Chapter 172

Isabella jumped when the doorbell rang, snapping out of her thoughts. She rushed to the door but paused, remembering Sebastian's warning, "That incident must never happen again!"

She pulled her hand back and turned on the video intercom. The screen flickered and showed Leo at the door. Relieved, she opened it.

"It's you," Isabella said.

"Is Sebastian home?" Leo asked.

She shook her head. "Are you looking for him?"

Leo's expression was serious. "I'm here for you."

"Me?" Isabella was puzzled. She had no connection with Leo, so it had to be about Samantha.

Isabella offered, "Do you want to come inside?"

Leo shook his head. "I'll just say it here. When Samantha woke up, I asked her about her tongue. She wanted me to give you this."

He handed her a folded piece of paper. Isabella hesitated, feeling like it was burning her hand.

"What's wrong?" Leo asked.

"Nothing." She took the paper and unfolded it. It was Samantha's handwriting.

After reading it, Isabella's eyes widened, and she stepped back, pale. "Impossible. How could Sebastian cut off Samantha's tongue?"

"I didn't believe it either. But she got very emotional and broke down."

"Isabella, I found out something else."

She looked at him, afraid to ask.

Leo continued, "The person who exposed your photos was Vanessa."

Isabella's heart sank. "But Sebastian said he hadn't found out yet."

Leo shook his head. "I know it's hard to believe. Sebastian isn't heartless. He probably didn't tell you to protect Vanessa."

Isabella was stunned. Leo's words made sense. Vanessa was Sebastian's ex-fiancée, so it was normal for him to have lingering feelings. But if Sebastian still cared for Vanessa, what did that make her?

The exposed photos were a major shadow in her life. Everyone who knew her probably knew about them now. How could she face anyone?

Isabella felt lost.

"Isabella, you once saved me, so I can't watch you fall apart," Leo said. "If I'm right, Sebastian did this to Samantha to silence her. Matthew is in prison, and Sebastian has already retaliated against the Landon family. Samantha is no longer useful."

"Isabella, I warned you about Emily because she and Sebastian had a thing long ago. When my sister went abroad, Emily followed, and her relationship with Sebastian ended. Emily came back to get back together with Sebastian, so be careful."

"Isabella, break up with Sebastian. I think he's using you to get back at the Landon family. Now that Emily's back, I'm really worried you'll get hurt."

"Enough!" Isabella finally found some strength and cut Leo off. "Stop talking!"

Leo pursed his lips, then suddenly stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and hugged her tightly.

"Isabella, when you've thought it through, call me anytime. I'll help you."

Before she could push him away, Leo had already opened the door and left.

Isabella stood there for a few seconds before her legs gave out, and she sat on the floor.

She sat quietly for a moment, then with trembling hands, took out her phone and dialed Sebastian.

"Hello."

The call connected, but Isabella couldn't find the words.

"Isabella?" Sebastian's voice was tense. "What's wrong?"

"I'm fine," she said, shaking her head. "Just wanted to ask what you're doing and when you'll be back."

"I'm still busy. I'll be home late tonight. You go to sleep first. Be good."

"Okay." Isabella nodded, but tears streamed down her face.

She looked down and saw her hand was wet with tears.

Isabella sat on the floor for a long time before getting up and going upstairs.

She curled up in bed, holding Seb's pillow. She inhaled his scent but still felt extremely anxious.

Outside the villa, Sebastian sat in his car, staring at the faint light from the second-floor window, his brows furrowed deeply.

"It's hard to believe without seeing it," Zaire, sitting in the passenger seat, said.

Waiting here was Zaire's idea.

"Are you going to go down and ask her?" Zaire asked.

Sebastian withdrew his gaze. "Ask what?"

"Why did Leo come to see her? What did he say to her for so long?"

Sebastian gripped his phone tightly. "She seemed like she wanted to say something earlier."

For some reason, Isabella didn't say it. Maybe she didn't trust him enough? Or did she feel he wasn't someone she could rely on?

Sebastian wanted to know but was more afraid of scaring Isabella.

"Let her be. When she wants to talk, she will. If she doesn't want to, I won't force her."

Zaire was silent for a few seconds. He knew Sebastian didn't want to talk about it anymore, so he changed the subject. "Do you need my help with Leo?"

Sebastian said, "No need. In the end, he's just being used. The real enemy is Charles!"

Finding out about Leo's issues wasn't difficult. Leo used to be a playboy. Then he suddenly became ambitious and succeeded in a few projects but still couldn't earn Henry Anderson's approval. Henry always looked down on Leo, thinking he only knew some sneaky tactics. All the Anderson family's hopes were placed on the eldest son, Kevin Anderson. It meant that no matter how well Leo did, he wouldn't be valued.

Perhaps out of desperation, Leo started taking extreme measures. He even made deals with Charles.

Zaire nodded. "Have you decided what to do?"

Seb's brows furrowed deeply. "A confrontation between us was inevitable. But it's time to settle it. I don't care what happens to me."

He turned his gaze back to the room with the light on the second floor. "But I won't allow Isabella to be hurt anymore!"