Chapter 272

Isabella didn't know the details, but if it were her, and she finally had a chance to shine, she would come even if she had to drag herself there.

She shook her head and said to Michael, "She can even ditch you at your birthday, your new lover Violet isn't that special after all."

Michael almost couldn't hold back because of her head shake.

Fortunately, he managed to hold it in at the last moment.

Violet indeed dressed up to the nines to provoke Isabella, even hiring a makeup team at a high price.

But so what?

This was his birthday party, and he only wanted to see Isabella. How could he let an outsider like Violet show up and disturb his time with Isabella?

Illusions could never become reality.

Violet would eventually reveal her true colors, and he would find out the hidden motives behind the Adri Family.

The only ones he truly cared about were his wife Isabella and their baby.

Others never held any weight in his eyes.

But right now, he didn't want to waste this precious night, "Isabella, it's just you and me in this room, no one else. Can we not mention other people's names?"

Michael subtly hinted to her.

But to Isabella, it sounded like Michael was treating her as a stand-in for Violet.

Violet was uncomfortable, and he didn't want to be alone, so he thought of her?

Men, they really thought with their lower halves.

"Michael, you're really a playboy. Violet isn't here, so you use me as a stand-in. Don't you find it strange? I find it disgusting!"

"Isabella, what... what nonsense are you talking about?"

Michael was almost driven mad by her words!

He had painstakingly arranged everything, and now she thought it was disgusting.

Isabella was firm in her belief, pointing her finger at him, "Then you tell me, why did you act all lovey-dovey with Violet on the phone, wanting me to witness your happiness, but now you're here alone? Explain that!"

"I..."

Michael was getting dizzy from Isabella's logic.

He pressed his temples, unable to say a word.

If she would just take a moment to look around, she would see that everything in this room was arranged according to her preferences.

But Isabella didn't look; all her energy was focused on guessing Michael's schemes.

Seeing him at a loss for words, she sneered, "Michael, admit it, that's exactly what you think."

But after laughing, she felt incredibly heartbroken.

She felt so miserable she wanted to cry.

After receiving Aaron's call, she had eagerly found the gifts over the past three years, only to hear his declaration of happiness with Violet when she was about to give them to him.

He even asked her to attend his birthday party in front of Violet.

She endured all of that.

But now she truly felt how ridiculous she was. Violet was unwell and couldn't accompany him, so he brought her to the room prepared for Violet.

He wanted her to be Violet's stand-in to accompany him through this birthday party.

What made him think she would agree?

Who did he think he was!

Michael stood there, taking a deep breath. He didn't know what Isabella was thinking at that moment, but he had gone to great lengths to do all this for her, not to hear her push him towards Violet again and again.

He just wanted to spend an unforgettable birthday quietly with her, just the two of them, no one else.

But she kept mentioning Violet until his patience was completely exhausted.

"Isabella, can we not mention others between us? Just the two of us tonight, okay?"

He really wanted to be with her, especially in such a rare moment together.

But he feared that even if he said it, Isabella wouldn't believe him.

Nolan had said last time that he had everything he wanted in this life, so there was no need to compete with others.

But he couldn't choose his birth.

Indeed, from a young age, he was the cherished child of his parents and Aiden, but that was just attention, not all the love.

Every birthday party from childhood was a grand event at home, with so many guests he couldn't count.

But as he grew up, he realized those people weren't there to celebrate his birthday; they were there to use the opportunity to connect with the Brown Group and facilitate future collaborations.

So the birthday he truly longed for didn't need many people or countless gifts.

He just wanted to spend it quietly with the person he loved.

Just like now.

With Isabella, whom he loved, and their unborn baby, experiencing the most important moment of his life.

So, he didn't want to ruin this atmosphere, nor did he want anyone else's name mixed in.

Despite the accusatory tone, Michael looked extremely helpless, and Isabella saw deep fatigue in his eyes.

She had never seen Michael look so tired.

But hadn't he been with Violet all this time, even seeing her at the company every day? Otherwise, how could she explain Violet's ability to answer his calls anytime?

But seeing Michael looking like he was about to collapse, her heart couldn't help but ache.

In that moment, all her resolve was shattered by his vulnerability.

She softened.

Even if he was thinking about Violet now.

She wanted to be with him at this crucial moment.

Besides the birthday reason, she had her own selfish motives.

This was not only the first birthday she spent with Michael but also the first one with their baby. She didn't want to have no beautiful memories to share with their child when they asked about their father in the future.

After all, he was the child's father, and they couldn't completely sever ties.

Thinking of this, Isabella took a deep breath and said, "Michael, I hope you understand that the person by your side tonight is me, Isabella. I'm not a stand-in for anyone, nor am I your pastime when you're lonely. Do you understand what I mean?"

With the last sentence, she looked up at him, her eyes unwavering, the light in them her final stand.

She was willing to stay because she couldn't let go of him.

But that didn't mean Isabella was willing to be Violet's stand-in. She wanted him to remember that the person by his side tonight was her, not anyone else.

She didn't know how much of her obsession with him remained, but she didn't want this love to be tainted with any impurities.

Even if their relationship had come to this point, she wanted to hold on to her beliefs.

Michael was moved by the light in her eyes, his heart trembling, and he smiled in response. "I understand, you are Isabella, not anyone else."

'And you are the only one I want!' Michael only said this in his mind.