At this moment, Emanuele held her tightly in his embrace, his lips grazing Isabe’s forehead as he unabashedly inhaled the sweet floral scent that clung to the girl’s body.


    But the words he spoke were particrly cruel, “Don’t think that just because rk has fallen for you, you can be his wife. Among us, he’s the most skilled yer. Be careful not to get yed to death and end up with nothing.”


    Isabe found it ironic. It was Emanuele who wanted her to get married in the first ce, so why was he now suddenly unwilling? Emanuele was clearly a lunatic.


    “Thank you for your reminder, Mr. Lombardi. Rest assured, I won’t let myself get into that situation,” Isabe replied, her toneced with sarcasm.


    At that moment, Sophia’s voice could be heard in the distance, calling out for Isabe. She hadn’t seen Isabe say her goodbyes or noticed her absence, so she came looking for her.


    Isabe broke free from Emanuele’s grasp and walked toward her mother’s direction. However, Emanuele’s voice reached her from behind.


    “Now that you are part of the Lombardi family, you represent us, Isabe. Your every move will draw attention to our family. It will also affect me. So, be careful. If you bring too much trouble, I might just solve it with a single gunshot.”


    Isabe halted in her tracks, turned, and looked at the man who was now her stepbrother. His eyes were devoid of warmth,cking any semnce of familial affection, as if she were aplete stranger. She felt that Emanuele had no heart.


    “So, you’re willing to watch an innocent person like me get dragged into your conflicts? Can you live with that?” Isabe retorted.


    “There’s no question of living with it or not,” Emanuele replied coolly. “You’re not worth my concern unless you have significant utility and can bring me benefits. Then I’ll protect you.”


    “You’re a real lunatic!” Isabe couldn’t help but blurt out before she briskly walked away. She had no desire for any further interaction with Emanuele.


    Isabe collected herself and went to bid farewell to Sophia.


    “Mom, I wish you all the happiness,” she said.


    Sophia had clearly experienced a very joyful day in her life today. She hugged Isabe.


    “In a couple of days, your stepfather and I will be going on our honeymoon to Bali, and we’ll tour Europe too. Isabe, I haven’t felt this happy and sweet in many years.”


    Watching her mother immersed in happiness, Isabe’s bitterness welled up in her throat. How could she tell her mother about the predicament she was currently facing? By the time her mother returned from her trip, she might already be married.


    Isabe didn’t want to dampen her mother’s joyful mood, so she endured it and offered some well-wishes before attempting to leave.


    Before she could go, her stepfather called out to her.


    “Isabe, now that you’re also a part of the Lombardi family, why don’t you move in with us? And make sure to have at least two bodyguards with you at all times. It will put your mother’s mind at ease.”Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    “I don’t think I need that. I’m just an ordinary person. Your mother is getting married, and her happiness is what matters. I don’t want to change who I am for that,” Isabe refused. She just wanted to be an ordinary person. If she had bodyguards around her every day, how could she go to work or hang out with friends?


    “Isabe, this is for your safety, please. I don’t want you to be in danger,” Sophia pleaded.


    Once again, Isabe found herself cornered by Sophia’s words. She had no choice. She thought, as long as her mother was happy.


    Isabe knew how difficult her mother’s life had been all these years, and she didn’t want to make things harder for her.


    “You can arrange bodyguards for me, but my condition is that they don’t enter my residence or my workce. Those areas are safe, and I don’t need protection there.”


    “Alright,” Leo agreed. “Let’spromise.”


    After Isabe left, Emanuele emerged from the shadows and looked at Sophia.


    “Sophia, Isabe hasn’t graduated from college yet and is in her internship phase. Is she capable of living independently?”


    Sophia shook her head. “Currently, I’m still covering her apartment rent, but she manages her other living expenses on her own.”


    “Emanuele, now that you and her father are married, we’re all part of one family. During this time, while you and her father are traveling, I’ll take care of Isabe,” Emanuele proposed.


    Sophia hesitated. She understood Emanuele’s personality well; he wasn’t the kind to take care of others. However, it seemed that his rtionship with Isabe was currently amicable.


    “Well, if you say so.”


    In the following days, as she no longer had to interact with members of the Lombardi family, Isabe finally felt a sense of relief. Most importantly, there was no contact with Emanuele.


    Today, Isabe received a text message from rk.


    “Dear Isabe, are you free tonight? I’d like to take you to a movie and then have dinner together.” rk politely inquired.


    “Sure,” Isabe agreed.


    When she finished work in the evening and walked out of the hospital, she noticed a Bugatti Veyron parked by the entrance. In their small town, such a car was an extremely rare sight.


    Passing by the car with Evelyn, the car window rolled down, revealing rk’s handsome face.


    “Hi, Isabe. I’m here to pick you up for the movie,” rk said, his face radiant with a smile as bright as the sun.


    Isabe hadn’t expected rk to be so high-profile, driving such a luxurious car.


    Beside her, Evelyn couldn’t help but exim, “Oh my God, Isabe, is this your boyfriend? Howe I’ve never heard you mention him before?”


    “He’s not my boyfriend,” rk immediately rified. “I’m currently pursuing Isabe.”


    Faced with such an open, wealthy, and handsome suitor, Evelyn couldn’t help but envy Isabe.


    “Go ahead, Isabe, and have a wonderful evening,” Evelyn pushed Isabe towards the car.


    Isabe was a bit helpless, shaking her head. “Your colleague has quite the sense of humor.”


    “You should be more open, Isabe,” rk said to her. “Your personality should be more cheerful.”


    Isabe thought about her past and the memories that came with it. It was painful. Be cheerful? She was just grateful to be able to live normally.


    They went to see a recently released romantic movie. However, halfway through, Isabe’s phone kept vibrating. She nced at the caller ID and saw that it was Emanuele.


    She didn’t want to answer, and she even considered hanging up, but she was afraid Emanuele would get angry and unleash his temper on her. Currently, she was no match for Emanuele. All she could do was avoid him as much as possible.


    Pretending not to notice Emanuele’s call, she continued watching the movie. After the movie, as they were leaving the theater, rk suggested going to a Michelin-starred restaurant for dinner. Isabe hadn’t tried it before, and she was about to agree when she spotted Emanuele standing by the entrance.


    Emanuele was leaning against the doorway, smoking a cigarette in a public ce bustling with people. The streetlights illuminated him, casting a golden glow. Cigarette butts already littered the ground at his feet, revealing his miserable mood.