Chapter 17

Isla felt sad, and an indescribable feeling filled her. “Why are you still here?” Kate sounded upset. The former took a deep breath and crossed her arms. She glanced at her and then at Noah. “Are you not going to explain?” “There’s nothing to explain.” His tone was flat. One could not tell what he was feeling based on his face. Kate gripped her bag when she heard that, and shock flashed through her eyes. They really knew each other? She felt threatened out of nowhere. She thought for a second before turning her head to look at him and saying with a smile, “Why don’t you leave first, Mr. Noah? I’ll come to you after I deal with this, okay?” He glanced at Isla flatly and said in his deep voice, “Let’s go.” Kate was relieved. She smiled and grabbed his arm before she said coquettishly, “Okay.” His face stiffened, and he lowered his eyes to glance at her hand, but he did not object. Kate was over the moon. She was arrogant and proud when she looked at Isla again, as if she was his official girlfriend. Isla had finally been given a taste of how Noah felt when used to always leave to see Harry in the past. Although she had not done anything to betray him, as long as Harry was around, it was painful enough. Yet now, she had to watch another woman hold her husband. She bit her lip and stopped the two of them. Confusion flashed through Kate’s eyes as she criticized her fiercely. “Ms. Isla, please stop embarrassing yourself. It’s a shame that you keep clinging onto him.” “Noah, I need to talk to you.” Isla’s voice was deep, and she was choking subtly. He pursed his lips upon seeing her sad. “There’s nothing to talk about. I won’t agree to it.” She wanted him to apologize to Harry? Impossible. “Just give up.” His tone was brutally cold. He thought it was ironic that she still loved Harry when he was so mean to her. If she really wanted that kind of life, he could grant her wish. Isla’s eyes turned dark. She had no idea that Noah cared so much about Kate. She clenched her fists and looked down to conceal the sadness in her eyes. “Well–” She paused and took a deep breath. Then, she gave him a smile that was uglier than a cry. “I won’t be a bother. Bye now.” She quickly turned around and walked to the stairs as soon as she was done. She was afraid that she would cry in front of them if she stayed. That would be embarrassing. Noah watched her seemingly run away. He looked at her hurt ankle and noticed that she was obviously staggering. Why would she wear heels when she was still hurt! His face sank, and he took out his phone and texted Andrew. “Wait at the Gilded Times’ entrance and take madam home.” Kate had been watching him. Upon seeing that he was staring at Isla and he had just texted someone, she suddenly felt jealous. “Mr. Noah, aren’t we leaving?” She intentionally softened her voice, and there was charm on her cold face. He only recalled that there was someone next to him after hearing her voice. “Let’s go.” There was disgust in his tone now. He removed his hand from her arm directly, smoothed down his suit, and walked forward without waiting for her. Her mind went a little blank. She did not understand why he had suddenly reverted to the way he had been when they had first met. She thought he had admitted that they were partners by not removing her arm in front of Isla. She had never thought that– At that moment, she suddenly realized something. She looked in the direction where Isla had left, lost deep in thought. Meanwhile, Isla walked out of the building, feeling sad. Then, she saw a black Dominique Carera pull over in front of her. The window was winded down, and Andrew shoved his head out of the driver’s seat. “Madam.” She was not surprised to see him at all. After all, he had just seen Noah. She thought about it before opening the car door and going in. “Are you going home, madam?” he asked with a smile. She crossed her arms in the back seat and looked outside. Instead of answering him, she said, “Mr. Andrew, there’s something that I need to ask you.” He was stunned. “What is it, madam?” “Noah and Kate…” She bit her lip, anxiousness filling her tone. “Have they known each other for a long time?” Andrew was shocked. He had not expected her to care about such a thing. If this had happened in the past, she might have just pretended that she had not seen them. She would not have cared at all. He thought about it and answered like a good boy, “Mr. Noah was invited to a gathering tonight. He needed a partner, and Ms. Kate fit his requirements.” Fit? How? She was his wife. Should he not have taken her? She held her head low and gripped her dress. She felt wronged. She had forgotten that she was the one who had told Noah that he did not have to tell her about such events, nor would she ever go with him. He had always remembered. Therefore, every time he needed to entertain people, he would bring someone else as his partner. She had never cared about that in the past. She had not cared even if Noah was on the news with another woman. However, she felt pain now. She looked down at herself. “Which gathering are they attending tonight?” Andrew looked troubled. Noah had only instructed him to take her home. He had not asked him to spill anything. If he misspoke and something happened– “Madam, Mr. Noah didn’t give me any orders. I…” Isla saw that he was troubled, so she said sadly, “Forget it. Go pick them up. I’ll go home by myself!” She opened the door and left, ignoring Andrew even after he called out to her a few times. Aimee saw her get out of the Dominique. She did not notice at first, but she frowned when she saw the plate number. The car was nothing, but the plate number was extraordinary. No one could get it with mere money. She remembered that this car belonged to Noah of the Payne Group. Why would Isla get into his car? “Why did you get out of that car?” She intentionally lowered her voice. “You’re a public figure after all. Please behave. A scandal with him would affect your career.” Aimee looked around before continuing, making sure that nobody was around. “I heard that Kate has been close to Mr. Noah. She got famous so young that she must have someone backing her. We’ve been guessing that her backer might be Mr. Noah of Payne Group. “The higher-ups tried to get her to spill, but she’s careful. Her answers are ambiguous, but she always involves Noah, hinting that there’s something going on between them.”