Chapter 739


    Isabelle looked at him in surprise, as he earnestly sought her opinion. A strange thought crossed her


    mind - what if he waited for her to agree even if she refused? No man had ever respected her thoughts


    and opinions like this before. She felt a little overwhelmed and unsure of what to do.


    This was the first time a handsome, wealthy man of high status had asked her so gently for her opinion.


    Her heart raced faster and faster with each passing moment, as waves of emotions surged through her.


    For a long while, Isabelle didn''t answer him. But Darius remained patient and gentle with his gaze fixed


    on hers. "If... you don''t agree, it''s okay to take your time," he said softly. "I can wait."


    He really said that! He valued her thoughts so much that he was willing to wait! Isabelle had never


    experienced anything like this before; it felt wonderful - almost like a gentle spring breeze caressing her


    cheeks.


    Her throat felt dry as she struggled to find the right words. Finally, after some hesitation, she spoke up,


    "I don''t disagree."


    As soon as she spoke those words, Isabelle''s cheeks flushed hotly with embarrassment and shyness.


    She lowered her head, her voice soft, "Bethany is studying in the association, and Miss Anto, along


    with a few otherdies, are her mentors. Miss Andrews said she wants to groom Bethany exceptionally


    well."


    "You mean Sylvia?" Darius narrowed his eyes; he had heard that Sylvia was far from ordinary.


    "Yeah, yeah," Isabelle''s eyes lit up as soon as she mentioned Sylvia, and her admiration and fondness


    for Sylvia shone through so clearly that it couldn''t be hidden.


    Watching this, Darius felt a pang of jealousy, even though he knew Sylvia was a woman. If not, he


    would''ve been one hundred percent jealous because the moment she mentioned Sylvia, her whole


    face lit up.


    "Miss Andrews really likes Bethany and has prepared excellent teachers for her. She has a lot of


    homework too," Isabelle spoke more when it came to her daughter.


    Darius knew she had a shy personality, so he didn''t interrupt her but listened attentively, his eyes


    showing a hint of gentle encouragement.


    Isabelle blushed again. "I''m sorry if I''ve been talking too much..."


    Darius smiled reassuringly at Isabelles'' apology. "No need for apologies. I like listening," Darius said.


    "Is Bethany doing well in school?" At the time, he thought his daughter was only studying some school


    courses, with maybe a special talent or two.


    But when he followed Isabelle to the association, he was amazed by what he saw. He had always


    considered himself worldly and experienced, but his eyes went wide at the sight of it all.


    "Bethany is working really hard," Isabelle nodded. "Come on, I''ll take you to her."


    An hourter, they arrived at the entrance of Athena Society in a steady car.


    After Isabelle got out of the car, Darius followed her into the building. There were severalrge


    buildings inside with gardens and ponds along with many facilities that surprised him.


    A billiards room?


    A shooting range?


    Why would there be so many such ces in a maternity and child protection association?


    As he passed by some wooden stakes, he couldn''t help asking, "Who here knows martial arts?"


    Isabelle pointed to these wooden stakes. "The shorter ones are for children''s practice while we use


    taller ones."


    There were also some sandbags as well as swords...


    It seemed like he had walked into an arena from a TV drama series.


    "Why do you practice this kind of thing..." Darius suppressed his shock inside before looking


    incredulously at Isabelle.


    "For self-defense, you know, to protect ourselves! Miss Andrews said it''s best for a girl to have some


    self-defense skills," Isabelle said with a smile.


    Darius pondered for a while before speaking again, "She has quite unique ideas."


    "Of course." Isabelle looked proud as she led Darius through two buildings until they reached an empty


    horse-riding field corner where there were twenty or thirty tall horses in stables nearby.


    Darius furrowed his brows; there was even a horse-riding field here? Why did she bring him here?


    While he was contemting this question, Isabelle said, "Bethany is currently taking horseback riding


    lessons."


    She nced down at her phone''s time disy before continuing, "She might need another ten minutes


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    or so."


    Horseback riding lessons?


    A five-year-old child takes horseback riding lessons?


    With one swift kick from the horse, the child was gone! Darius'' heart raced at the thought and Isabelle''s


    words caused his face to pale.


    "She''s so young? How could she be taking such a dangerous ss?"


    Isabelle extended her slender fingers and pointed towards a line of children on horseback in the arena.


    "Have you seen them? They''re all taking riding lessons."