Chapter 91: You Don't Deserve Isabella
Isabella had already stepped out of the elevator and was heading toward Joseph's room when William decided he wasn't finished with her. He quickly followed, roughly grabbing her wrist to stop her.
"Where are you going?" William stared intently at Isabella.
His features were sharp and aristocratic—high cheekbones, a straight nose—and even the slightest frown gave him an intimidating presence.
In all their six years of marriage, Isabella had rarely seen William truly angry. He was always so detached, never expressing love or hate, barely even speaking to her.
So when Isabella first discovered William's affair, she'd assumed their divorce would be a simple, mutual decision.
She never expected William to transform overnight into someone volatile and explosive. Anything involving Isabella seemed to make him lose all reason, as if he needed to interrogate her about every detail of her life.
Isabella felt like the bones in her wrist were grinding together, as if William might snap them at any moment.
She tried to pull away, but instead of freeing herself, she only gave him the opportunity to yank her closer.
"Isabella, you think you can just walk away without explaining yourself?"
"Why shouldn't I be able to leave?" Isabella tilted her head back to meet William's gaze.
After his repeated accusations and humiliation, Isabella's last shred of patience had finally snapped.
She didn't want to ask William why he kept pursuing her, nor did she care to understand his motives behind this behavior.
Getting through this month and finalizing their divorce had become Isabella's most urgent desire.
"I have no obligation to report my whereabouts to you, and you have no right to interfere with my personal relationships," Isabella stopped struggling and instead straightened her spine, meeting William's gaze head-on. "What gives you the authority to meddle in my life and interrogate me?"
William looked down, studying the woman who was still technically his wife through her furious expression.
That reckless night at the bar six years ago burned like a brand in William's memory, a constant reminder of how Isabella had ended up in his bed.
During their six years of marriage, he'd rarely come home. Unless absolutely necessary for appearances, he never paid attention to Isabella—he'd almost forgotten what his so-called wife even looked like.
Isabella had beautiful eyes that sparkled with light whether she was angry or happy.
William only remembered Isabella as boring but dutiful—a wife who, despite knowing his heart wasn't with her, would still iron his suits and prepare his breakfast.
She was everything society would consider a perfect wife, but to William, that perfection felt bland and tedious.
With his status and wealth, he could have any number of such women falling at his feet if he wanted.
Until they decided to divorce. Until Isabella first looked at him with disgust. Something strange had stirred in his chest.
Looking at Isabella's fury now, William felt an unexpected surge of defiance.
He didn't want to let Isabella leave him so easily.
"Last night, who exactly were you with—"
A hotel room door opened down the hall, and Joseph emerged fully dressed. He hadn't expected to walk into such an entertaining scene.
His eyes moved playfully between William and Isabella as he quickly assessed the situation.
"Isabella," Joseph called out casually, then walked over to her side. He looked at William with unconcealed contempt, his gaze finally settling on the man's grip around Isabella's wrist. "Your taste in men really wasn't great back then. No wonder Zack refused to come to your wedding."
Isabella's heart skipped a beat.
Of course Zack couldn't have attended her wedding—Isabella had never sent any of them invitations!
Her time with the racing team felt like a beautiful dream, and she hadn't wanted to entangle her real life with those memories.
William studied Joseph carefully.
The young, handsome man before him had decent looks, but everything else about him radiated an air of reckless rebellion.
His words effortlessly ignited William's anger.
"If Richard knew you were throwing him over for this type of guy, would he regret it?" William raised an eyebrow, his tone venomous.
"How flattering," Joseph chuckled. "Though a man who gets physical with women isn't exactly gentleman material either. I heard you cheated too? I'm seriously questioning Isabella's judgment back then."
Joseph's tongue was sharp as a blade, delivering cutting remarks with a smile while stepping closer to Isabella.
"Isabella, room service just called about sending up breakfast. I had them bring you a plate too."
He glanced sideways at William with a smirk that revealed two slightly prominent canine teeth. "You weren't invited, though."
Joseph then carefully pried William's fingers away from Isabella's wrist one by one, looking with concern at the ligature marks on her skin.
"How ungentlemanly."
William's face had turned ashen. The longer he looked at this young man standing protectively in front of Isabella, the angrier he became.
"I won't feel comfortable with Olivia in your care," William's gaze moved meaningfully between Joseph and Isabella. "With you juggling so many men, you can't provide positive guidance for Olivia—you'll corrupt her instead."
William resumed his arrogant, cold demeanor.
"I will never let you have custody of Olivia."
Isabella flexed her aching wrist and lifted her eyes to stare coldly at William.
"Whether I get custody of Olivia isn't up to you—that's for the court to decide. You don't have the power to make that call, and you certainly don't have the right to revoke my rights."
Joseph smoothly took Isabella's purse from her hands, the gesture as natural and intimate as a boyfriend helping his girlfriend.
William's dark eyes turned ice-cold, his gaze hitting Isabella like the fiercest blizzard.
"I already researched some places yesterday. After breakfast, we can explore the area. I still haven't met Olivia yet, but I've prepared a gift for her. Isabella, could you help me see if it's appropriate?"
Joseph had begun chatting with Isabella as if William didn't exist, their conversation clearly indicating a special relationship.
The two walked toward the room together. As Joseph turned to close the door, he looked William up and down one final time.
"You don't deserve Isabella."
The hotel room door slammed shut in William's face.