A flash of understanding crossed Serena's eyes, and she nodded slightly. "I see."
Initially, she had thought that if her family wanted Isabella to become Mr. Harrison's protégé, she wouldn't have minded intervening to make them happy.
But the family's stance was clear.
Isabella's path was her own to walk.
Just then, the sound of high heels clicking on the floor came from the entryway.
The steps were heavy, as if suppressing a great deal of anger.
Isabella walked in, her face pale and her eyes red-rimmed, her chest heaving with rage.
She had heard what her mother just said to Serena.
She had heard the words, "it has nothing to do with the Lancaster family."
In front of Serena, her mother had so decisively stated that her affairs were separate from the family, every word distancing her from them.
An icy chill seeped into Isabella's heart.
She was so hurt that tears welled up in her eyes.
It was Serena!
It had to be Serena!
Serena had deliberately asked those questions to stop the family from helping her, to block her path so she couldn't become Mr. Harrison's student, steal her thunder, and threaten her position!
And her mother, just to please Serena, had said such cold words!
"Isabella?" Catherine stood up when she saw her adopted daughter's furious, red- eyed face, her own expression full of concern. "What's wrong?"
Isabella bit her lip hard, holding back the tears that threatened to spill. With her head down, she rushed up the stairs.
The bedroom door slammed shut with a loud bang.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Catherine looked worriedly at the second floor. "What's wrong with her?"
"Isabella has always been so even-tempered. Why would she suddenly throw such
a tantrum?" Edward was also puzzled.
"Maybe... her meeting with Mr. Harrison today didn't go well," Julian suggested, pushing up his glasses.
Edward sighed. "Yes, Isabella has always had high standards and a lot of pride She's very strict with herself. She probably feels like she failed to reach her goal and is afraid of disappointing us, so she's upset."
"That child..."
Catherine couldn't sit still. She truly loved Isabella as her own daughter.
re
The soup had just been finished, so Catherine went to the kitchen brought out another I
up and check on her."
snack. "I'll go up a
Once her door was shut, Isabella threw herself onto her bed, tears soaking her pillow.
Thinking about what her mother had said to Serena made the tears fall even faster.
Her heart churned with hatred for Serena.
Just then, there was a soft knock on the door, and she heard Catherine's gentle voice. "Isabella, would you like something to eat?"
Isabella bit her lip, wiped her eyes forcefully until they were bright red, and then got up to open the door.
Her eyes were swollen, and she looked like she was struggling to hold back her grief. "Mom..."
Catherine entered the room and placed the snack on the table. "Silly girl, is it because of what happened with Mr. Harrison?"
Isabella's gaze swept over the items on the tray Catherine was holding: a glass of
milk and a few slices of bread.
Her fingers clenched into a fist.
Just a moment ago... Serena had been eating a specially made soup!
But when it was her turn, all she got was some cheap bread?
Seeing her silence, Catherine
thought she had touched a sore spot. She took her hand and
Kenet
comforted her gently. "I know you want to become Mr. Harrison's student, and you've worked v
hard for it. But... as a daughter of the Lancaster family, the outcome
doesn't really matter, does it?"