Chapter 8 Hitting Below the Belt
Laura clutched her abdomen, her brow furrowed in apparent agony as she leaned against William's arm, but her expression remained apologetically guilty.
"William, I'm so sorry for disrupting your work again."
William steadied Laura, his face etched with concern, "You're in this much pain. Don't worry about anything else."
His heart warmed even further.
Laura was gentle and considerate. Compared to her, Isabella seemed like an ice-cold stone that could never be warmed.
Hearing William's caring words, Laura's smile grew even sweeter.
"I only called and asked you to bring me to the hospital because I read online that severe menstrual cramps could indicate an ovarian cyst rupture, which can be life-threatening."
Tears welled in Laura's eyes as she pressed her lips together tightly, making them appear pale as paper.
One hand pressed against her abdomen, she slowly made her way toward the hospital's outpatient department with William's support.
Calculating that they were getting closer to Isabella, Laura lifted her head and gasped in surprise, "Isn't that Isabella? Who's that man with her?"
William followed Laura's gaze, and the moment he spotted Isabella, his expression turned glacial, frost settling over his features.
"No wonder Isabella agreed to the divorce so readily. It turns out she already has someone waiting in the wings."
Laura managed a wan smile, turning to look at William with eyes full of deep affection.
"Isabella and he do make a good-looking couple. Judging by his clothes, he seems well-off too, so supporting Isabella and Olivia shouldn't be a problem. William, this way you won't have to worry about Isabella not being able to provide for Olivia properly."
She chattered on, every word meant to put William at ease.
But the longer William listened, the colder his expression became, his gaze turning predatory.
Although they were getting a divorce, as long as the paperwork hadn't been completed, they were still legally married.
Watching his wife chat intimately with another man, looking so cozy together, would be unbearable for any husband.
He let out a cold snort.
Isabella and Declan simultaneously turned around, seeing him standing nearby with Laura. Both their expressions shifted.
Isabella hadn't expected to run into William at the hospital.
But seeing him standing there with his precious Laura, why did he look so displeased?
Declan's feelings were equally complicated.
When he'd first heard Isabella was getting divorced, he'd been surprised.
To outsiders, Isabella's husband was young and successful, their children well-behaved and bright.
Among their graduating class, Isabella had been the only woman.
Having settled both marriage and motherhood in her early twenties made Isabella's life seem like the perfect template to everyone else.
Declan had attended Isabella's wedding.
He still remembered William vaguely—a wealthy heir, polite and well-mannered.
But this scene completely shattered Declan's impression of Isabella living a happy life.
Glancing down at Isabella, Declan felt a surge of protective sympathy.
Laura smiled weakly, "What a coincidence running into you here."
"Isabella, come here." William's icy gaze swept over Isabella and Declan.
He remembered Declan,, too—worked on the same project with Isabella before graduation, both were Marcus's favorite students.
Back then, they'd even been hailed as the rising stars of domestic renewable energy.
Their project had the best chance of breaking through technical barriers and making flying cars commercially viable.
Declan's capabilities didn't matter to William.
What mattered was the way Declan looked at Isabella—it wasn't innocent.
As a man, William knew exactly what other men were thinking.
Hearing William's words, Isabella's brow furrowed.
What gave him the right to order her around?
They were already heading for divorce, yet he still thought he could control her?
Isabella's feet seemed rooted to the spot, standing her ground with no intention of moving.
Though they'd been an intimate couple just days ago, now facing each other, they might as well have been strangers.
"Isabella, you might have some misconceptions about William and me. We're not what you think we are." Laura blushed, her face turning crimson.
"And what exactly do I think?" Isabella asked in an even tone.
Laura was momentarily speechless, opening her mouth but making no sound.
Her face flushed red as if blood might drip from it, her grip on William's arm unconsciously tightening, looking utterly mortified.
Isabella's gaze seemed to see right through people. She stared at Laura coolly for a moment. "Whether you two have slept together or not—what does that have to do with me?"
Isabella was brutally direct, publicly clarifying their relationship for all to hear.
Since they were getting divorced anyway, some things were better said openly.
"Isabella, I truly care for William. Until we're married, we won't rashly engage in... sexual relations."
The words struck Isabella like a needle to the heart.
Her relationship with William had indeed been an accident.
They'd met at a bar during Isabella's night out with friends. She'd had too much to drink.
Then she'd impulsively slept with William and gotten pregnant.
They'd had zero emotional foundation when they married—it was purely because of the pregnancy.
But that didn't mean Isabella would tolerate Laura's humiliation.
"Then I'd suggest you test-drive him first. After all, you never know if he can actually perform."
Right in front of William, she brazenly attacked his masculinity.
Watching William's face turn livid, Isabella felt satisfied.
No matter how successful a man was, the one thing he couldn't tolerate was someone questioning his sexual prowess.
Declan let out a muffled laugh beside her.
He suddenly realized Isabella hadn't changed at all over the years.
She still had that sharp tongue, just hidden beneath the facade of a devoted wife and mother, making people forget her original vibrant personality.
Having thoroughly roasted them, Isabella held her head high, walking past them like a queen.
Declan walked beside her, and as they passed William, he gave him a meaningful look.
Isabella had taken a taxi to the hospital, so Declan naturally offered to drive her home.
The hospital parking lot was right nearby. From William's position, he had a clear view of Declan gallantly opening the passenger door, one hand braced against the doorframe as he helped her in.
William's chest felt like someone had thrown a pile of kindling into it.
The flames burned hotter, threatening to consume his remaining rationality.
'Isabella, you're something else!'
William's expression turned sinister, his gaze boring into Declan's car as it left the hospital.