Chapter 8

Both Isabella and Yolanda noticed the man lounging on a deck chair. Xavier was wearing black swim trunks and a loose white bathrobe, revealing bulky, well-defined muscles that glistened with water droplets cascading from his hair down his body, enticingly accentuating his athletic physique. Isabella quickly averted her gaze after a glance, as Yolanda tugged her along to sit beside Xavier on the adjacent deck chair. "Mr. Valdez, do you remember me?" Yolanda asked, tucking her hair behind her ear and leaning forward slightly to engage with Xavier. The position caused her dress straps to slip off her shoulders, as if they might fall at any moment. At that moment, Isabella felt relieved when Yolanda finally let go of her hand. She had long been uncomfortable in this situation and caught Xavier's lazy gaze as he looked at her. His eyes briefly scanned her before settling on Yolanda. "Of course, I remember you, Ms. Nimbleson," he replied with a smile. "You left so early yesterday. It's a pity you missed the second half of the party," Yolanda said sweetly, her tone flirtatious and teasing. It sounded like she was scratching an itch in the hearts of those listening. "What guy wouldn't feel a little tickled by that?" Isabella thought as she gradually shifted her gaze elsewhere to avoid this interaction. "I drank too much and was feeling dizzy," Xavier replied lightly. Isabella glanced at him again. He appeared completely unfazed, still maintaining that carefree demeanor. So he was drunk, too, just like her? Perhaps he had already forgotten about last night, and that would be for the best. "I thought someone like you would have a high tolerance for alcohol," Yolanda remarked playfully. "Even those with high tolerances can get drunk," Xavier replied indifferently. Yolanda picked up his lack of interest. She assessed his demeanor and guessed he probably preferred more flamboyant women. That was fine. She could become that kind of woman if needed. "Isabella, why don't we soak ourselves in the hot springs?" Yolanda turned to ask Isabella. Isabella instinctively glanced at Xavier across from her. His gaze was also fixed on her, but the emotions in his eyes were inscrutable. The soothing sound of flowing water filled the air. Isabella could only imagine how he would look after getting into the water. Unable to tolerate the strange atmosphere, she finally stood up and distanced herself from Yolanda's intimate proximity. "My outfit isn't suitable. You guys go ahead. I'm leaving," she said. Yolanda thought Isabella was creating an opportunity for herself. She didn't stop her. "Alright, then," she said before inviting Xavier, "Xavier, let's go?" A shared hot spring would mean their clothes clinging to their bodies—quite suggestive. Xavier didn't respond, but instead, he looked deeply at Isabella. "What's wrong with your outfit?" Isabella was also wearing a dress similar to Yolanda's. If Yolanda could wear hers, why couldn't she? She knew he was pointing this out. She felt compelled to stand up against Xavier. Just thinking about how he kissed her last night while acting like nothing happened today made her furious—and even laughable. He could forget everything so easily, but she wasn't so magnanimous. They exchanged glances, both wearing cold expressions. Neither spoke a word. Yolanda observed them curiously. She recalled Olivia mentioning that the siblings had a rocky relationship. She had expected some playful banter but found that they seemed more like enemies instead. Perhaps she shouldn't have asked Isabella for help with this, after all—no wonder Isabella had looked so unwilling earlier. "Isabella has a cut on her lip. You've seen it, too. It'll probably hurt more once she gets into the water," Yolanda interjected to ease the tension. Xavier's expression softened slightly as he raised an eyebrow. "How did that happen?" His gaze remained fixed on Isabella. With just one look, Isabella realized he remembered everything from last night. It felt as though he had played her for a fool. "I got bitten by a dog!" Isabella snapped angrily before turning away to leave. She heard some murmurs behind her, but she didn't pay attention to them. … It wasn't until lunchtime that Isabella saw Xavier again. Everyone gathered around the dining table, where dishes were already served. Isabella arrived last and noticed Xavier and Yolanda sitting next to Mindy, laughing and chatting away. It seemed like their hot spring encounter had helped them bond quite well. As Olivia served her food, she gently asked, "Why are you so late? Did you treat your lip yet?" "Not yet. I wandered around a bit," Isabella answered. "I'll apply some ointment for you later. Just be careful from now on—girls can't afford to ruin their looks," Olivia cautioned sweetly. "Okay." After taking a bite of food, Isabella felt herself relax a little more. "Olivia, how about we go fishing this afternoon?" Mindy suggested cheerfully. Olivia chuckled lightly and shook her head, "We're leaving this afternoon." "Why so soon?" Mindy asked. "I have another son at home. He might get upset if I stay here long without him there." Though she said this jokingly, everyone could tell it was true—Douglas was not someone one would want to provoke into anger. After lunch concluded and everyone parted ways, Yolanda exchanged contact with Isabella. Before getting into the car, Olivia initially wanted Isabella to sit in the passenger seat next to Xavier again, but this time, the latter firmly refused, with increased tension in the air. "No way! If you can't drive it yourself, then I'll drive!" Isabella snapped. She opened the back door of the car and slammed it shut with a loud bang. Xavier said nothing as he took his place in the driver's seat while Olivia sighed beside him—she hadn't seen these two get along at all lately. The ride was filled with silence. … In the afternoon, when Xavier wasn't home, Isabella received a call from Theodore and went out to meet him. They met at a new building near the shopping district, where they planned to set up their studio. The space was about 1,000 square feet and still needed renovations. Theodore led her around as they examined it together. "What do you think?" This area wasn't particularly bustling but had great potential for their studio location. Isabella nodded appreciatively. "You're good at picking a spot." Choosing locations had originally been her responsibility, but Theodore took charge of it. Theodore smiled slightly. Having known each other for years had created an unspoken understanding between them—he knew exactly what kind of place she would love. "I've already contacted a renovation company. We should be ready to open in about one or two weeks." "Great!" Isabella contemplated before adding, "I hope our studio has a minimalist style with strong cartoonish influences. What do you think?" "Sounds good," Theodore replied easily. When they were abroad, they had planned on collaborating to open a studio and even settled on its name–Myndra Creations. Isabella preferred not to deal with mundane daily tasks, while Theodore's natural pride likely wouldn't allow him to settle on working with somebody, either.