Chapter 146 He Walks Away After Intimacy
William frowned. She seemed obedient, but she was stubborn to the core. That hollow compliance only made him more irritated.
Without warning, he pulled her into his arms. The feel of her soft body against his chest dulled the edge of his anger.
He ignored Isabella's excuses. Instead, he pushed her down onto the sofa. Moonlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, washing over her skin like liquid silver.
William lost himself for a moment, then leaned down and kissed her hard. His hand slipped beneath her loose shirt, fingers finding the scar. He paused—barely a heartbeat—then claimed her breath with renewed intensity.
He stripped away her clothes, shifted positions, as if novelty could bring fresh stimulation. That night he was more reckless than ever, leaving Isabella utterly spent before finally walking out at dawn.
Isabella lay sprawled on the sofa, staring through exhausted eyes at the pale morning light creeping across the sky.
She had a hazy memory of her sister witnessing their intimacy last night.
Would her sister be angry?
After all, William was the man her sister had loved most, and she'd done these shameful things with him.
She loathed this feeling. Loathed that she'd once loved William. Loathed even more that he'd discovered that secret.
She took a deep breath and dragged her aching body to the bathroom for a hot shower. Her reflection looked pale, so she carefully applied makeup before heading to the office.
The moment she stepped into the company, a knot of unease formed in her chest. Last night William had asked what she'd do if he forbade her from working. She wasn't sure if he'd already taken action.
Even if William wouldn't let her work at Thalia's company, she'd find somewhere else. She had to earn money.
Thalia spotted her standing frozen in the doorway and walked over, touching her shoulder with concern. "Isabella, what's wrong? Didn't sleep well last night?"
Isabella heard the calm in her voice, and the tension in her chest eased. She managed a faint smile.
"No, I slept fine."
"You must have stayed up sketching. I knew you'd take those design drafts home to finish them faster."
Thalia knew she desperately needed money, but this kind of all-nighter would wreck her health.
Isabella kept smiling. "You can guess everything. I also watched videos from previous competitions and found some inspiration."
Thalia felt gratified, seeing echoes of her younger self in Isabella.
"That's good. I'll order you some coffee. Keep up the good work."
Isabella nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Ms. Wesley."
Back at her workstation, Isabella threw herself into her work. Thalia sent over several competition videos and some internal reference materials.
Thalia genuinely hoped she'd win this competition. It felt like it could be a turning point in Isabella's life.
Over the next few nights, William came to Sunshine Apartment with clear purpose—each time to possess her. After he'd spent himself, he'd pull up his pants and leave, never holding her like he had that first time.
He refused to let himself feel anything for his enemy. These acts were punishment for her killing the woman he'd loved. This was the price Isabella had to pay for insisting on marrying him.
Saturday morning, Isabella woke before dawn to prepare. Her mood was unusually bright—today she'd arranged with Bruce to visit the old homestead.
She boiled ten eggs and sat on the balcony eating them slowly as the sky began to lighten.
Time felt unbearably slow. She wanted to leave immediately.
Thalia arrived downstairs early to wait. Isabella got in the car with her bag and handed her breakfast.
"Thalia, I didn't know what you liked, so I brought sandwiches and milk."
Thalia was going out of her way to drive her back. Isabella was grateful.
She knew nothing about construction. Having someone experienced to help analyze things was invaluable.
"Thank you, I'm not picky. What about the person you hired? Should I pick him up?"
"No need. He already contacted me. He'll bring workers to survey the site first."
Thalia nodded. "Okay. Let me know if you need anything."
The car glided down the highway. Isabella gazed out the window, her thoughts drifting to the past.
She remembered how excited she'd always been coming home, bringing gifts for her grandmother and neighbors. She'd call ahead, and her grandmother would wait at the village entrance, sometimes even taking a bus to the town station.
Every time they met, they'd run toward each other. Now, she was making this journey alone.
She whispered, "Grandma, please wait for me one more time. I'm coming to see you."
Thalia glanced at her calm profile but noticed her eyes were hollow, lost somewhere else.
She'd heard that the cottage Isabella wanted to rebuild had been demolished by William's people. She didn't know how deep the enmity ran between them, but she didn't pry. She just wanted to help however she could.
Three hours later, they arrived.
Bruce had already finished surveying and had organized some undamaged stools and books to one side. Isabella's eyes welled up when she saw them, her heart full of gratitude.
She walked to Bruce and bowed deeply. "Mr. Howard, thank you so much."
Bruce laughed warmly. "Don't mention it. You're Benjamin's daughter. Call me Bruce from now on. I've already inspected the entire foundation."
He led her to the broken wall's base, tapping the solid ground with his toe.
"The original construction was solid. No moisture damage or settling. Doesn't need reinforcement. We can build the walls directly on top, which will speed things up."
Isabella's eyes shone with gratitude. A stranger could have lied about needing major work and bilked her for thousands.
But Bruce was thorough. Her father had clearly briefed him well.
"Thank you, Bruce."
Isabella crouched down, her fingers touching the hard-packed earth, as if she could feel her grandmother's presence.
For over a decade, her grandmother had lived in this cottage. Even the soil held memories.
"Don't worry about the layout." Bruce pulled a sketch from his briefcase and spread it on the ground. "Just like you asked—exact replica of the old cottage. Main room thirteen feet deep, two rooms on each side, kitchen and storage marked here."
Isabella stared at the drawing, seeing her grandmother bustling inside.
Her grandmother had always been industrious, keeping the courtyard spotless. Passing neighbors used to say she was the tidiest old woman around.
Bruce pointed to the lines on the sketch, speaking carefully. "I've double-checked all the measurements against the old photos. Perfect match. Once the construction drawings are done, workers and materials can start immediately. I'll calculate the initial costs and let you know."
Isabella saw how much care he'd put into every detail. Her gratitude swelled.
"Bruce, thank you so much. How soon can we break ground?"
She ached to watch the cottage rise from its ruins.