Chapter 43 I Never Want to See You Again
Isabella was livid, momentarily at a loss for how to refute William.
She truly couldn't understand how William managed to connect this incident to her.
In William's eyes, was she really such a despicable person?
Isabella suddenly let out a bitter laugh, her gaze toward William growing increasingly disappointed. "I never imagined this was how you saw me."
"William, when did you become so stupid?" Unable to contain herself any longer, Isabella pointed at William's nose and cursed.
"I'm not so pathetic that I'd drug myself and use my body to win you back."
If she really didn't want to divorce William, she never would have exposed his affair with Laura in the first place.
Or did he really think the title of Mrs. Montagu was that valuable?
William's deep eyes watched her coldly, anger beginning to surge from their depths.
"Not to win me back? Then was this drug meant to get you into Richard's bed?"
"Isabella, it's been six years, and your methods still haven't improved at all? Still resorting to the same old tricks of drugging and bed-hopping?"
William let out a cold laugh, his voice growing icier.
They were both sparing no effort to say hurtful things; their only goal was to wound the other.
Whether it benefited them was irrelevant—as long as they could cause each other pain.
Isabella suddenly felt that she and William could never communicate normally.
He could believe she was the one who cheated, and as the guilty party in their marriage, he still had the nerve to fight for custody. What was the point of trying to reason with him?
"Someone like you, who only knows how to trade your body for what you want, will never deserve real respect and love."
"You deserve to be betrayed, because you've never given your true heart to anyone, so what right do you have to expect others to..."
William was only halfway through when Isabella could bear no more. She raised her hand and slapped his face.
The crisp sound echoed through the spacious bedroom. Isabella's eyes were equally red, trembling with disbelief.
"If I were willing to do anything to achieve my goals, I should have found ways to accumulate wealth for myself after marrying you! Instead of choosing to leave empty-handed when I agreed to the divorce!"
How could Isabella not be angry?
She had sacrificed six precious years of her youth, six years that had been trampled underfoot and humiliated.
Isabella's chest rose and fell violently as she clutched her heart, suppressing the pain of betrayal.
"The biggest regret of my life was going to that bar and meeting you!"
"I never want to see you again!"
Isabella declared just as furiously, then turned and left without looking back, slamming the master bedroom door behind her.
Just as she reached the top of the stairs, Isabella was met by Olivia, who had run over out of concern for her.
Olivia gazed at Isabella with her beautiful, big eyes, her expression innocent and worried.
She did regret meeting William, but never regretted giving those six years.
Otherwise, how could she have such an adorable treasure as Olivia?
"Olivia," Isabella forced a smile, slowing her pace as she walked over to her, "have you had breakfast? How about Mommy takes you home and makes you something?"
Isabella embraced Olivia, who didn't dare make a sound but gripped Isabella's collar tightly.
"Mommy, were you just fighting with Daddy?"
"You two are getting divorced, aren't you? I'll never be able to live with Daddy again, will I?"
This was the second time Olivia had asked Isabella about this topic.
Isabella knew that avoidance was cowardly behavior.
But right now, avoidance was effective.
"Olivia, this is between Mommy and Daddy. It has nothing to do with you, and we both love you very much."
When Isabella spoke that last sentence, she actually felt somewhat guilty.
She couldn't be certain of William's feelings, but she still wanted to create a relatively better family atmosphere for Olivia.
Olivia was still just a child—even if she could only maintain the illusion for a few days, it was worth it.
Olivia sniffled hard and glanced upstairs, "Mommy, can you wait for me? I still have something I need to get!"
Isabella didn't know what she needed to retrieve, but she respected Olivia's request, setting her down and watching her run upstairs.
During this time, Isabella tried to collect her emotions to avoid breaking down in front of Olivia later.
William's words were like a curse, constantly echoing in Isabella's ears.
Though she didn't acknowledge it, those words were indeed both harsh and cruel, and Isabella couldn't remain unmoved.
Just as Isabella finally managed to compose herself, the sound of something crashing to the floor came from upstairs.
She couldn't think about anything else and quickly rushed up the stairs.
Running into the children's room, Isabella saw Olivia and Nathan standing in opposition, with a picture frame fallen on the floor, its glass shattered into pieces.
Olivia's voice carried a hint of tears, "How could you just throw away something so important?"
Nathan looked somewhat guilty, especially when he saw Isabella enter—his expression changed for a moment.
Fear was written all over his face.
"What's it to me? You deliberately threw my photo on the ground, and I haven't even settled accounts with you yet. What right do you have to cry?"
Nathan's voice was extremely cold, not like he was talking to Olivia but like he was arguing with a stranger.
This tone and manner of speaking chilled Isabella's heart even further.
Was this the behavior Nathan had learned from Laura?
William also emerged from the master bedroom, standing in the doorway of the children's room, watching the scene unfold.
Olivia grabbed Isabella's hand and said very aggrievedly, "It used to be on the shelf—it was clearly our family photo, but now it's been replaced with a picture of Daddy and that woman!"
Isabella looked over accordingly. The pile of broken glass on the floor had fallen in such a way that it perfectly revealed Laura's flower-like smile. Even Nathan, beside her, was grinning brightly, and William's lips curved in a faint smile.
The three of them looked like a family of three—this photo was their real family portrait.
Isabella took a deep breath.
William and Nathan's actions were completely within her expectations. Father and son were exactly alike, even sharing the same personality.