Chapter 449
Aiden finished talking and glanced up to see Michael, eyes bloodshot and glaring intensely in one direction, the anger in his gaze almost tangible.
Aiden had no clue what had set Michael off this time and snapped at him, annoyed.
"What are you staring at? You couldn't even keep your wife, and now you have the nerve to be pissed?"
His words didn't faze Michael, who clenched his fists tightly, feeling like his heart was being ripped apart.
"Grandpa, you were right. It's my fault Isabella left."
"She must've really given up on me, that's why she divorced me and wished me well in my single life."
Michael's voice was low and raspy, his whole demeanor suddenly defeated.
He had been so foolish.
Isabella had once gone out of her way to please him, even wearing sexy lingerie to seduce him, hoping to have their child.
But he had pushed her away every time, belittling her.
He had always believed that no matter how he treated her, Isabella would never leave.
But he had forgotten that Isabella was a true heiress of the Wilson Family. If she didn't truly care about him, why would she endure three years of mistreatment in the Brown Family, even from the servants?
She had never complained to him, always treating him with kindness, and even taking care of his mother who didn't like her.
She did all of this for him.
She only wanted him.
Why couldn't he see that sooner?
Why did he let her suffer humiliation and grievances for three years?
The Wilson Family was right. He didn't deserve Isabella's love!
Aiden's voice continued, but Michael couldn't hear a word of it.
He mechanically took the brand-new divorce agreement from his pocket and handed it to Aiden, then numbly walked upstairs to the bedroom he once shared with Isabella.
He needed silence now.
As the door closed, Michael could no longer support himself and slid down to the floor.
He didn't dare look at the room's furnishings, especially the wedding photo hanging above the bed.
From the beginning, he had trusted the wrong person.
He thought Isabella married him for money or other reasons, never considering that she might actually love him.
She had spent three years proving the coldness of his heart, and on this day, she finally gave up and left him. It was only after the divorce that he realized the truth.
Michael felt his heart constricting painfully, making it hard to breathe.
He regretted it.
If fate gave him another chance, he would never treat her that way again.
But there were no "ifs" in this world, and he couldn't go back.
It was all his own doing, and he couldn't blame anyone else.
At some point, his face became wet. Michael touched his face in confusion and realized he was crying.
He buried his face in his hands.
He had pushed Isabella away himself, and now it was too late for regrets.
If seeking her out now would only bring her harm, then he would bear this pain alone.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Michael, sitting just behind the door, clearly heard someone outside.
"Who is it?"
He asked in a deep voice, quickly wiping away his tears.
He didn't want anyone to see him in this vulnerable state.
"Michael, it's me, your brother."
Nolan's voice was gentle and concerned, as if he genuinely cared about his younger brother.
But knowing the truth, Michael found Nolan's words "your brother" incredibly ironic.
Michael gritted his teeth and yanked the door open.
He glared coldly at Nolan, who was sitting in a wheelchair. "Nolan, from today on, you're not my brother anymore. Stop pretending to be pitiful in front of me."
"I'm not Grandpa. I don't buy your act."
Nolan, despite his extreme hypocrisy, put on an innocent facade, which made Michael sick to his stomach.
"How do you know I'm here to check on you? Maybe I'm here to congratulate you on your successful divorce?"
Nolan sat up straight in his wheelchair, his face no longer hiding his cold expression.
He had been waiting for this day. As long as Michael and Isabella were divorced, his opportunity would come.
Michael's eyes narrowed, and the next second, he grabbed Nolan's collar fiercely. "Nolan, do you think I won't dare touch you because Grandpa is downstairs?"
If it weren't for Nolan, Michael and Isabella wouldn't have fallen out when she was pregnant.
Their divorce was partly due to Nolan's instigation.
Michael knew exactly what Nolan was up to.
Isabella didn't like Nolan, but she didn't dislike him either. Nolan knew his strengths well. Once Michael and Isabella were divorced, he could use his charm to get close to Isabella.
He would exploit Isabella's dependence on him to replace Michael in her heart and become her partner.
The thought made Michael want to strangle him.
But no matter what he did now, it was too late. Isabella wouldn't trust him anymore.
She would rather trust Nolan, the hypocritical liar.
Michael hated himself for not realizing Isabella's feelings for him sooner. If he had confessed his feelings earlier, maybe they wouldn't have missed each other like this.
Despite the situation, Nolan remained calm, even smirking slightly.
"Michael, you're right. I'm taking advantage of Grandpa's presence to act recklessly. You saw how upset Grandpa was because of you. If you lose control again, imagine how disappointed Grandpa will be."
"Oh, and since you're divorced from Isabella, what if I tell Grandpa that she's the one I want to marry? How do you think he'll react?"
"Nolan, how dare you!"
Michael's hands tightened around Nolan's throat.
Rage burned within him, threatening to consume his sanity.
"Go ahead."
Nolan's face turned red, but a gleam of triumph flashed in his eyes.
At the last moment, Michael's rationality prevailed.
Nolan was deliberately provoking him.
With Aiden already stressed over the company's issues and Michael's divorce, losing control now would only make Aiden more disappointed in him.
And that's exactly what Nolan wanted.
No matter how much Michael wanted to strangle Nolan, he forced himself to let go, glaring at him with cold fury.
"Nolan, you think you can use me as your weapon? You're not worthy!"
Michael flexed his wrist, his face dark with anger. Even if he wanted to kill Nolan, today wasn't the day.
The truth hadn't come to light yet.
He had to stay calm!