Chapter 8 Mr Galloway, Isabelle Is on the Phone

• After seeing Raiden's response, Ellie frowned and couldn't help but glance at Hamza and Isabelle in the restaurant. She didn't believe it. She sent another message to Raiden, 'If he's someone you arranged, what's his name?'
• But there was no response from the other end of WhatsApp. Ellie, who had been waiting for a reply for a long time, started to look displeased. She glanced at Isabelle again.
• The young woman sitting across from Ellie couldn't help but look at Isabelle in confusion and then turned to Ellie before asking, "What's going on?" After all, she didn't know Isabelle.
• Ellie shook her head. "It's nothing." However, her eyes were still fixed on Isabelle. Ellie's voice carried a hint of stubbornness and a not-so-subtle volume. Her strong presence was impossible to ignore, and it made Isabelle furrowed her brows. She instinctively turned her head, and their gazes locked.
• Ellie was still holding her phone, and she showed no embarrassment at being caught red-handed. When she saw Isabelle looking her way, she met Isabelle's gaze calmly without offering a greeting.
• Isabelle didn't initiate a greeting either and just maintained a calm demeanor by lowering her gaze after their brief eye contact.
• Hamza looked at Isabelle thoughtfully. "Do you know her?"
• She smiled and nodded. "Yes." She didn't provide further explanation.
• Ellie, who had a displeased expression when she couldn't get a response from Isabelle, couldn't completely hide her irritation. However, she maintained a seniority-based demeanor. Probably to remind Isabelle of her responsibilities, she picked up her phone and sent a voice message to Raiden, "Raiden, don't keep covering for Isabelle. I know you're busy with work, but you should also manage your wife. After all, she is a married woman. Although I trust that she won't do anything inappropriate, it could lead to gossip if acquaintances see something." She didn't deliberately lower her voice.
• Isabelle could hear her but chose not to respond. She simply sipped her tea as if nothing was wrong.
• On the other side of WhatsApp, Raiden still hadn't replied.
• Ellie, who was accustomed to maintaining her elder's composure, couldn't tolerate being ignored by the two younger individuals any longer. She couldn't help but lose her temper. She stood up and approached Isabelle while positioning herself between Isabelle and Hamza. She glanced at the man briefly and then turned to Isabelle. "Belle, who is this?"
• With a polite and proper attitude, Isabelle introduced Hamza politely. "This is my senior."
• Ellie extended her hand toward him. "Hello, I'm Belle's mother-in-law."
• He nodded politely. "Hello."
• Ellie didn't receive the overly respectful behavior she wanted, nor did she detect any signs of fear or unease, as she had assumed. She studied him for a moment, then couldn't help but turn her gaze back to Isabelle. "Isabelle, you're married. You should be careful when interacting with the opposite sex." She added another sentence with a warm expression, "By the way, if you need money in the future, just tell us directly. Don't keep having your family come over every time. It doesn't look good."
• Isabelle's hand, which was holding her teacup, paused for a moment. She turned to look at Ellie. "What money?"
• Ellie still maintained her graceful and gentle demeanor and said, "The money for the villa. It's also our oversight. You married into our family—"
• Isabelle interrupted her with an apologetic tone. "I didn't know about this matter. I'll return the money to you." After that, she bid farewell to Hamza and left.
• Andrea had just finished a phone call and approached with concern. "What happened?"
• "It's nothing. I have an urgent matter I need to attend to at home," Isabelle explained apologetically. "Andrea, we'll make plans to meet up another day."
• Andrea nodded and said, "It's okay. You go ahead with your business." She then pointed at the watch and added, "Don't miss your flight."
• Isabelle nodded. "I know."
• Her house was near the airport, and it would only take a few minutes by cab to reach it.
• When she returned home, Oliver and Lisa were there, sitting on the couch and discussing the floor plan excitedly. Most of the unfolded floor plan was hanging on the coffee table.
