Can't Win Me Back (Isabella and Nathan)

Mrs. Hill fell silent.

Victoria comforted Mrs. Hill, "Auntie, don't be upset. Actually, things are good just the way they are. Although I'm not legally married to Nathan, in my heart, he is the man I want to spend my life with. I will love him and take care of him for the rest of my life. That certificate is just a piece of paper to us."

Nathan glanced at Victoria, his expression dark and complicated.

Mrs. Hill felt somewhat relieved.

"You're right. You and Nathan are now looking out for each other like a real married couple. As for that Isabella, if she wants to make trouble, let her. Who cares about her? Are we supposed to beg her to come back? No way. It's better if she dies out there." Unfortunately, things didn't go as expected.

Just as Victoria and the Hill family were enjoying each other's company, the open door was suddenly blocked by a lively figure, casting a shadow on the floor. A crisp voice rang out.

"Well, look what we have here! The person who should have shown up is nowhere to be seen, but the person who shouldn't be here is right in front of us."

Nathan suddenly recognized the voice, and his eyes showed a flash of surprise. He quickly raised his head and looked toward the source of the voice.

There, in front of them, stood Ava, walking toward them with light, graceful steps.

Victoria nearly ground her teeth in anger. "Ava, how did you become just like your Sis Isabella-so ill-mannered?"

Ava, far from being angry, smiled instead. "Do you have any manners? You're secretly involved with your own brother-in-law, and this is your idea of family manners?"

For two years, Ava and Isabella had been there for each other. Ava had experienced her Sis's loneliness and had witnessed the hurt caused by betrayal by those closest to her.

She knew all too well the hardships her Sis had faced, the success that came only after endless struggles. Ava, now grown with a more balanced sense of right and wrong, had become even more resentful of Nathan and Victoria.

Nathan's patience was tested by Ava's rude and disrespectful words. His temper flared, and he stood up, ready to lash out. "Ava..."

But as he met Ava's mocking gaze, his hand faltered, and he lowered it without saying another word.

"So where is Isabella?" Ava asked, her eyes searching behind him, but there was no sign of her Sis. The light in Nathan's eyes dimmed immediately.

Mrs. Hill was clearly displeased. "Hmph, she actually knows how to come back? I thought she'd died out there."

Ava's fair face paled slightly. Her grip tightened around the file she was holding. She couldn't imagine the humiliation that her Sis had endured, especially with Mrs. Hill's cold words. If even she, who heard such things occasionally, couldn't bear it, then Isabella must have been constantly bullied by Mrs. Hill. No wonder her Sis's body would tremble violently every time she heard old stories from the capital-her fingers would shake uncontrollably.

"I'm here to deliver a document." Ava said, handing Nathan a file containing the divorce papers before turning to leave.

Nathan, eager to follow her, was stopped by Mrs. Hill. "Nathan, where are you going? Do you really want to bring back that embarrassing woman? Hmph, she's just throwing a tantrum. Don't give in to her. If you indulge her this time, next time she'll only get bolder. Let's see how she tries to make trouble when the Hill family refuses to ask her to come back."

Ava, overhearing Mrs. Hill's words, shook her head helplessly. She couldn't help but turn back and stand up for her Sis.

"Nathan, when has Isabella ever been spoiled by you?"

"And don't think so highly of yourself as if Nathan is such an unreachable man. My Sis couldn't care less about playing any games like 'catch me if you can' with him. The truth is, she just wants to get rid of you once and for all."

Finally, she added, "In your dreams." Then she turned and walked away with large strides.

Mrs. Hill, furious, smashed her teacup. Nathan stood frozen in place, watching Ava leave. It wasn't until Victoria reminded him, "Nathan, what did Isabella send you?" that he snapped back to reality. Eagerly, he ripped open the envelope and pulled out the documents inside. When he saw the bold words "Divorce Agreement" on the papers, his face immediately darkened.

It felt as though he had been slapped hard, and by someone insignificant at that. The blood rushed to his head.

Both Mrs. Hill and Victoria noticed his change in expression and exchanged a glance.

"Nathan, what's that?" Mrs. Hill asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It's the divorce agreement," Nathan muttered through clenched teeth.

"Divorce... agreement?" Mrs. Hill looked utterly stunned. She could hardly believe that her delicate, weak daughter-in-law would ever think of leaving her precious son.

She stood there for a long time, stunned, before slamming her hand on the coffee table in frustration. "Who does she think she is, proposing a divorce? If anyone should be initiating it, it's the Hill family."

Victoria quickly tried to soothe Mrs. Hill. "Auntie, don't be upset. Isabella doesn't dislike Nathan. She probably just wants to step aside and let me and Nathan be together. After all, she's always been very self-aware. She knows she's not good enough for Nathan." Mrs. Hill's anger dissipated somewhat. "Victoria, you're right. Isabella wouldn't dislike my son. After all, he's the best husband she could have gotten. If she wants to make way for you and Nathan, that's in line with her usual self-sacrificing nature. She's always been a pushover."

While Mrs. Hill praised Victoria, she was still reluctant to accept that her son would marry a fragile woman like her.

"Auntie, do you agree with their divorce?" Victoria asked, her excitement barely contained.

Mrs. Hill replied evasively, "If Nathan divorces now, it will affect the new company's IPO. Nathan, go talk to Isabella. Tell her we'll discuss the divorce later." Nathan nodded glumly.

At noon, Isabella returned to the hotel. Perhaps exhausted from working through the night on clothing designs, she immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, Ava, carrying the clothes Isabella had made for Theodore, hurried to the Sanchez family residence.

the Sanchez family, as the wealthiest family in the capital, had strict security. Ava explained to the gatekeeper, "I'm here to deliver a package to Young Master Theodore, on someone's behalf. Could you please notify him?"

The gatekeeper summoned the butler, who, after giving Ava a sharp look, demanded, "Miss, who is your friend? What's in this package?"

Ava held the package tightly to her chest and said, "Tell Young Master Theodore that Miss Thea has a gift for him. He'll understand."

The butler's face darkened. "Thea?" he repeated, his eyes cold. "Who is Thea?"

Ava noticed the butler's evident wariness of Theodore, which only soured her mood further.

"You're just the butler. Is it your place to pry into Young Master's personal matters?" she shot back, her tone sharp.