Chapter 13 You Can Contact Me Anytime
Tobias's handsome face looked a bit gloomy. "I need to ask her something."
He had felt uneasy all afternoon.
He couldn't stop thinking about how Isabella had ignored him.
Olivia noticed Tobias's odd expression and asked instinctively, "What did Isabella do this time?"
Tobias took a deep breath. "At noon, Isabella saw Cleo at the hospital entrance. She took my lunch from Cleo, saying she'd bring it to me."
Olivia shrugged, unimpressed. "I thought it was something serious. Isabella just wanted to show off in front of you, her dear brother."
"But she didn't bring the lunch to me," Tobias said sullenly.
Olivia was puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Tobias clenched his fists, finding it difficult to speak but needing to say it. "Isabella didn't bring it to me at all. She ate it herself."
Both Olivia and Cleo were stunned. "That's impossible."
---
Isabella heard someone knocking and calling her name.
It sounded like Tobias.
She got up from her chair, ready to open the door.
Just then, her phone rang on the table.
Who would be calling her now?
Isabella walked over, picked up the phone, and froze.
The number flashing on the screen was one she had seen only a few times but was very familiar with.
William was calling.
Why would he be calling her now?
And how did he even get her number? He had called her the night she returned home.
"Hello," Isabella pretended it was her first time receiving this call. "Who's this?"
"William."
A cold and brief reply.
Isabella could imagine the cold, handsome look on his face as he said those words.
"Oh, Mr. Brown! I didn't expect it to be you!" Isabella feigned surprise. "I was wondering how to contact you in three years, and here you are calling me. This is great!"
"No need to wait three years," William said. "You can contact me anytime."
Isabella paused. "I didn't know your number before..."
"Well, now you do."
Isabella was speechless.
Before she could say anything, she heard him say, "Save my number."
"Okay!" Isabella quickly responded. "I'll save it right now."
"Good girl."
Isabella was stunned.
Why did he say "good girl"?
This choice of words and tone seemed inappropriate for people who had only met once.
She couldn't understand William's intentions.
"Um..." Isabella was a bit nervous. "Mr. Brown, why did you call?"
"To ask if you've eaten," William said.
Isabella was taken aback. "What?"
He called just to ask if she had eaten?
Do rich people have nothing better to do?
"I haven't eaten yet," Isabella replied. "But I will soon."
"What are you having?"
Isabella listed the dishes, "Spaghetti Bolognese, Roast Chicken, Beef Stew, Mashed Potatoes, Caesar Salad."
"Is that all? Just those few dishes?"
Isabella sensed a hint of dissatisfaction in William's tone.
She quickly added, "There's more! A lot more."
Isabella rattled off more dish names, then paused, realizing how absurd it was to be discussing this with the CEO of the Brown Group. This didn't fit the plot of her previous life at all...
William listened to Isabella list the dishes, thinking of how thin and frail she looked before she died. A flash of pain and pity crossed his eyes.
"Isabella, make sure you eat well."
Isabella was confused. "What?"
Was William... caring for her?
She was bewildered for a few seconds and then quickly said, "Okay, I will."
For some reason, she sensed a subtle tension and tenderness in William's deep voice.
Was it just her imagination?
They had just met. Why would he be tense or tender?
"Go eat. I'll call you again tomorrow," William said.
Isabella was about to say "okay," but then her eyes widened. "What? Tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'll call you every day."
Isabella was confused. "Every day?"
Who decided that?
"Is that a problem?" William's voice grew deeper, sensing her reluctance. "You don't want to talk to me?"
Isabella quickly said, "Of course not. It's fine."
You're so forceful, it's not like I have a choice.
In her previous life, she had heard of William's ruthless methods and his vengeful nature.
She didn't want to provoke him now, especially since she hadn't even dealt with the Taylor family yet.
"Good, then I'll contact you tomorrow."
Isabella put on a hopeful expression. "Okay."
The call ended.
Isabella let out a deep breath.
But the thought of William calling her every day made her feel even more burdened.
The knocking resumed outside.
Tobias's voice came through, "Isabella, what are you doing in there? Why aren't you opening the door?"
Isabella put down her phone and went to unlock the door.
When she opened it, she saw Tobias looking angrier than ever.
"Why did you take so long to open the door?" Tobias was trying to control his anger. He had almost walked away, thinking Isabella was deliberately ignoring him because he had heard her talking inside.
Isabella looked at him calmly. "I was on the phone."
Tobias raised an eyebrow. "With whom?"
"A friend."
"What kind of friend?"
What kind of friend could make her so engrossed in the call that she didn't hear him?
He had called her several times, but she seemed deaf.
Isabella looked at Tobias, puzzled. "What does it have to do with you?"
Tobias was speechless.
For some reason, her cold and indifferent gaze made him feel an inexplicable discomfort, just like when she ignored him at the hospital earlier.
Tobias frowned. "Why did you eat my lunch?"
Isabella blinked. "What else was I supposed to do? If I didn't eat it, what then? You wouldn't have taken it from me anyway."
"Then why did you tell Cleo you were bringing it to me?"
Tobias couldn't tell if he was feeling resentful or something else.
Sure, he wouldn't have taken it from her, but she should have at least tried to bring it to him first.
She didn't even try, just assumed he wouldn't want it.
And didn't she want to show off in front of him?
"Who said I wanted to bring you lunch?" Isabella looked surprised. "I didn't want to at all."