Chapter 186

186 She Must Be Very Attractive

Isabella was standing in the room and looked at the iron gate which was going to collapse, frightened. She thought that If Fred could not stop them, she would get caught.

There was a clock on the wall and it was half-past seven. Isabella was anxious.

So, she opened the window and looked at the ground outside the window. She was on the third floor and there was a drainpipe under the window. She carried her backpack and the gown and decided to slide down the drainpipe...

Because of the accident caused by the middle-aged man, Isabella didn’t get paid for tonight. She didn’t know what to do so she wanted to call Jane and borrow 400. But she broke her phone when she jumped off the pipe.

Isabella freaked out. She had to come back to the school by taxi and take the money. Then she could go to the department store for the present.

After she got delayed by these things, it was nearly half-past eight.

Isabella was so anxious that she wanted to cry. But she could not call William so she took a taxi to the Wilson Manor.

At the same time.

In the Wilson Manor.

.....

The red carpet was spread from the entrance of the manor to the main building. There were roses on both sides of the carpet. At the end of the carpet, a popular singer was singing a soulful love song.

Joseph was sitting at the head of the table. William was whispering to him, “Miss Isabella has not arrived and she didn’t answer my call. It is already 8 pm. What should we do?”

Joseph frowned and said, “You keep calling her. You can call her school and ask where she went to perform. She told me that tonight’s performance is very important for her. So, she must be delayed by some other things.”

William nodded.

After William left, Gerry walked forward and said, “Mr. Joseph, Mr. Cedric is back and he is in the hall now.”

Joseph was glad to hear it so he said, “Cedric is back? He lied to me that he can’t come back this time!”

Joseph stood up at once and walked to the hall.

Zachary and Jayden were chatting with a group of good-looking young men. Standing beside them, many beauties were coveting them.

Zachary saw Joseph and shouted, “Here is Joseph!” Then Cedric turned around immediately and said with a smile, “Mr. Joseph, happy birthday!”

Joseph stepped forward and acted like he was going to punch Cedric, “Cedrick, you lied to me!”

Cedric was the last one of the four famous men in Peace City. He stayed abroad for most of the time. He didn’t like fame and money but he was the only son of the fourth generation of the Stretton family, the only heir in his family.

Cedric knew that Joseph was just feinting so he held Joseph’s hand and said, “I thought that you would hug me after so long. But you haven’t changed at all because the first thing you see me is to punch me.”

“I am wondering how busy you were for the past years. It has been years since the last time you came back! Are you still my friend?” Joseph complained.

Cedric smiled and said, “I am the only son so you have to forgive me. I have so much to do. But you guys never came to me. It is just a matter of a plane ticket. I am so sad.”

“Business has not been easy recently so we had no money to buy plane tickets,” Joseph joked.

Joseph seldom joked and he looked at Gerry, saying, “Let Mr. Cedric sit beside me. We need a good drink.”

“Wait! Although I am back, I don’t want to get drunk,” Cedric said.

He waved his hand and said, “I have things to do tonight. I have to go to City Z tonight. Tomorrow I will buy you guys as much wine as you like.”

“So soon?” Joseph asked.

Cedric nodded.

He reached out and helped Joseph with his collar. He said, “You have changed a lot. The color of your suit suits you well.”

Joseph smiled and said, “I was forced to wear it because of my date for the party.”

“Your date?” Cedric was surprised.

He said playfully, “I am so familiar with you. Your date must be important to you or she would not appear at your birthday party. Why didn’t you tell me when I called you last time?”

“Well, you know. Things between us are not settled yet so I didn’t tell you,” Joseph said and grinned.

“What? Are you Joseph? You just acted like you are in love and you are shy!” Cedric said.

He teased, “I have to see who your date is. She must be very attractive or you would not look like this!”

Joseph then realized that Isabella hadn’t arrived yet. He looked at his watch and found that it was half-past eight now. He was unhappy so he said, “She is delayed by something.”

No one dared speak now.

Cedric, Zachary, and Jayden looked at each other. They were wondering what delayed this girl on such an important day.

“I believe that she would come on time when we cut cakes at 9 o’clock,” Joseph said.

He felt embarrassed when the three looked at him so he said again, “Cedric, how about you...”

“No need. We are friends. That is not important,” Cedric said.

Then he took out a key and threw it to Joseph, “I don’t know what you like so cars are the best choices. This is the latest limited version of Ferrari. It is called Night Angel and it is parked in the backyard. I have to leave now.”

Jayden exclaimed.

He loved cars so he ran to the backyard as he shouted, “Night Angel!”

Other people went to see the car. Joseph looked at his watch. It was eight forty now.

“Mr. Joseph!”

William rushed in and said, “I have called Miss Isabella’s school. They told me that there was no performance recently. Is Miss Isabella in trouble? Should we delay the section of cake cutting?”

“There is no performance? Isabella lied to me?!” Joseph was surprised.

William was shocked and he said, “No. Miss Isabella must...”

Joseph interrupted, “I don’t want to Isabella’s words! I have told her that I will not hurt her but she still ran away. Is it so hard for her to tell the public our relationship?”

He said angrily, “I will not delay anything! Forget about her!”

...

Isabella was in the southern suburb now. She was only one mile away from the Wilson Manor.

Isabella stared at the numbers on the screen and asked anxiously, “How long do we need?”

The driver said, “I am afraid that it will take a while. The policemen are here so the car crash must be serious.”

Isabella thought for a moment and then took out her wallet. She said, “Forget it. I will get off now and run to there.”

She picked up her backpack and began to run in the dark.

She thought of the shortcut William told her before. She went into the dark woods without hesitation. She was running to the Wilson Manor ablaze with lights...

A black commercial vehicle was racing on the road. The driver said, “Mr. Cedric didn’t have to bring your present over. It is only one hour away before your flight.”

“It is nothing. We haven’t seen each other for a long time. Joseph is my best friend,” Cedric said as he browsed the papers in his hands.