Chapter 162

Nathaniel withdrew his arm from Isabella's grasp with deliberate coldness. "I've been drinking," he stated flatly. "Dominic will take me back to the office. You can find your own way home."

The Rolls Royce pulled up smoothly. Nathaniel entered without another glance as the car disappeared down the street.

Isabella remained standing alone, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. Things were progressing exactly as planned.

Arabella stormed over, her designer heels clicking angrily against the pavement. "Can you believe Harrison actually wrote Alexander a love letter? The audacity!"

The forged letter had been Sebastian's handiwork at Isabella's request - a detail she'd carefully omitted from Arabella. This was all part of her grand scheme: pushing Harrison toward Alexander while stoking Arabella's resentment.

"Darling, Harrison isn't worthy of Alexander," Isabella purred, patting Arabella's arm. "But you know how men are - they always chase what they can't have. Trust me, his interest won't last."

She was certain a man like Alexander - so similar to Nathaniel - might be momentarily dazzled by a pretty face, but such infatuations never endured. Harrison's rural background and lack of education would soon bore him.

Arabella seemed convinced, yet her expression remained stormy.

Isabella offered a conspiratorial smile. "Don't fret, darling. I consider you family. I'll make sure you and Alexander end up together."

"You're amazing, Isabella!" Arabella gushed, embracing her tightly.

Isabella's smile didn't reach her eyes as her mind raced ahead.

Sebastian approached, unusually animated. "Love is in the air, isn't it? Maybe I should try my luck."

Both women turned, intrigued. "Sebastian, who's caught your eye?" Isabella asked. Who could possibly interest Willowbrook's most notorious playboy?

His grin turned wolfish. "That genius freshman - Nathaniel's protégé."

Isabella froze, her smile turning brittle. She loathed that so-called "genius freshman." A surge of possessive jealousy twisted in her gut.

"Have you even met her?" Isabella asked sharply.

"Not yet," Sebastian admitted carelessly.

Isabella arched a perfectly sculpted brow. "So you're... online dating now?" The idea was absurd.

Sebastian pulled out his phone. When Nathaniel had added him to that group chat, he'd noticed the genius freshman - W - was also included. His fingers flew across the screen as he tagged W with a flirty message:

[Hey gorgeous, got a boyfriend?]

He chuckled. "Let's see how she responds."

Isabella seethed with envy. "Please. You're Willowbrook's most eligible bachelor. She's probably squealing with excitement right now."

Ding!

Sebastian's face lit up. "She replied! Uh... 'Get lost'?"

The two-word response - [Get lost!] - hung in the air.

Sebastian looked stunned. Isabella and Arabella exchanged shocked glances.

Meanwhile, in his corner office, Nathaniel stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, his imposing frame silhouetted against the city lights. Harrison's delicate features haunted him.

That love letter to Alexander.

The way she'd playfully punched Alexander's chest, all innocent smiles and fluttering lashes.

Last night's video call - offering him a taste of her ice cream with that coy smile. Today, feeding cake to Alexander.

Nathaniel's laugh was bitter. When she couldn't secure his attention, she'd simply moved on to Alexander? Using the same seductive tricks?

Ding!

His phone vibrated with an incoming notification.