Chapter 177

Everything happened so fast that by the time Isabella reacted, Nina was already being dragged out of the restaurant.

"Nina!" Isabella shouted, grabbing her coat and bag, and ran after them.

Outside, it was freezing. It had just rained, and the temperature was super low.

Richard pulled Nina to the car, opened the door, and pointed at Cynthia inside. "What's this about?"

Nina was stunned.

"Nina," Isabella called, rushing over. She was shocked to see who was in the car.

It was Cynthia, the nurse from the hospital who had asked for Richard's number earlier.

"Hi," Cynthia greeted, looking very fashionable but clearly drunk, her cheeks flushed and hiccupping.

Nina finally spoke, "Mr. Cole, what's going on?"

Richard, still gripping Nina's arm, stared coldly. "Answer my question first. What's this about?"

Nina was confused. "What do you mean? I don't get it."

"Her!" Richard pointed at Cynthia. "Why is she here where we were supposed to meet?"

Nina was baffled and sensed danger. "Mr. Cole, I think you're mistaken. I never agreed to meet you, and I don't know what you're talking about."

"You don't understand?" Richard laughed angrily, reaching into his pocket.

"Nina!" Isabella, scared, rushed to hug Nina.

Richard was taken aback.

He saw Isabella and Nina hugging, their eyes filled with fear, as if he was pulling out a  gun.

Richard was both angry and amused, his fierce face twisting even more.

Isabella and Nina were terrified.

Then Richard pulled out his phone, and they both sighed in relief.

Richard had calmed down. He unlocked his phone, opened WhatsApp, and showed it to Nina. "Haven't you been chatting with me?"

Isabella glanced at the chat history.

The messages were bold, full of hints and direct affection.

Nina looked at the profile picture and shook her head. "That's not me!"

"What did you say?" Richard's eyebrows shot up, his face turning cold again.

Isabella quickly said, "I get it! Mr. Cole, did you think this was my sister's WhatsApp?"

Richard retorted, "Isn't it?"

Nina steadied Isabella and explained, "Mr. Cole, this isn't my WhatsApp."

Richard looked suspicious.

Isabella pointed at Cynthia in the car. "Last time, I got the number from her, so the WhatsApp you added was hers, and it was her chatting with you."

Richard was speechless.

So, the person he had been chatting with wasn't Nina!

In the car, Cynthia was getting impatient. She waved at Richard. "Mr. Cole, why aren't you getting in? Weren't you going to show me your rose garden?"

Richard rubbed his head in frustration and instructed the driver, "Take her back."

"Yes."

The car drove away, but Richard stayed.

He turned to Nina and said, "You add me, or should I add you?"

Nina was confused.

Richard didn't waste time. He pulled out his phone and handed it to her to enter her contacts.

Nina was about to refuse when Isabella quickly took the phone and entered her number, adding Richard on WhatsApp.

"Done," Isabella said, handing the phone back to Nina.

Nina looked at her, speechless.

Nina thought, 'I'll just delete him later.'

But Richard glared at her.

He put his phone back in his pocket and said, "In my life, I'm the only one who deletes others."

Nina didn't believe it. "You've never been deleted by someone?"

"Yes," he said. "But those people are already six feet under."

After a pause, Richard smirked, "I buried them myself."

Nina tightened her grip on Isabella's hand. "We should go back."

But Isabella pulled her hand away and said, "Nina, Sebastian is coming to pick me up soon. You and Mr. Cole still have things to discuss, so I won't disturb you. Have a good chat!"

Isabella even made a cheering gesture!

Nina was speechless.

Richard walked to the roadside and opened the door of a black Range Rover. "Ms. Miller, don't make me use force."

Nina wanted to run, but he grabbed her wrist. "Ms. Miller, you're not making this easy, are you?"

Nina was momentarily dazed as he pulled her into the car.

Before she could refuse, the car drove away.

Isabella watched the car drive off, exhaled, and smiled.

She could tell Richard liked Nina.

Oddly, she felt that a strong and domineering man like Richard was a good match for Nina.

Isabella was very cold on the street. She was supposed to have dinner with Nina tonight, so she hadn't arranged for Sebastian to pick her up.

But she could go find Sebastian.

She hailed a cab and headed to the Landon Group building.

As soon as the cab arrived, Isabella saw Sebastian's car coming out of the parking lot.

She quickly told the driver, "Please follow that car."

Sebastian's car sped to a five-star hotel.

Isabella's cab was a step slower. When she arrived, she saw Sebastian walking into the hotel with a woman.

The woman's hand was hooked around his arm.

Isabella took a few steps forward but suddenly stopped.

She turned back to the cab, gave her home address, and had the driver take her back.

Isabella took a shower, lying on the bed, her mind filled with the image of Sebastian and the woman entering the hotel.

She trusted Sebastian.

Sebastian had also said he loved her.

So, she must have misunderstood Sebastian.

Thinking this, Isabella felt much more at ease.

Her phone beeped twice.

Isabella quickly picked up her phone and saw a message from Leo. A trace of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

She opened the chat, and Leo had sent a few photos.

In the photos, Sebastian was holding the woman's waist as they entered a hotel suite.

This time, Isabella saw the woman's face clearly.

Isabella felt a buzzing in her head, instantly wide awake. She sat up abruptly.

"Emily!"