Chapter 36

36 Took the Hit from the Pot Lid

“Go ahead!”

Joseph wore a grim smile. “You know what? The worst scenario for me is to get a beating from my grandpa and then take like a month to recover. But you manipulated me, like I’m a fool. That is utter humiliation! I want you to pay for it now! I’ll let you know what it takes to play me!”

“No! No....”

When Isabella’s hair touched the water, she cried and screamed, “Please don’t do it to me! My stepfather often drowns me like this! I really can’t stand it! Please!”

Isabella’s tears rolled down into the bucket, and her cries sounded anguished. “Carl abused you?” Joseph stopped and asked doubtfully.

“He will beat me whenever he is in a bad mood!”

“He locked me in a dark basement and pressed my head into ice water until I fainted. I’m afraid of water! I really do! Please, Joseph. I’m sorry for what I’ve done. But please punish me another way!”

Hearing Isabella’s desperate cries, Joseph frowned and let go of her hand. “I won’t drown you, but you can’t get away with screwing around on me. I am not a good man.”

“I was improvising. I didn’t mean to play you!”

.....

Isabella wiped her tears as she said, “What do you want? Do you have to...?”

Before she finished the sentence, she suddenly glared over Joseph’s shoulder, her face disturbed and troubled. “Grandfather, wait, listen to me! Joseph and I were just...”

Joseph immediately turned around and did not see Charlie. When he turned back, a pot lid was smashed onto his head.

A loud sound rang.

Joseph knelt on the ground and covered his ears with his hands. His ears were ringing.

His vision swam diagonally. He could still see Isabella wipe away her tears, rub her nose triumphantly in front of him, and then go round him, open the door and run away.

Damn it! The door was closed. How could grandpa suddenly appear?

He actually believed all the crap about being abused by her stepfather, and felt pity for her for a moment.

This damn cunning woman!

Isabella ran upstairs and locked the door, and then moved the bedside table to block the door.

Although that hit could only let Joseph’s ears ring for minutes, it was enough for her to run upstairs, lock the door and arrange things.

Although a door could not stop aggressive Joseph, Charlie was still at home. “Good grandson” Joseph should not smash the door tonight. As for tomorrow...

Isabella lay tiredly on her back on the bed and sighed.

‘Just roll with the punches. If I had not escaped tonight, Joseph would definitely have tortured me to death with water.’

She had been living this kind of life for all these years.

Every day was filled with worry and fear. As long as she could not live on herself well, she would never be able to escape this kind of life.

She had faked crying just now to escape from Joseph’s torture, but she did not lie about what she had suffered. Carl was really cruel to this step-daughter.

If he failed to get a contract, ruined a business, or even stumbled on his way,

Carl would beat her to vent his anger as long as he did not feel good.

When he got really upset, he would drown her, hang her in the basement and whip her. That happened a lot. The thought of that suffocating moment made her feel dying was much easier.

Isabella closed her eyes.

No matter what, it was good to live one day at a time. She must think of a way to flee that hell with her mom as soon as possible.

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With that thought, she fell asleep.

High-end soft queen bed could always banish all the anxieties and pains from the minds of those sleeping in it.

Perhaps because Charlie was at home, Joseph did not mess with Isabella for the hit last night.

Early in the next morning, Isabella sneaked out of the Wilson Manor while everyone else was still asleep. She did not want to run into Joseph.

Past experience suggested that people’s anger would gradually subside after a period.

That was to say, Joseph shouldn’t be that angry if they didn’t not meet until this evening. When the time came, she would flatter him properly and play victim.

Perhaps the problem would be solved then!

Because at the very least, Joseph was raised by Charlie, so he still had some conscience. He would not slap her without saying anything like Carl.

Isabella thought as she walked towards the bus stop and bit the baguette she took out from the kitchen. However, she did not notice that behind the evergreen trees in the manor, someone was staring at her with the eyes of a hawk.

Joseph was dressed in a smart black sportswear with sweat on his forehead after the morning run.

Gerry handed him a towel and followed the direction of his gaze. “Mr. Joseph, do you need me to bring Miss Isabella back now?” He asked.

“No.”

Joseph wiped the sweat and said indifferently, “Grandpa wants to see her show today. If she was late and told grandpa everything, the game would be hardly worth the candle. Let her be proud for a while.”

“Master Wilson is going to Richmond Arts University today? He didn’t tell us about this...”

“He said he wanted to surprise Isabella.”

Joseph sneered in disdain. “Otherwise, what do you think I was doing at that shitty school yesterday? For those plain girls? I’m not that low!”

Gerry nodded. “It seems that he really likes Miss Isabella.”

Joseph snorted. “Older people like those who know how to talk in a pleasant way. This liar excels in that. So of course, grandpa likes her!”

...

In the dressing room of Richmond Arts University.

...

Isabella put one foot on the stool and lifted the hem of her skirt excitedly. “My dollars, I’m coming for you right away!”

Jane tidied up her costumes while expressing her disdain. “It’s just ten thousand bucks. There is no need to get so excited.”

“You don’t understand.”

“This is the first time our school made such a generous offer. When did they make money a prize ever? I’ve got stacks of certificates and notebooks as prizes. Can they be used as money?” Isabella said seriously.

“Then calm down. I know you are the best dancer in your department. But if you made a mistake because of excitement and won only the second prize, you money would be halved!”

“Shut up! Don’t jinx me! That 10,000 must belong to me!”

“You greedy bastard. You dare to hit me. I’ll never make costumes for you.”

The two of them were fooling around when screams came from outside the dressing room.

A handsome man in a white suit walked in. He took off his sunglasses and smiled warmly, “Isabella, you look gorgeous today.”

“Lukas!”

When Isabella saw him, she immediately turned into a lady. She hurriedly took her foot off the stool and tidied up her dress with her face as red as a rose. “What are you doing here?”