• Isabelle walked over calmly, picked up the floor plan from the table, and tore it to shreds with a few swift movements. Oliver and Lisa were startled by her sudden action and looked at her in bewilderment.
• "What... what's wrong?"
• Isabelle threw all the torn pieces into the trash with a blank expression. She extended her hand to them. "Give it to me!"
• Oliver and Lisa exchanged puzzled glances. "Give what to you?"
• Isabelle replied, "The money."
• Oliver and Lisa were speechless.
• Isabelle looked at them coldly and said, "I've reminded you before. I've divorced Raiden, and I asked you not to bother him. How long has it been before you all just ignored my words?"
• Oliver quickly explained. "It was Raiden who said you hadn't divorced. Besides, he voluntarily gave the money. I didn't ask for it."
• She retorted, "If you didn't approach him, why would he give you the money voluntarily?"
• "I did approach him, but I didn't go there for the money." He scratched his head while appearing somewhat guilty. "I didn't ask for it, and I'll pay him back as soon as I can."
• She asked, "What can you use to pay him back?"
• Lisa was caught off guard but managed to say, "He doesn't lack money—"
• "Yeah, and we've already paid the deposit for the house. Plus, our parents like it," Oliver added.
• Isabelle chuckled in frustration. "Don't make me say it a second time. Go and cancel the house reservation immediately."
• Lisa protested, "We've already paid the deposit, and if we cancel the house, they won't refund the money."
• Isabelle said firmly, "Consider it the price you pay for a lesson."
• Lisa argued. "Are you out of your mind? Tens of thousands for a lesson. If someone is willing to lend you the money, just take it. Clinging to your pride won't help. The money in hand is the most practical. Besides, this amount is still not enough to compensate you."
• Isabelle didn't want to argue with Lisa and said, "I don't know what's practical, but I know I can spend the money I've earned, honestly. I know where the money goes. Either you give me the card, or I'll report it lost. It's your choice."
• After earning money in college, Isabelle initially intended to send some money to Silas regularly. Her father, who lacked education, didn't know how to open a bank account, so she gave her father a card under her name. However, Lisa was the one in charge of the family finances, and later, this card became Lisa's dedicated card for borrowing money from the Galloways. The purpose was to make Raiden's parents believe that it was Isabelle who needed the money.
• When Isabelle discovered this, she used her own money to have Lisa pay back the borrowed money to the Galloways. However, Lisa repeatedly assured Isabelle that she wouldn't borrow money again, so this card was not canceled promptly.
• Lisa's expression changed on the spot. "We've worked hard to raise you all these years, and this is how you repay us?"
• Isabelle dialed the bank's customer service number on her phone and was ready to report the card as lost.
• Lisa directly took her bank card from her pocket and slapped it onto the table. "If you dare to cancel this house reservation, don't bother coming back to this home."
• Isabelle glanced at the card on the table and bit her lip. She reached for the bank card.
• "Mom, I'm sorry." Isabelle looked up at her. "I'll refund the deposit to you, but we can't accept this money."
• Lisa maintained a cold expression and didn't respond.
• Isabelle didn't say anything further, took the card, and left. On her way back to the airport, she transferred the exact amount of money back to Raiden's account. After a moment of hesitation, she called Stefan.
• "Mr. Martinez, could you please tell Mr. Galloway that I've transferred the money he sent to my brother's account back to his card? Please ask him to check and confirm the receipt.
• Stefan was currently in a meeting with Raiden and Barrett Patton. After listening to Isabelle, he hesitated and glanced at Raiden. He then told Isabelle, "Miss Berry, I think it would be better if you informed Mr. Galloway."
• Isabelle declined. "No need. I'm a bit busy right now. Please convey my thanks to him. Also, let him know that we won't need this money for the time being, and if my family members approach him again, please tell him not to bother."
• Stefan laughed nervously. "Well, Mr. Galloway is right here with me. It would be better if you could speak to him directly."
• Without waiting for her response, he handed the phone to Raiden. "Mr. Galloway, Isabelle is on the phone."