Chapter 12

Isabella struggled to hold onto the fishing rod, which was taller than her, and said hesitantly, "Dad…" "Sit here and take over. I'm going to check on their chess game," Benjamin said, stepping back with his hands clasped behind his back. "Well, I'm leaving, too," Xavier announced in boredom. Benjamin shot him a look. "Did you forget what your mom said? We need five fish, and only three are in the bucket." Xavier scowled, tossing his fishing rod aside with complete disinterest. Left with no choice, Isabella sat down obediently. She placed the cucumber juice on the small table and, remembering one cup was for Xavier, slid it toward him. He glanced at her but didn't take a sip. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the water, the breeze passing through without a trace. Isabella rested her head on her hand, her focus entirely on the water. From the way Xavier sat there, it was clear he wasn't interested in fishing, leaving the job of catching the remaining two fish to her. Time seemed to drag on. She began yawning, feeling drowsy, when Xavier, in a rare moment of engagement, finally spoke to her, asking, "Is your wedding date set?" His tone was filled with sarcasm. Isabella blinked in surprise, turning to look at him. "What do you mean?" He glanced at her, noticing her genuine confusion. His expression softened slightly, though his face remained cold. It was as if the question had never even been asked. Not wanting to engage further, Isabella ignored him and focused back on her fishing. She reeled in the line, expertly baited the hook again, and cast it back into the water. "You've fed them so much by now. Do you think they'll still bite?" He threw her a lazy look as he asked. However, he didn't get a response from her even after a while. He glanced at her again. Her hair was tied into a low ponytail with a few strands falling by her cheeks. She seemed soft and serene as she watched the pond intently. But he knew that she wasn't as she looked. She left without returning for five years after they broke up and fell for someone else so easily after being with him. Luckily, he was young and attractive. Otherwise, he might have died with frustration. "Look! The fish is biting!" Isabella, entirely focused on her task, suddenly felt a tug on the line and lit up with excitement. She hurried to reel it in, but her strength wasn't enough. Instead of pulling up the fish, she stumbled forward a few steps. If Xavier hadn't begrudgingly decided to help, she might have fallen straight into the water. He grabbed her hand, guiding the fishing rod with her as they reeled in a large, struggling fish, pulling it onto the grass. Their bodies were so close they were practically pressed together, with his arm against her back. Isabella felt the heat from his body and the warmth of his skin against hers. Glancing up, she caught a rare glimpse of him looking focused. Flustered, she muttered an okay and crouched to grab the fish. But the fish was lively, jumping around, and her hands were shaking just as much. After several failed attempts to grab it, water splashed on her face, carrying an unmistakable fishy smell. Seeing her struggle, Xavier finally took over. He swiftly unhooked the fish and tossed it into the bucket like it was nothing, sending water splashing everywhere. "Thanks," Isabella mumbled. He didn't respond, merely glancing down at the dirt on his hands, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "Alright. We've caught enough fish. Can we go now?" he asked in an annoyed voice like a pampered prince. For once, Isabella softened her tone, perhaps because he had helped her. "Dad said we need five fish." "Like we can't eat them later! What's wrong with letting the fish live a bit longer?" he grumbled and grabbed the bucket before walking off. Isabella followed behind him without hesitation, as she didn't want to sit there alone. As they walked, they ended up side by side. When they reached the stone pillar by the pavilion, Xavier stopped. Isabella stopped as well and looked at him in confusion. A few moments of silence passed before he finally said, expressionless, "Get the umbrella." Only then did she notice the large sun umbrella propped up by the pillar. Beyond the shaded Silverleaf Estate, the stone path was fully exposed to the sun. He wanted her to carry the umbrella. From a distance, the family sitting on the veranda could see the unusual sight of the siblings getting along. Xavier held the bucket in one hand and stuffed the other in his pocket, while Isabella walked beside him, holding the umbrella to shield them both from the sun. The umbrella was large enough for two, but she angled it mostly toward him. Benjamin had shared the good news of this "bonding" moment with Olivia, whose gaze softened every time she looked at them during dinner. It was to the point that Xavier finally spoke up, "Mom, can you stop looking at me like that? It's giving me the creeps." "What's creepy about it? Your wife will look at you with way more affection than this after you get married," Olivia teased. As Isabella chewed on her chicken wing, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was staring at her. Thankfully, the discomfort didn't last long. After dinner, she headed back to Silverleaf Estate with her tablet in hand. With the studio about to open, she wanted to practice and get inspired. As night fell, the yard cooled down. The only light came from the pavilion, where she sat cross-legged, sketching out a few character designs that had been swirling in her mind. The quiet environment helped her focus. She lost track of time as she worked, her pencil never leaving the paper. A message interrupted her flow. She glanced at her phone and saw that it was from Yolanda, asking, "Where are you?" Those three words had a certain implication. Whenever Yolanda messaged her, it inevitably had something to do with Xavier. This time seemed no different. Hesitating, she didn't reply right away. It was almost an hour later when she finally responded after finishing her sketch. "At home." Yolanda replied instantly, "So, is your brother home?" Isabella glanced at the third-floor window of the house in the distance, the only room with the lights still on—Xavier's. "What do you want?" she typed back, playing it safe. Yolanda's next message came in fast and direct. "Can you do me a favor and snap a picture of him? Preferably in pajamas, fresh out of the shower." Another message followed quickly. "I hear guys look the hottest right after they've showered." She replied just as fast. "Absolutely not." If she helped Yolanda with this, she'd truly be out of her mind.