Chapter 448
"Isabella, it's not that I don't want to tell you the truth, but I've heard a client paid big bucks to buy out all the info from the Brown Group. Their goal is to shut down any further investigation."
"So, just act like you never asked about this, and don't try to dig through other channels. It won't work."
Selling information was his job and livelihood. Even though Isabella was his friend, he had to follow the rules of the trade.
Otherwise, he would be the next target.
And now that someone had paid to buy out the information, it meant they didn't want any details to be uncovered. Anyone who dared to leak information at this point would be breaking the industry's code and principles.
For people like them, that was absolutely unacceptable.
"I get it."
Isabella didn't want to make things difficult for Shadow.
Since someone had already bought out the information, there was no point in her trying to find anything out now.
But she still felt uneasy.
"Shadow, can you keep an eye on Michael for me?"
Since the Brown Group was in trouble, if she could find out where Michael had been and what he had been doing recently, maybe she could indirectly figure out what the problem with the Brown Group was.
Shadow understood what Isabella was getting at, and this time, he didn't refuse her.
The confidentiality agreement only stated that he couldn't disclose information about the Brown Group, but it didn't say he couldn't keep an eye on Michael himself.
"Isabella, I can keep an eye on him, but let me be clear: you've already fallen into this trap once. You can't let yourself fall into it a second time."
Shadow had seen Isabella's feelings for Michael.
It was because he knew how much Isabella loved Michael that he had to keep reminding her.
They were already divorced. It was normal for Isabella to have a hard time moving on, but if she kept focusing on Michael's every move, he didn't know if it would be good or bad for her.
"Shadow, I know what I'm doing. Thanks for the reminder."
Ending the call, Isabella gripped her phone tightly, unable to calm down.
The Brown Group was really in trouble.
No wonder Atticus, who had always had a low opinion of Michael, had suddenly changed his attitude.
It seemed that Atticus had already discovered this at the hospital that day.
She knew Atticus's temper. If he didn't want her to know something, even if she asked him directly, she wouldn't get any answers.
So, she could only wait for Shadow's information.
Michael drove back to the Brown Family after leaving the courthouse.
Aiden had been genuinely angry on the phone, so he had no choice but to return.
But what Michael didn't expect was to see Nolan sitting next to Aiden as soon as he walked into the hall.
"Nolan, what a coincidence."
Michael raised an eyebrow, his face expressionless.
He then looked at Aiden and calmly asked, "Grandpa, you urged me to come back. What's the matter?"
Having just ended a three-year marriage with Isabella, he wasn't in the best of moods.
He didn't regret signing the divorce papers to ensure Isabella's safety. It was the only way to keep the Adri Family from targeting the Wilson Family for the time being.
But he feared Isabella's resolute nature.
What he had done was undoubtedly shattering her heart. She was probably left with nothing but disappointment and heartbreak.
If someone took advantage of this time to step in, Isabella and Michael might never get back together.
"Playing dumb?"
Aiden was furious as soon as Michael returned. "The papers, I need to see them with my own eyes to believe it."
"What papers?"
Michael realized that Aiden was doubting the authenticity of the divorce agreement.
He lowered his gaze, his voice hoarse. "Grandpa, it's real. We really got divorced."
"You..."
Aiden was at a loss for words.
His hands trembled with anger. "You brat, Isabella is such a good girl. You didn't cherish her. You didn't even tell me about the divorce. Do you even respect me as your grandfather?"
"Do you know what promises I made to Daniel when you married Isabella? I said you would treat her well, never let her suffer. Did you keep any of those promises?"
Aiden's face turned red with anger.
"Michael, Michael, how can I face Isabella's grandfather after I die? He entrusted his granddaughter to you, and this is how you treat her?"
"Isabella was too naive to fall for you. If she had chosen someone else, I wouldn't have..."
Michael quickly interrupted Aiden, disbelief in his voice.
"Grandpa, what did you just say?"
Aiden gritted his teeth. "Don't you get it? If Isabella hadn't fallen for you, do you really think you could have married such a good wife with your temper?"
"Isabella faced pressure from the Wilson Family to marry into the Brown Family. And what did you give her in return?"
"Do you really think the Wilson Family had no objections to you? They raised their little princess for over a decade. If she didn't truly love you, Daniel had a hundred ways to find her a husband. They wouldn't have let her suffer even a little."
Michael's mind went blank.
So, Isabella wasn't lying.
She had always loved him.
Not Nolan.
But why did Nolan tell him that Isabella married him out of heartbreak over Nolan's departure?
Nolan had said that Isabella only saw him as a stand-in for Nolan.
Michael's eyes turned red as he glared at Nolan in the wheelchair.
So, Nolan had been lying all along.
With the truth exposed, Nolan's face turned pale, and he couldn't utter a word in his defense.
For him, the lie had caused Michael pain and gave him the illusion that Isabella loved him.
Over time, even Nolan didn't want to wake up from this lie.
Aiden sighed deeply.
"What's the point of saying all this now? If you had realized Isabella's true feelings earlier, you wouldn't be divorced now."
"I know Isabella. She's Daniel's personally trained successor. Her character is unyielding. If she's decided to let go, it means she's truly heartbroken."
"Since you're divorced, don't bother her anymore. You've already ruined the relationship between our families. You may not feel ashamed, but I do!"