Chapter 49

Isabella had no clue where Michael had disappeared to. She figured he was just too scared to show up, so she gave him a call to check in.

"I'm swamped at the office. Just hang tight. I'll be there soon. Be patient," Michael said, sounding rushed.

Isabella could hear hurried footsteps and heavy breathing on the other end. It seemed like Michael was really hustling.

"If I'm interrupting your work, you don't have to come. I can handle it," Isabella offered.

Michael couldn't help but smile a bit. "No way I'm letting you deal with this alone. We agreed on this, remember?"

"Alright, I'll wait here," Isabella said with a smile, then hung up and headed upstairs to keep Mason occupied and buy Michael some time.

Michael wasn't lying; work was crazy busy. But he also used it as a way to mask his mixed feelings.

"Screw it. Let my dad and Mason deal with their own stuff. I'm fighting for my love," Michael thought, finally making up his mind as he sprinted to his car.

Just as he was about to get in, someone stopped him.

"Michael, wait," Pearl said, grabbing his hand, looking all upset.

Michael frowned at her. He knew Pearl, almost his fiancée once. She even caused trouble for Isabella at the hospital, making him jump out a window to avoid being seen.

"I've got things to do. I need to see Mason. Don't get in my way," Michael said, trying to get in the car, but Pearl hugged him, pressing her face to his chest.

"Please don't go. I really like you. Everyone thinks I'm a fool, and only you can help me," Pearl cried.

Michael felt a wave of disgust and pushed her away. "I'm warning you, come near me again, and you'll regret it."

Pearl saw the anger on his face and his clenched fists, and she stepped back, scared.

"I heard from Mr. Williams that you're married, but I can't help my feelings for you. Aren't you often abroad? I heard things might be different there," Pearl said, biting her lip.

Michael looked at her with a mocking smile. He didn't see it as love; he thought she was nuts.

"I'm quite shocked by what you just said. I think it's best if we don't continue this conversation," Michael said coldly.

Pearl's face went pale. She clenched her fists and bit her lip. Suddenly, her ears perked up. "But I really care about you. Can't you reconsider?" she said.

Michael's brows furrowed. He couldn't understand why Pearl would go to such lengths. Even her family wouldn't agree.

Suddenly, Michael noticed a faint blue light flashing on Pearl's ear. It was a Bluetooth earpiece. He immediately understood that someone was instructing Pearl to do this. That person was likely Pearl's father, Paxton Brown.

"I will never consider being with you. Please stay away from me, or I won't be polite about it," Michael said, leaning against the car.

Seeing that Pearl still refused to leave, Michael sneered, got into his car, started the engine, and drove off to meet Isabella.

After Michael left, Pearl, with a gloomy face, went to another car in the parking lot and got in.

"I've lowered myself so much, and he still doesn't want me! Am I really your daughter?" Pearl looked at the middle-aged man next to her discontentedly, who was her father, Paxton.

Paxton looked at Pearl coldly and said, "Although Isabella canceled the engagement with John, Mr. Williams will definitely find a way to marry Isabella into the Williams Family to protect her. When that time comes, Isabella will definitely retaliate against our Brown Family. The best way is to marry you into it."

In a sense, Paxton and Jasper were the same kind of people. They could sacrifice anyone for the family.

Pearl knew she had no choice. With a stern face and closed eyes, she asked, "What should we do next? He has rejected me."

Paxton sighed. "Let's go find Mr. Williams. You made a scene at the hospital yesterday, obviously making him angry. We need to go apologize to him and try to salvage his impression of you."

Pearl thought of that night. The scene where Mason protected Isabella made her very resentful, but she had no choice but to do as Paxton said.

Their car left the parking lot and headed towards where Mason was.

On the other side, Michael finally arrived at his destination. After parking the car, he fell silent for a moment and took out a file bag from the passenger seat.

Michael planned to trick Isabella away from Mason first, then meet Mason alone to continue with his original plan. Got one thing done first, then dealt with the other.

Isabella, who was making tea for Mason, suddenly heard her phone ring and saw that Michael was calling, so she answered happily.

"Okay, I'll go downstairs to meet you," Isabella said on the phone before hanging up. Then she looked at Mason.

"Mason, my husband has arrived downstairs. I need to go down to meet him." Isabella said with a smile.

Mason nodded and watched Isabella leave. When Isabella arrived downstairs, Michael leaned against the car, waiting for her.

As Isabella approached, Michael smiled and said, "I have an important document that my subordinate needs to pick up. When he arrives, give him the file. He has seen your photo and knows you, so you don't have to worry about mistaking him. I'll go up first to meet Mr. Williams alone."