Chapter 141

As the car moved out of Harvard University, Nina said, "Let's find a place to buy some gifts. It's not appropriate to visit empty-handed for the first time."

Sebastian nodded. "The gifts are already prepared. They're all in the trunk."

Nina looked at him. "How much did they cost? I'll transfer the money to you, Mr. Landon."

"We're family, so there is no need to be so formal, Nina."

Sebastian's words left the car silent for a few seconds.

Isabella looked at Sebastian with admiration.

Sebastian calling her sister sounded even more natural than her.

Nina seemed to think of something, and after a brief moment of distraction, a slight smile finally appeared on her face. "Alright."

When they arrived at the Jose household, Zaire and Kelsey came out to greet them personally.

"Isabella, my mom is cooking herself today," Kelsey said warmly, holding Isabella's arm.

She then looked at Nina. "And this must be Nina. Hi, I'm Kelsey."

"Hello."

Nina noticed that Kelsey was about the same age as Isabella, but their personalities were different. Isabella was introverted, while Kelsey was more flamboyant, like a blooming flower, carefree and unrestrained.

Nina always felt that Isabella was too gentle. It would be good for her to spend more time with someone like Kelsey, who might influence her a bit.

As they walked into the Jose household's living room, Steven had just finished a conference call and came downstairs.

"Dad." Kelsey walked over. "Isabella and Nina are here."

Steven's gaze swept over Isabella's face and then landed on Nina's.

For a moment, Nina's expression froze.

At that moment, Margaret also walked out of the kitchen. "Bella, here you here."

"Aunt Margaret," Isabella greeted politely.

Nina followed the voice and looked at Margaret.

A look of surprise flashed in Nina's eyes, and then she stood there in a daze.

Isabella gently tugged at her sleeve. "Sis, this is Mrs. Smith."

"Mrs. Smith," Nina murmured.

Margaret looked her up and down, smiled, and extended her hand. "I'm Kelsey's mom. You can call me Aunt Margaret, just like Bella does."

Nina didn't respond.

"Nina?" Isabella noticed her unusual behavior and gently reminded her.

Nina finally came to her senses and shook Margaret's hand, her tone distant and unfamiliar, "Mrs. Smith."

Margaret was taken aback.

Isabella also looked at Nina in confusion. Nina's words clearly intended to distance herself from the entire Jose family.

Fortunately, Margaret didn't mind. She smiled and said, "Let's all go to the dining room. Dinner is almost ready."

Everyone headed to the dining room, but Nina held Isabella's hand. "Bella, come out with me for a moment."

In the Jose household courtyard.

"Nina, what's wrong?"

Nina glanced at the Jose household villa, then looked at Isabella with a serious expression. "Isabella, to be honest, why do they suddenly want to adopt you as a goddaughter? What's their real motive?"

Isabella was taken aback. "Mrs. Smith likes me."

"There are so many people and why does she like you specifically? Do you really think you're so adorable? Isabella, have you ever thought about the reason?"

Nina's strong reaction was something Isabella didn't expect.

"Nina, what's wrong? Weren't you happy about this?"

"That's because I hadn't met them yet!"

"You mean Uncle Steven and Aunt Margaret?"

Isabella didn't understand. Steven and Margaret were clearly nice and easygoing. Nina had always been good-tempered, but why did her attitude change so much after meeting them?

Nina bit her lip, her eyes a bit red. "Bella, I don't agree!"

Isabella was shocked.

"Why?" Nina looked into her eyes. "Are you reluctant?"

Nina looked away, gazing into the distance. "If you want to acknowledge this relationship, then you and I will no longer be sisters. From now on, you'll be part of the Jose family and I won't care about you anymore!"

With that, she turned and walked away.

"Sis!" Isabella caught up and grabbed her hand. "Sis, don't say that. In this world, you are my only family. Please don't abandon me."

"Alright!" Nina nodded. "Then let's go back now and make things clear with them!"

Isabella didn't hesitate. "Okay."

When the two of them walked into the Jose household dining room, everyone was already seated and chatting happily.

Margaret had changed her clothes. Seeing Isabella, she smiled brightly, "Bella, come sit by me."

Isabella was about to speak when Nina squeezed her hand tightly.

"Sorry, Mrs. Smith, I have to refuse your kindness," Nina said.

Upon her saying, dining room fell silent for a long time.

Kelsey was the first to react. "Why? We already agreed, so why..."

"Agreed?" Nina looked at Kelsey indifferently, her gaze different from when she looked at her in the courtyard earlier. "May I ask, Ms. Jose, who did you agree with?"

Kelsey was at a loss for words. "Well, you agreed to come today to discuss this in person, didn't you? Why did you change your mind?"

Everyone looked at Nina, not understanding why she suddenly changed her mind.

Nina looked at Margaret. "May I ask, Mrs. Smith, why do you want to adopt Isabella as your goddaughter? We are just ordinary people. Don't you think it'll disgrace you to adopt someone like us? Moreover, we can't offer you any benefits. What's the real reason behind this? I really can't figure it out."

Isabella bit her lip.

Tonight, Nina was unlike her usual gentle self. She seemed to be unapproachable today, and her words were unprecedentedly sharp and harsh.

"Are you implying that we have ulterior motives toward Isabella?" Kelsey couldn't help but retort.

"Kelsey!" Margaret scolded softly, "Ms. Miller is a guest and Isabella's sister. Don't be rude."

Kelsey pouted and thought, ' Fine, for Isabella's sake, I will not argue with Nina.'

Margaret looked at Nina again.  Being a woman of high status, Margaret remained gentle and refined. Even in the face of Nina's confrontation, Margaret maintained her composure and softly explained, "Ms. Miller, please believe that we have no ulterior motives toward Isabella. I want to adopt her as a goddaughter simply because I like her."

"You like her?" Nina sneered at those words. "There are so many people you might like in this world. Are you going to adopt all of them as goddaughters, Mrs. Smith?"

Margaret was speechless.

Nina's words were quite harsh, and the atmosphere in the dining room became tense and delicate.

Kelsey looked at Nina angrily.

Even Zaire raised his eyes and looked at Nina deeply.

Margaret sighed, her smile tinged with bitterness, "To be honest, Ms. Miller, many years ago, I lost a daughter. We've been searching for her all these years, but we haven't found any trace of her. When I first met Isabella, I felt a strong sense of familiarity. Then we did a DNA test, but Isabella is not my lost daughter. So..."

"So you want to use Isabella to fill the guilt left by your lost daughter? It seems that your lost daughter doesn't mean much to you, Mrs. Smith!"