Chapter 12 Can This Still Be His Attitude?
Isabella slammed the door shut, the anger and hatred from downstairs vanishing instantly, replaced by a cold, mocking smile.
Things were unfolding just like they had in her previous life.
Back then, Gabriel had bought her this exact same dress.
The style, the color, everything was identical.
She had accepted the dress without opening it immediately, feeling happy just to receive a gift from Gabriel and not caring what it was.
But when she went to her room to try it on, she found it had been cut to shreds and was completely unwearable.
It felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her, leaving her heart in a state of disappointment.
Ever since she had returned to this family, Gabriel had often played pranks on her. Naturally, she thought this was just another one of his pranks—giving her a ruined dress to let her experience the sting of dashed hopes.
Despite this, she tried to mend the dress because it was the first "gift" Gabriel had given her.
But the dress was too damaged, and no matter what she tried, she couldn't fix it.
Eventually, she put the dress in the bottom drawer of her wardrobe.
Just as she was starting to forget about it, the dress reappeared—this time in the trash can.
Gabriel saw the dress in the trash and exploded in anger, demanding to know why she had cut up and thrown away his gift.
She hadn't put the dress in the trash.
She told Gabriel that the dress had been ruined from the start.
Gabriel got even angrier. His anger seemed genuine, and he demanded to know why she hadn't told him right away if the dress was already ruined.
She had no way to defend herself.
The whole incident blew up, making her look like a two-faced liar who pretended to be friendly with the Taylor family while secretly hating her brothers.
Everyone's opinion of her changed.
The already tense relationships only got worse.
Thinking back, Gabriel's attitude and Bianca's suspicious behavior made it clear that Bianca had been the one to ruin the dress.
Her motive was obvious—to drive a wedge between her and Gabriel.
——
"Bianca, how did the dress I bought for Isabella end up like this?" Gabriel pulled Bianca into a corner and asked.
He hadn't ruined the dress, and he was fed up with Isabella's accusations.
Why would Isabella assume it was him without investigating? If he had done it, would he be stupid enough to do it in front of Olivia? And in such a crude way...
Bianca looked at the ruined dress in Gabriel's hand and bit her lip. "I don't know."
"You don't know?" Gabriel was surprised. "Bianca, you picked out the dress. Didn't you notice a big tear when you bought it?"
He had paid for it, but he hadn't touched the dress at all.
"But when I picked it out, the dress was fine," Bianca said softly, biting her lip. "I really don't know how it ended up like this..."
"Could the store clerk have done it while packing it?" Gabriel was getting agitated. "Bianca, think carefully. Besides you, who else touched the dress?"
Bianca lowered her eyes, pretending to think hard.
After a while, she looked up and said quietly, "Maybe the clerk did something while packing it."
She couldn't possibly tell Gabriel that she had secretly slashed the dress while he went to get her coffee.
She had assumed Isabella would be too shy to open the dress in public, and when she found it ruined in her room, she wouldn't dare to say anything. That's why she had done it.
But Isabella's reaction was completely unexpected. She had brought out the dress immediately.
Isabella must be crazy. So annoying.
Bianca watched Gabriel's face carefully, worried he might suspect her.
Fortunately, Gabriel didn't seem to suspect her. He just clenched the dress tightly, fuming, "I'm going to the store to get this sorted out!"
Bianca quickly grabbed his arm. "Gabriel, don't be angry."
"How can I not be angry? Didn't you see how Isabella acted just now?" Gabriel said irritably. "I need to make it clear that this has nothing to do with me."
"Gabriel, if you confront the store clerk, she won't admit it. She might even accuse us of causing trouble. The dress wasn't expensive. I don't think it's worth making a big deal out of this."
Bianca held onto Gabriel's arm, looking innocent. "Let's just tell Isabella the clerk accidentally cut it while removing the tag. You didn't know about it. Then we can pick out a prettier dress for her. Isabella is so generous, she'll definitely forgive you!"
"And Gabriel, Isabella cares about you so much. She won't stay mad over a dress. If you get her another one, she'll be happy!"
Gabriel thought about it and agreed Bianca was right.
It was just a dress, not worth making a fuss over.
"Alright, Bianca, we'll do as you said."
After all, he was her older brother. If he got her another dress, Isabella would be too happy to stay mad.
——
"Where's Isabella? Is she back yet?"
Tobias came home from work and immediately asked Cleo, who was busy in the living room.
Cleo paused her dusting of the vase.
Did she hear right? Tobias asked for "Isabella," not "Bianca"?
Usually, the first person Tobias asked about when he got home was Bianca.
This was the first time he wanted to find Isabella.
Cleo hid her surprise and replied, "She's upstairs."
Olivia came out with a cup of coffee and saw Tobias looking anxious. "What's wrong? Why are you looking for Isabella?"