Chapter 854 It Doesn't Have to Be Him

Chapter 854 It Doesn't Have to Be Him

Hearing that, Stella finally felt the knot in her chest loosen.

Back then, when the whole mess with Isabella and Michael happened, she had taken Aiden's words to heart. Especially when the Brown Group was in crisis — in that sprawling Brown Family empire, there had not been a single person she could truly trust.

She had lived in comfort for so many years, but in that moment, reality had hit her like ice water.

The people who flattered her day after day had only been circling for the Brown Family's resources, using her as a means to an end. When disaster struck, not one of them had reached out a hand.

Her parents' family was no different. For years, they had been feeding off her connection to the Browns. They could offer her nothing in return, and when the money stopped, they would sooner blame her for failing to maintain their lavish lifestyle than lift a finger to help.

And yet, when the Brown Group became something everyone avoided like the plague, Isabella had stepped in.

By then, their relationship had already been strained to the breaking point because of Bianca. Daniel's death had only iced over what little warmth remained between the families. For Isabella to help Michael at that time was something Stella would never have imagined.

Stella had not forgotten how she had once treated Isabella. She knew Isabella's help was more for Aiden's sake than for hers. But that single act had spoken louder than any apology could.

Without Isabella and the Wilson Family, the Brown Group could never have clawed its way back from the bottom so quickly. Even Stella, in all her stubbornness, could see she had misjudged everything.

She had treated Bianca's family like treasure, and more than once, she had listened to others and tried to push Isabella out of the Brown Family. 

Looking back now, she realized she had been completely blinded — nearly destroying Michael's marriage and almost dragging the entire family down with her.

Isabella had always known about Stella's struggles. But the past was something Isabella no longer wished to pick apart. 

From the day she reconciled with Michael, she had wanted only to look forward. The people and the things that had once hurt her were now locked away in a place she would never revisit.

What she had never expected was that Aiden had seen through her act all along.

Looking back, she realized he had been protecting her in his own quiet way. Even when she and Michael were no longer together, he had still treated her like a granddaughter. 

She picked up the gemstone bracelet, her mind flooding with memories of Aiden's kindness.

Back then, she had been determined to marry Michael. But the reality of their marriage had broken her, and without Aiden's care over those three years, she might not have survived it. He had always believed in her, always thought it was the Brown Family that had wronged her, always blamed himself for not raising Michael better.

She had thought that day in the hospital, when Aiden held her and Michael's hands together, he was urging her to take one more step back and reconcile. 

Only today did she understand — like Daniel, Aiden had cared first and foremost about her happiness. If she was content, it did not matter to him if the man beside her was Michael or not.

Aiden had even thought of her future children. He had been the one who most wanted to see his great-grandchild, yet in his final moments, he had chosen to respect every choice she made.

The emotions she had just managed to steady broke apart again.

"Isabella, why are you crying all of a sudden?" 

Stella lowered her head and saw Isabella clutching Aiden's gemstone bracelet, tears slipping down her cheeks. Startled, she reached for the box of tissues on the table, but with Michelle in her arms, she was caught in a dilemma — until a familiar figure appeared behind her.

"Michael, come here and comfort Isabella. It's my fault, I must have said something that made her overthink," Stella called quickly.

"What happened?" Michael's steps quickened at the word "crying." He crouched down beside Isabella, his eyes widening at the sight of her tears.

He sat close, his body shielding her from the curious glances around them. His voice was low, meant for her alone. "Why are you crying? What happened?"

Still lost in the tide of memories, Isabella pressed her lips together, then shook her head. She didn't want to bring up the past — not now. Not when it might unsettle Michael's health, and not when Aiden's death was still a wound in his heart. He had always believed that if he had acted decisively between the company and Nolan, the crisis could have been avoided and Aiden might never have fallen ill.

Michael knew her well enough not to press further. His gaze dropped to her tightly clasped hands. The bracelet was hidden from view, and all he saw was the ornate gift box beside her. He assumed she was simply moved by a present.

"Who gave you the gift? What's got you so emotional?" he asked gently.

Her fingers tightened around the bracelet. She looked up and found Michael far too close, half his body leaning into her space. She couldn't let him see it. He would recognize Aiden's bracelet instantly — he had grown up under the old man's watchful eye.

Not here. Not now.

"It's from Mom," she said quickly, nodding toward Stella, who was bouncing Michelle in her arms. "A gift for Michelle."

Stella caught the look Isabella sent her and understood immediately. She knew Isabella didn't want to stir up Michael's grief, and she played along without missing a beat.

But Michael wasn't so easily fooled. Watching the silent exchange between them, he let out a quiet laugh. "What kind of gift from Mom could move you like this? Or is it that you two have gotten so close I can't even get between you anymore?"

Isabella froze, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. Michael knew her too well — there was no hiding from him.

His eyes were locked on her hands, as if ready to reach over and see for himself. But before he could, Stella's voice cut in.

"Watch your mouth, you brat. What's wrong with me and Isabella getting along? We have our own way of doing things. Stop interfering. There are plenty of guests here today — go play host."

Michael sighed, half amused, half exasperated. "And who was it that just dragged me over here to comfort my wife? Now I'm here, you're kicking me away? What's that supposed to mean?"