Chapter 7 Handsome, Let Me Kiss You

• Xander's expression turned cold.
• So, that's why she added his contact—to send me money?
• I'm the head of the Bennett Group. Does she really think I need it?
• Not only did he decline the transfer, but he also added three more zeroes to the amount.
• "Take it as a medical bill."
• Isabel was stunned for a moment. "Your brother was right earlier. I promised to help him with his leg and you agreed to marry me. After that, we owe each other nothing. You don't need to send me any more money."
• It was a huge amount, but she didn't need it. In her previous life, she had more money than she could spend in several lifetimes. Now that she was reborn, she decided to use it all up.
• This whole situation made her realize just how fleeting money was. She couldn't take it with her when she died. Letting it sit there was just a waste.
• "Take it," Xander said firmly, leaving no room for argument. "Medical treatment is one thing, but the herbs are expensive. You don't need to cover that. Get the best ones."
• Hearing him say that, Isabel finally understood why he insisted on giving her money. He was worried she'd try to save money by using cheaper, lower-quality herbs to treat Samuel's condition.
• "Yeah, the herbs are expensive. You probably already know about my situation at home. Even though I'm my dad's real daughter, I've got less standing than his mistress's daughter, and I don't get much allowance."
• As Isabel said this, she felt a wave of relief. If Xander hadn't given her the money, she would've totally forgotten this body's situation. Her mom died early, her dad didn't care about her, and she barely had enough to get by.
• Samuel's leg needed a lot of rare, pricey herbs. While they were worth a lot, to her from her past life, they were just nothing.
• She was hanging around Xander to get something. If he found out how much money she really had, he'd definitely start getting suspicious, which would make it harder for her to act.
• While Isabel was lost in thought, Xander's deep, rumbling voice suddenly came through loud and clear in her ear.
• "I'm going to attend the Perkins's party this weekend. You should come with me."
• "The Perkins?" Isabel thought about Tiffany from earlier.
• "Yeah, she was supposed to be the one I was getting the marriage certificate with yesterday," Xander said.
• Isabel realized it was that Perkins.
• "She stood you up, so why bother going?"
• "This weekend is the Old Mr. Perkins's 70th birthday party. My late grandma was friends with him. Please don't assume that it's my fault Ms. Perkins stood me up. Besides, I already got an invitation from the Perkins, so it would be rude not to go."
• "Oh, then you go ahead. I'll skip." Isabel thought to herself, I'm going to use the weekend while Xander was at the party to search for that important item. Once I find it, I'll be ready to leave.
• Isabel had her plan all set, but things weren't going as she imagined.
• "You have to come with me," Xander said, looking at her intensely.
• "Why? I don't want to go," Isabel replied.
• Then Samuel jumped in, "If my brother says you need to go, then you go. What's with all the questions?"
• "Adults are talking, kids should keep quiet," Isabel said, giving Samuel a sharp look.
• Samuel was taken aback and nearly choked with frustration.
• "You're the kid! I'm older than you, you know?"
• "So what? I'm your sister-in-law," Isabel shot back with a raised eyebrow.
• Samuel was speechless.
• "You should be able to guess why I want you to come with me," Xander said, shifting Isabel's attention from Samuel back to him.
• "Hmm … " Isabel rubbed her chin and, after a moment of thought, said, "You want to show the Perkins that you're already married and that Tiffany broke the agreement first. So, the birthday party is basically the last time your families will have any connection?"
• She is pretty sharp.
• Wait a minute!
• Xander suddenly realized something.
• "How do you know Ms. Perkins's name?"
• Before Isabel could respond, Samuel jumped in again, "I knew it. This woman has an agenda. It's not just a coincidence that she got dumped and you got stood up. It's all just excuses. She's been looking into you secretly, trying to snag a spot in a rich family!"
• Samuel gave Isabel a look as if he had all figured out. "Xander, remember how she didn't even flinch when she saw our huge estate? If she didn't know who you were, I wouldn't buy it!"
• Isabel played dumb and explained, "You must be mistaken. I didn't react because I was too stunned to know how to respond. I never thought the guy I picked up at the city hall would live in such a fancy place. My family's pretty well-off and lives in a villa, but compared to this, it feels like a dump."
• "Do you really expect me to believe that?" Samuel rolled his eyes dramatically.
• Isabel shrugged and said, "You're not my husband, so why should you believe me? As long as he does, that's all that matters."
• She said the last part while looking at Xander.
• Even though Xander was sitting there eating with a straight face, the spicy food he was eating started to taste a bit sweet.
• "Xander! Don't let her fool you. This woman is—"
• "I'm done eating," Isabel said as she stood up and looked seriously at Samuel. "Don't assume that just because I'm a woman, I'm trying to climb the social ladder through relationships. I admit that most women might go for that, but I'm not one of them. Like I said before, I have no romantic interest in your brother. Sure, he's handsome, but he's just not my type."
• Crack. Xander's utensils made a loud noise as he gripped them tightly.
• Isabel turned to look at him. His face was as stormy as if a typhoon was coming.
• Is he mad?
• She'd just cleared things up, and he's still upset? This guy is seriously full of himself. His brother's the same, thinking she's got some secret agenda with him.
• "Okay, I'll go to the party with you. Is that good enough? Why don't you believe me? I've already said I'm not interested in you."
• The more she tried to explain, the angrier he looked.
• Never mind. I shouldn't have tried to explain in the first place. There's a saying that's totally true "Explaining just looks like covering up, and covering up is where things start going wrong."
• I'll just go back, take a shower, and go to bed.
• Isabel took a step and tripped over the table leg.
• It happened so fast she didn't have time to react and ended up tumbling into Xander, knocking him down.
• The fall didn't hurt since he broke the fall, but she had to admit, he was pretty solid.
• And she ended up banging her nose on him.
• After rubbing her nose, Isabel noticed Xander staring at her with intense, unreadable eyes. The usual calmness was gone, replaced by something she couldn't quite define, and it made her feel uneasy.
• "Get off my brother!" Samuel shouted at her.
• Isabel was about to move, but Samuel's bossy tone made her even more annoyed.
• "What if I don't get up?" Isabel stayed right where she was.
• Samuel was so mad he almost fell out of his wheelchair, ready to give her a piece of his mind for lying on his brother.
• "You have one last chance. If you don't get off now, you'll regret it!"
• Isabel raised an eyebrow and shot him a defiant look. "Oh really? Just because you said that, I think I'll stay right here."
• "You, you, you—" Samuel was so furious he could barely get words out, staring down at his brother lying still under Isabel.
• What's going on? Why isn't Xander reacting, just lying there with this annoying woman on top? Did he hurt himself when he fell?
• Yeah, that must be it. There's no way Xander would stay silent and still otherwise. He must be in pain and unable to move or speak.
• "Isabel, are you still denying that you're after my brother? You just want his looks and his money!"
• Isabel rubbed her temples, feeling frustrated. These two brothers were impossible. No matter what she said, they wouldn't believe her.
• Fine, if you don't believe me, so be it!
• "You're accusing me like that, so I might as well admit it. Yeah, I'm after your brother's good looks." Isabel said, then leaned in with a sly smile. "Hey, handsome, don't move. Let me kiss you."
• "How dare you!" Samuel was freaking out, like a bug on a hot pan.
• "Want to see if I dare?" Isabel lowered her head and moved closer to the man's lips.
• Xander's hands, which had been resting by his side, tensed up as he waited nervously.