"Why are you just standing there, not going down for breakfast? You were tired all night, aren't you hungry?"
Isidore, dressed in a white casual shirt and khaki pants, appeared behind Eloise. With natural ease, he placed his hand on her shoulder, guiding her stiff little frame down the stairs. He then sat down on the side opposite Quintus.
For a moment, the atmosphere at the dining table was extremely awkward.
Quintus forced himself to take a couple of bites. The food was delicious, but he couldn't swallow it. Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Kingswell, sorry… I got drunk last night, but… how did I end up here?"
Isidore smiled. "I had someone bring you here. You and Elly grew up together like siblings, and you're always so kind to her. It's only natural that I help take care of you when you're drunk."
This explanation was essentially no explanation at all. Quintus's mind raced with more questions. "You, and Elly… last night…" Wasn't the reason he went drinking because Isidore had openly admitted he was interested in Lucienne? How did he suddenly end up with Eloise instead?
And those sounds he heard last night... they were the last thing he ever expected to come from Eloise. In his mind, she was still a child! Quintus deeply suspected he hadn't woken up yet and had been sleepwalking the entire time.
Upon hearing this, Isidore raised an eyebrow behind her, his expression full of meaning. Isidore raised an eyebrow meaningfully. "Last night… heh, she was just throwing a tantrum with me." He picked up a cherry tomato and placed it on Eloise's plate, then tossed the ball to her lightly. "Elly, why don't you explain? Don't let our stubbornness ruin the relationship of a couple about to get married." He said with a light laugh.
Eloise nearly buried her face in her plate. She might often play the role of the scheming, malicious second female lead, but that didn't mean she had no sense of shame! When Quintus's puzzled gaze turned toward her, she innocently pointed at the sandwich in front of her. "Wow, there's a fried egg in here, how amazing!"
Isidore leaned in to take a look. "Hmm, it is quite amazing."
In an attempt to divert the topic, Eloise blurted out something utterly silly. "What's this green thing?"
Isidore thought for a moment. "Probably vegetables, but I'm not sure… You, go ask the kitchen." When the man returned, he reported seriously, "Report, Mr. Kingswell, the chef says it's cabbage." Eloise exaggeratedly exclaimed, "Oh," as if she had just heard of an ancient extinct plant.
Isidore's hand rested loosely on the back of Eloise's chair. Seeing her like this, he smiled indulgently. Turning to meet Quintus's gaze, he nodded politely. "Apologies, I hope you weren't offended."
Quintus tugged at the corner of his mouth. His already limited appetite was completely lost after witnessing this "performance." He didn't dare show it too obviously, so he could only silently grumble in his mind: "What a bunch of lunatics, both of them seem a bit off in the head..."
The breakfast, which was uncomfortable for everyone except Isidore, finally came to an end. Eloise hurriedly stood up and said, "Quin, I'll go with you!"
Isidore calmly wiped his hands with a napkin, not even lifting his head. "No need, I'll take you back later."
No one dared to contradict him in front of him.
Isidore suddenly remembered something, lifting his head and smiling at her."By the way, I called your home. They'll send over the clothes you need to change into soon."
Eloise changed her clothes and walked out of the building. Under a large tree, Isidore stood alone beside a tall luxury car, resting his hands on the car roof, eyes narrowed as he watched the sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves.
He looked like an ordinary young man, taking his favorite girl out for a drive on a weekend. He opened the passenger door for Eloise. The car drove for two blocks, and Eloise hesitated for a few seconds before asking, "Mr. Kingswell, when are you going back?"
According to the original story, after announcing the partnership with Ashdown Company yesterday, Isidore should have left today. After all, there was his domain, with countless matters waiting to be dealt with. There was no time to linger.
Under his sunglasses, Isidore leisurely tilted the corner of his mouth. "After winning your heart."
Eloise furrowed her brow, and waves of worry bubbled up in her mind. "If you don't go back, won't there be problems with Mr. Ravenscroft?"
He answered smoothly, "If I'm going back, I'll take you with me." After saying that, he turned to Eloise and flashed a grin.
Everything was a mess, all of it! Eloise's heart was a tangled mess, filled with an unease about the story spiraling out of control. This was the first time it had happened to her, and she had no idea what would happen next or what she should do.
Isidore, a domineering second male lead who should be deeply in love with the female lead, how could he take an interest in her, a villainess, especially a malicious one? And he seems to be serious, even lowering his status and using disgraceful methods to entangle with her. It's simply absurd—what is going on here!
Moreover, after witnessing the unbelievable scene at the breakfast table, Eloise couldn't help but think that Isidore was actually the one who should be playing the role of the villainess. Her petty schemes seemed trivial in comparison to the way he effortlessly created a heavy contrast with one swift move!
She wondered how Isidore failed to break up Lucienne and Quintus in the original story—this absolutely shouldn't have happened...
Realizing she was thinking too far ahead, she quickly pulled her thoughts back, pursed her lips, and muttered sullenly, "I won't leave here." Even if he has a considerable underworld background, he can't just forcibly take a little beauty in a law-abiding society, right?
Isidore's lips curved downward, his eyes obscured, making them unreadable. "Why? You're not giving up?" His words were laden with insinuation. Last night, Quintus was in the next room and had clearly heard the sounds of her beneath him. There was no longer any possibility between them.
A surge of anger rose within Eloise. Deep down, she didn't like the way he spoke, nor did she appreciate his harsh methods. It made her feel alienated, and it made her miss the Isel from before—slightly arrogant, but with a much better temper.
What made her even angrier was that, even though she was about to explode with rage, she couldn't let him see it! She could only shrink her shoulders meekly and arrange some tactful words: "I've grown up here, my parents are here, why would I leave?"
Isidore glanced at her, then turned his gaze back to the road ahead, speaking softly, "It's fine, we'll talk about it later."
Eloise hated the way he seemed to have everything under control. Unable to hold back, she snapped, "What do you mean 'later'? I told you I'm not going with you!" Isidore nodded, reassuring her, "Alright, alright. Is it okay that I came over then?"
Eloise couldn't tell if he was just brushing her off or what, but she felt no trace of any real emotion. She was only confused, "What do you want to do? Like last night—why didn't you say anything before bringing Quintus over from the hotel? And this morning... why?"
He slammed on the brakes, and the car came to a screeching halt by the roadside.
"The word... how should I say it?" Isidore tilted his head, thinking for a moment, then spoke in a teasing tone, "Ah, I'm—asserting my rights."
Eloise fumed, "What 'rights'? Am I some kind of cat or dog?"
