isabella relax a bit. She leaned back slightly and let out a breath.
"Mr. Spencer, as long as you don't mind, I'm just worried that..."
Richard laughed, seeming quite amused as he picked up Isabella's train of thought, "Worried I'd think you deliberately coached Julia to say those things?"
Isabella fell silent for a moment.
Past experiences were indeed enough to change a person's nature.
After six years of marriage, although William had never said it outright, Isabella knew perfectly well that his entire family believed she had used underhanded methods to sleep with him.
"Ms. Capulet, you can rest assured. I know Julia's personality all too well."
When Richard smiled, he had that spring-like warmth that made people want to let their guard down around him.
He possessed a unique quality that was completely different from William's cold demeanor.
Isabella also smiled softly in response.
They were chatting and laughing pleasantly when the restaurant door was opened again by a server.
A couple walked in arm-in-arm, with Laura telling William, "My friend recommended this restaurant to me last time. She said it's really excellent, just a bit pricey."
In front of William, Laura still maintained her image of someone who wasn't materialistic.
She lifted her eyes and immediately spotted Isabella and Richard sitting by the window. The smile on her face instantly stiffened.
A flame called jealousy blazed fiercely in her heart.
Laura couldn't understand it.
Isabella was a woman who'd been married before and even had a daughter.
How could she still manage to hook up with wealthy men?
Laura quickly hid her secret thoughts, putting on an act of pleasant surprise as she tugged at William, "What a coincidence! Isabella's here too!"