Chapter 3

Isabella dealt the cards quickly, her movements smooth and graceful. After dealing, she rested her chin on one hand, her eyes seductive. "Want more?"

Michael was looking at her, not the cards. Next to him, Bianca was anxious but didn't dare show it too much.

She gently nudged his arm to remind him, "Michael..."

Isabella raised her eyelids slightly. "By the way, let me remind you. Michael and I are not divorced yet. All the expenses for your birthday today are considered marital assets. I'll have someone settle the accounts later. If you know what's good for you, you'll pay me back willingly. Otherwise, I'll have to sue you!"

Bianca's face turned black.

Especially when she saw that Michael had no reaction to Isabella's words, her face turned as pale as a sheet.

"Want more?" Isabella ignored Bianca and asked Michael again.

Michael tapped the cards with his well-defined fingers and said calmly, "Yes."

Isabella suddenly smiled. She hadn't even dealt the cards yet but stood up, leaning on the table.

"You've lost!" Her body leaned towards him, her deep cleavage appearing right in front of Michael.

Bianca wished she could rush over and cover Michael's eyes.

But she didn't dare. She could only shout unwillingly from the side, "You haven't even dealt the cards. How can you say Michael lost? Isabella, if you don't know how to play cards, just admit it. Why pretend?"

Isabella clicked her tongue, her gaze sweeping disdainfully over Bianca before landing on Michael.

Her eyes seemed to say: You're a highly praised businessman, how could you fall for someone as stupid as Bianca?

She picked up the card Michael wanted, flipped it over, and showed it to everyone.

Bianca had just heard Michael explain the rules of blackjack and still remembered them.

When she saw the card, her face changed immediately.

Michael had really lost!

He lost at the card table, to Isabella, that bitch!

"This is impossible!" Bianca screamed. "You must have done something. How could Michael lose!"

Isabella found it amusing. "So what if he loses now? With you around, he'll only keep losing in the future! Where is your disgusting tone? Keep it up."

Bianca's face turned ugly.

She looked to Michael for help, hoping he would speak up for her.

But Michael's eyes were fixed on Isabella, not even sparing a glance at her.

His eyes seemed to be brewing a storm, and thins were about to froze.

David Miller, who knew Michael best, reacted and signaled everyone to leave.

Bianca didn't want to go but was dragged away by David.

Unless he wanted to lose, Michael had never lost at the card table.

Unexpectedly, Michael's first loss was to Isabella.

The banquet hall door slammed shut, and Isabella looked away from the intense eye contact.

She turned and bent down to get her coat.

Her bare back was exposed to Michael, her shoulder blades looking beautiful.

Michael's eyes darkened for a moment. He grabbed Isabella's slender wrist and pulled her over.

He was strong, pulling Isabella off balance. Before she could react, he lifted her onto the table by her waist.

Michael leaned over, looking down at her, his eyes half-closed, danger emanating from him. "Cheating in front of me, huh?"

And her cheating technique was so skilled that if he hadn't marked the cards, he wouldn't have noticed.

Michael suddenly felt that after three years of marriage, he didn't know Isabella at all.

"Do you have evidence, Mr. Brown? If not, please don't slander me. Or are you just a sore loser trying to avoid divorce?"

"Divorce? Don't you want a child to secure your position as Mrs. Brown?"

Isabella sneered. "There are plenty of good men out there. Without you, I can find another anytime. A child is just a child. If you don't want to have one with me, plenty of men will. After all, I'm so good-looking. If I post an announcement, many men will come to me willingly."

"No wonder you're so eager to divorce me. You must have planned to use the alimony I give you to support your lover." Michael's face darkened, his eyes like knives. "Isabella, do you think I'm dead?"

"A proper ex should be as good as dead, right?" Isabella felt uncomfortable being grabbed and twisted.

They were so close that her struggling movements rubbed against Michael's legs, instantly arousing him.

"You want a man so badly? Fine, I'll satisfy you!" He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back, his strong body pressing down on her.

Isabella was stunned for a moment. Realizing what he was about to do, she resisted even more fiercely. "Michael, what are you doing? I don't want you anymore. Get away from me. You're disgusting!"

She tried to kick him, but he grabbed her ankle and pulled her over, her legs spread wide. Michael's waist was between her legs, the position suggestive!

She felt Michael's growing erection, and Isabella was dumbfounded.

What was wrong with Michael? She had tried to seduce him ninety-nine times before, and he never responded.

Why was he reacting now that she mentioned divorce?

Could Michael have some kind of fetish?

Michael started unbuttoning his shirt, his long fingers fitted the black silk fabric, creating a mesmerizing sight.

But Isabella had no time to appreciate it; she just wanted to run!

If it were before, she would have been happy if Michael treated her like this, even responding passionately.

But now, on the card table where he had been with Bianca, she only felt disgusted.

It was as if Michael had stripped away her last bit of dignity, thrown it on the ground, and trampled on it.

She couldn't stand it!

"Michael, are you even a man? Wanting to have sex with me when I ask for a divorce? What, did you suddenly realize you can't let me go and have fallen in love with me?"

It was like a bucket of cold water poured over Michael. He stopped unbuttoning.

He looked down at Isabella, his features cold and angry.

"Fallen in love with you?" He seemed to be hit where it hurt, his expression mocking. "Isabella, you wish!"

Seeing that he no longer wanted to force her, Isabella sighed in relief and pushed him away. "Then what? I ask for a divorce to fulfill your great love, and you want to sleep with me and give me a child? Don't tell me you suddenly realized you could endure a bit more for the sake of control"

"."

Her words undoubtedly enraged Michael!

Michael's eyes darkened, and he grabbed Isabella's neck, his fingers tightening. "Isabella, who do you think you are? Divorce can only be initiated by me. You have no right!"

Isabella's face turned red as she couldn't breathe.

She grabbed Michael's hand and spoke with difficulty. "Then go ahead and initiate it. If you don't, I'll think you really love me and can't bear to divorce me!"

Isabella's words seemed to disgust Michael.

He let go, took a wet wipe, and slowly wiped the places he had touched her.

Then he crumpled it up and threw it away. "Divorce is fine. But you get nothing!"