Chapter 363

It seemed like everyone knew it was time to put away their tears. After wiping their eyes with tissues, they quietly began eating their lunch.

No one tried to start a conversation; everyone was lost in their own thoughts.

Isabella was thinking about her grandfather.

She knew her uncles were too.

After lunch, the uncles left one by one, leaving Atticus to handle the affairs at home.

Renee was still recovering. She and Cinda had tirelessly taken care of her in the hospital, and now she was finally home.

With the house staff around, they could finally get some rest.

But Isabella didn't want to sit idle.

She asked where Atticus was and learned he was in the study. She made a cup of coffee and headed there.

She had come for a reason.

At her grandfather's funeral, she had sensed Atticus's emotions, but it wasn't the right time to discuss them, so she had put it off.

A light knock came from outside. Atticus, sitting at his desk, thought it was one of the staff and called out, "Come in," without looking up.

Isabella pushed the door open and placed the coffee in front of Atticus.

Atticus, wearing silver-framed glasses, looked up when he saw the cup and was surprised to see Isabella.

"Isabella?" he said, taken aback. "You shouldn't be doing this. You should be resting in your room."

Isabella had been brought back from the Taylor Family by Daniel when she was seven. She had endured a lot, and since coming to the Wilson Family, they had never let her do anything.

Atticus, being much older, had always treated her like a princess, never letting her do any chores.

"Uncle Atticus, don't be so worried. It's just a cup of coffee," Isabella said with a light laugh, seeing how tense he was.

She pulled out a chair and sat down.

Seeing that Isabella had come specifically to talk to him, Atticus put aside his work and fetched a light blanket to cover her legs.

"Are you bored being alone and came to chat with me?" he asked, thinking she needed company.

But Isabella's next words caught him off guard.

"Uncle Atticus, I want to ask you something. Now that Grandpa is gone, do you still plan to live alone?"

Atticus, who had been focused on work, was momentarily at a loss for words.

After a pause, he said slowly, "Isabella, I'm fine as I am. No worries, no burdens. Besides, my job is dangerous. It's better this way."

He reached for a cigarette in the drawer but stopped, remembering Isabella was there, and put it back.

Isabella, recovering from a miscarriage, was too weak for him to smoke around her.

But she noticed all his little actions.

Atticus was always disciplined, rarely touching cigarettes or alcohol due to his job. Why did he want to smoke as soon as she mentioned his personal life?

Could it be because of Olivia?

The thought made Isabella more convinced that there was something between Atticus and Olivia.

"Uncle Atticus, you can't let your job dictate your entire future. What if someone likes you? Would you just let that slip away?" Isabella said, knowing Atticus was rational and steady, but love required a bit of impulsiveness. If everything was measured logically, happiness would slip through his fingers.

She could see Olivia's feelings. Though Olivia claimed there was no future with Atticus, she was waiting for him to make a move.

A woman's heart always leaned towards the one she loved.

If he looked back, he'd see someone waiting for him.

That's why Isabella wanted to talk to Atticus. Olivia had a fiery temper, and if she got hurt, it might be too late for Atticus to win her back.

Atticus caught the meaning in Isabella's words.

His expression darkened. "Isabella, did you hear some rumors?"

If Olivia had sent Isabella to talk to him, he wouldn't forgive her.

He had made it clear to Olivia that Isabella was his only bottom line.

As long as Isabella was happy, he asked for nothing else.

He didn't care about his love life or whether he'd ever marry and have children.

But now, Olivia was involving Isabella?

He wouldn't tolerate it.

"Uncle Atticus, no one told me. I figured it out myself. I can see what's going on between you and Olivia," Isabella said calmly, not seeing it as a big deal.

Atticus, though much older, was still fit and handsome from his years in the military.

"You've known for a while?" Atticus's face reddened, as if caught doing something wrong.

Isabella was more relaxed. "Yes, and I think you two are perfect for each other. You're my uncle, and Olivia is my best friend. I'd be happy for you."

"But I'm not trying to force anything. I just hope you understand your feelings and don't realize too late who you truly care about."

She could only advise. Whether Atticus and Olivia ended up together was up to them.

Love was something outsiders couldn't control.

"Atticus, I think Grandpa would want you to find your own happiness. If you're worried about age or status, don't be. Just focus on whether you love that person."

Without waiting for a response, Isabella stood up to leave.

She didn't want to make Atticus uncomfortable.

She had said what she needed to. The rest was up to him.

But she believed Atticus would understand her intentions.

Years ago, Atticus had insisted on joining the military, giving up his inheritance, and had always felt guilty about it, especially towards their grandfather.

Now, with Daniel gone, he was taking on all the family responsibilities, not giving himself a break.

She didn't want Atticus to live solely for the family's sake. It was too exhausting.

He needed his own life and a family of his own.

After leaving the study, Isabella returned to her room.

Maybe it was because she was still weak, but she fell asleep almost immediately.