Chapter 196

196 I Won’t Marry You!

Isabella turned paled and she grabbed his sleeve. “You ask me to marry you. Is my question funny?”

The smile on Joseph’s face instantly disappeared. He pinched her chin and stared at her fiercely. “Listen, Isabella. As long as you are obedient, I can give you the grandest wedding. You will become the most respected young mistress of the Wilsons. You will have money, delicacy, and beautiful clothing far more than you need. You will never be bullied by anyone. But don’t talk about love with me, understand? Stupid!”

Isabella was frightened by Joseph’s sudden outburst and her eyes turned red. “If you don’t love me, why are you getting married to me?”

“Marriage is not equal to love!”

Joseph said harshly, “I, Joseph, am a practical person, not a young boy who knows nothing but romance. If you want to have esteem and fortune, marry me. If not, get away. Don’t ask me for love, because it’s unrealistic! It is your only opportunity to enter the upper class!”

“I don’t care!”

Isabella was so hurt by Joseph’s words that she was completely in despair. She slapped Joseph’s hand away. “Gerry! Stop the car!”

“Don’t!” Joseph roared.

Even though the car was still running, Isabella opened the door. Gerry hurriedly pulled the car to the side. Before the car stopped, Isabella jumped out. “I won’t marry you!”

.....

“Isabella, what are you doing? Are you mad?”

Joseph was afraid that Isabella would fall off the ground and hurt herself. He hurriedly reached out to scoop her up. However, Isabella stood up after a stumble and ran away.

“Come back!”

“Mr. Joseph... shall we chase her?” Gerry asked tentatively.

“Why? What if she hit on the car in a panic?”

Joseph punched the back of the chair in front of him angrily. “This ungrateful woman. I will teach her a lesson once I catch her!”

“Then, Mr. Joseph... are we going to the company now?”

“Have you lost your mind?”

Joseph said angrily, “Go to Richmond Arts University! If I don’t see Isabella arrive at the school safely, how am I going to report to my grandfather?”

“Yes.”

...

Isabella was depressed the entire day. Joseph’s words in the morning had first thrown her heart into the sky, then smashed it on the ground.

“Hey, Jane, I have a question.”

After class, Isabella went to Jane for advice, “A and B are two men. A is an ordinary employee and loves you very much, but his annual salary can’t afford a Chanel. B is super rich and can buy you everything you like, but he does not love you. If both men proposed to you, which one will you choose?”

Jane squeezed at Isabella. “Have you hooked up with men recently? And received two proposals?”

Isabella was speechless.

She smacked Jane on the head. “Be serious! Which one?”

“Isn’t it one of the three major dilemmas in the world, along with ‘which one will you save if your wife and mother fall into a river together’? Isn’t it a paraphrase of ‘whether you would like to cry in a BMW or smile on a bike’?”

“Basically yes. Which one do you choose?”

Jane threw him a flirtatious glance. “Nonsense, this question doesn’t apply to me. I only care about his appearance. I will choose the one who looks better! If he is poor, I will earn the bread; if he is rich, I will please him!”

“What if they look the same?”

“How can there be so many ifs?”

Jane thought about it and said, “Let me put it this way. Isabella, the criteria of happiness varies from person to person. Both men are good. If you want to be loved, then choose A. If you think that money can make you happy, then choose B. If you let me choose, I will marry the rich one and have an affair with the poor one!”

Isabella was speechless.

If she dared to do so, Joseph would probably burn her to ashes.

“But from your perspective...”

Jane leaned over and put her arm around Isabella’s shoulders. She narrowed his eyes shrewdly. “I think you should choose B.”

Isabella was stunned. “Why? Is it because I am greedy?”

“NO! NO! NO! NO!”

Jane said seriously, “Because a powerful man can help you break away from the Smith family, while a poor man who loves you can’t do die. You should take your family into the consideration! Otherwise, you will still suffer!”

Isabella thought for a while and muttered, “Yes, I can’t just think about myself. I have to think about my mother. I have to protect her...”

“Alright, alright. Forget it. Let me treat you to dinner tonight.”

“No, I have to go to Empire Entertainment Center to get my salary. Next time.”

Isabella was just about to stand up when she suddenly saw Jane’s expression change. Just as she was about to ask her what was wrong, Jane shouted out, “What are you doing here? We don’t welcome you!”

Isabella turned around and saw Lukas.

His eyes flickered as he looked at her. There were stubbles on his chin. He looked haggard, but his manner was still as gentle as ever. However, Isabella felt that the brilliant halo around him had disappeared.

Since Lukas signed the contract, Isabella had neither seen him nor thought about him.

Even though he had withdrawn from the “confession incident” and left her alone in the dark basement for a dozen hours, she did not hate him and was heartbroken over his engagement before. But this time it was different.

Isabella did not have any feelings for him. She had wiped him out from her life.

She buried her love and felt neither happy nor sad about him.

Isabella picked up her bag and said, “Jane, let’s go.”

Then, she ignored Lukas and brushed past him.

“Isabella!”

Lukas suddenly took a step to the side and blocked Isabella’s way, looking at her sadly, “I’m sorry! Isabella! I’m really sorry!”

“You came to apologize?”

Isabella sneered, “Lukas, you don’t need to do so. I am doing very well now.”

“I am sorry, but he is not a good person. Can you leave him? He can’t give you happiness. He is just playing with you!”

“What is happiness?”

Isabella looked at Lukas in disbelief. “When I was alone, he was by my side. When I was helpless, he was the one who supported me. I don’t know what happiness is, but I know that you were with another woman at that time. You don’t care about me at all! You have no right to tell me what to do!”