Novel Palace
Chapter 7: Disgusted by Her Presence
In the private room, only two individuals were present, creating an atmosphere of tense anticipation.
Victor’s piercing gaze swept across the room and finally fixing upon his own daughter.
The little girl had just felt aggrieved by Olivia’s sudden departure, but now, upon seeing her father, she displayed not an ounce of fear as she stubbornly averted her gaze, visibly miffed.
Victor’s eyes darkened slightly, sensing the defiance in his daughter’s actions.
“Miss Sophia, are you okay?”
Both father and daughter were introverted, so Nathan, their assistant, was called upon to intervene.
The little girl glanced at him, pouting in anger, and ignored deliberately ignored his presence.
Nathan carefully observed her for a moment, relieved to see that she was unharmed, and then turned to report to Victor, providing a brief assessment of the situation.
Victor nodded, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the person sitting next to his daughter.
Meeting his gaze, Isabelle’s heart tightened. She forcefully pinched her palm to steady her expression, avoiding any loss of composure.
“Where is Olivia Prescott?”
Victor’s gaze swept over Isabelle’s face, taking in her appearance, his expression slightly darkening.
He actually recognized Olivia!
Isabelle felt a mix of shock for her best friend and relief that she had escaped in time.
The man’s aura was suffocating, making it hard for her to breathe.
Who knows what would have happened if Olivia were present!
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! Who are you people? Why did you come in without knocking?”
Isabelle gathered her thoughts, mustering her best acting skills, and held the little girl protectively in her arms, warily watching the person in front of her.
Victor furrowed his brow slightly, “The person in your arms is my daughter. Did you call me just now?”
Isabelle hesitated for a moment, mustering up her courage, and replied, “Yes, it was me.”
Victor stared at her expressionlessly, his gaze slowly scanning every detail of the private room.
The woman’s voice in front of him did sound somewhat similar to the voice on the phone.
But he couldn’t be deceived.
Moreover, the disguise in the private room seemed too hasty.
There were indeed only two sets of utensils on the table, but the three seats nearby were slightly askew.
The servers at the Drunkard’s Retreat wouldn’t make such a mistake; it could only have been deliberately arranged.
A table full of dishes was not what one woman and a child would have ordered.
Victor’s gaze circled around the private room and then returned to Isabelle.
Meeting his gaze, Isabelle inexplicably felt her heart sink.
In the next second, she saw Victor reach for his assistant’s phone, his distinctively articulated fingers swiping the screen twice before lifting his gaze to look at her.
On the table, the phone Olivia had left behind when she left just moments ago started ringing.
Isabelle was unprepared and trembled slightly upon hearing the sound. She lowered her head as if checking the caller ID, waited a few seconds, and then casually hung up the call, meeting the man’s gaze as if nothing had happened. “Since you are the child’s father, then take her away.”
After speaking, she patted the little girl’s head, placed her on the ground, and nudged her in Victor’s direction.
Victor raised an eyebrow, taking a couple of steps toward the dining table.
Isabelle thought he was coming to fetch the little girl. Just as she was about to let out a sigh of relief, she heard a voice filled with suspicion whispering in her ear.
“Miss, you have quite the appetite. You, alone, along with a little girl, managed to order a table full of dishes.”
Victor casually stopped by the table, his tone carrying implications.NôvelDrama.Org owns this.
Isabelle found herself momentarily speechless, her breath catching in her throat. She lowered her gaze, remaining silent for a while before adjusting her expression. With a forced smile, she explained, “You don’t need to worry about my appetite. I ordered an abundance of food in anticipation of the arrival of my friends. They haven’t joined me yet.”
Victor raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with skepticism. “Your friends haven’t arrived, and you’re already eager to start eating?”
As he spoke, the man’s gaze scanned the dishes that had been touched.
Isabelle nearly choked on her breath.
She lowered her gaze, remained silent for a while, and then adjusted her expression. With a distant smile, she said, “The friends I invited are very close to me. They’re used to this kind of thing.”
After speaking, without waiting for Victor to ask any further questions, Isabelle took a deep breath. “Sir, I found your daughter and kindly called you. I even treated your daughter to a meal. If you don’t want to thank me, that’s fine, but why do you treat me like a criminal? What did I do to offend you?”
Her tone was filled with offended dissatisfaction, masking the underlying turmoil within her.
Can’t he stop asking questions?
If the interrogation persisted, she would have no choice but to reveal the truth, a prospect she found unbearable.
Meanwhile, in the parking lot, Olivia anxiously held a child in each hand, stealing glances at the time.
She knew Victor’s character all too well. If there was even the slightest trace of evidence, it would be enough for that man to sense something was amiss.
She didn’t know how long Isabelle could hold on.
If she slips up…
If she slips up, what will happen?
Olivia thought for a while but couldn’t come up with an answer.
After a while, she self-mockingly bit her lip.
What was she afraid of, after all?
She treated Victor that way back then. That man probably never wanted to see her again in his lifetime.
Even if they were to meet, he might feign ignorance, finding her repulsive..
She chided herself for allowing her imagination to run wild, despite not having seen Victor’s face yet. The unnecessary fear had consumed her, leaving her in a state of distress.