Chapter 226

Charles furrowed his brows, looking at Sebastian who was already insane. He hesitated for a moment before finally opening the door and stepping out.

As soon as Charles came out, half of a picture frame flew out and hit him squarely on the back.

With a clang, it fell to the ground.

Jack and Marvin rushed in, pinned Sebastian down, and tried to calm him.

Charles bent down to pick up the half of the picture frame from the ground, glanced at it, and his expression turned cold.

He looked up at the scene in the room, his gaze sweeping over the curtains, then left with the half picture frame.

Jack closed the door. When Isabella emerged from behind the curtains, she saw Marvin injecting something into Sebastian.

"What is that?" Isabella asked.

"Sedative," Marvin replied without looking up, efficiently pushing the remaining half of the syringe in.

After receiving a sedative, Sebastian gradually calmed down, though his face remained etched with pain. Lying flat on the bed, he clutched the broken frame in his hand, his blind eyes wide open. Silent tears trickled from the corners of his eyes.

Jack, unable to bear the sight, turned to Isabella and offered an explanation. "Since you 'died,' Mr. Landon has been like this. His moods have been all over the place, and at one point, he even tried to end his own life. We had no choice but to sedate him. He was improving after your return, but something just set him off again."

Jack couldn't bear to watch and turned to explain to Isabella, "Since you disappeared, Mr. Landon has been like this. His emotions are often unstable, and he even attempted suicide at one point. We had no choice but to give him sedatives. He was indeed getting better after you came back, but I don't know what Charles did to provoke him just now."

"I know!" Isabella interrupted, her eyes welling up.

She had witnessed everything just now; Charles was truly despicable!

Sebastian was right; Charles didn't deserve to be a father at all!

"You guys go out first," Isabella said, "I want to stay with him."

Jack nodded but didn't forget to remind her, "Five minutes, okay? I'm afraid if it's too long, they'll get suspicious."

"Okay." Isabella nodded gently.

She walked over, sat by the bed, and held Sebastian's hand. "Sebastian."

Sebastian closed his eyes. "I'm sorry."

Isabella shook her head, tears uncontrollably rolling down. "It's not your fault, Sebastian. I saw everything. Charles doesn't deserve to be your father!"

Sebastian wore a cold smile. "He said he regretted having me, but Bella, do you know? I regret being born into this world. How am I any different from the orphans in the orphanage?"

Isabella tightened her grip on his hand. "I didn't know before, but I won't let it happen again. You have me and Sweetie."

Sebastian smiled. "Yes, I have you and Sweetie."

Perhaps the sedative was taking effect; he mumbled a couple of sentences and then fell into a deep sleep.

Isabella sat quietly for a moment, then took the half picture frame from his hand.

Isabella turned the broken edge of the frame over and frowned.

The break was a very neat, straight line, with no rough edges, looking more like it had been pre-cut with a knife and then broken with force.

Isabella's heart tightened.

She thought, 'Who did this?

'Charles or Emma?'

The Landon family living room was quiet. Isabella had just come down the stairs when she bumped into Leo.

Isabella's face stiffened.

Leo walked over and took her hand. "Where did you go?"

Isabella hesitated and lied, "Looking for you."

Leo smiled at this. "Why didn't you call me? Wouldn't that have been easier?"

"I didn't think of it." Isabella wasn't good at lying. Leo's gaze was fixed on her lips, which were still numb from Sebastian's intense kiss, probably quite noticeable.

Isabella bit her lip, afraid of being found out.

Footsteps sounded behind her, and Isabella instinctively wanted to turn around, but Leo suddenly pulled her.

She took two uncontrollable steps forward and pressed against Leo.

Leo wrapped one arm around Isabella's waist and cupped the back of her neck with his other hand, lowering his head for a kiss.

Isabella, startled, recoiled and managed to avoid his kiss. However, his hand still rested on her neck, leaving them so close that their breaths mingled. From behind, it looked very intimate.

Emma deliberately cleared her throat.

Isabella came to her senses and pushed Leo, who let go in response to her push.

Emma walked over, her gaze scrutinizing their faces. When she saw Isabella's slightly swollen lips, she nodded in satisfaction. "I was just wondering where Bella went. Turns out you were with Leo."

Leo held Isabella's hand. "Sorry to make you catch us at an inconvenient moment."

"What's there to be sorry about? I was young once too, and you two are about to get married. It's nothing." Emma said.

At this moment, Emily returned with some clothes.

Watching her hurriedly go upstairs, Isabella frowned in thought.

Isabella and Leo sat downstairs for a while, but Emily didn't come down anymore.

As it was almost time for dinner, even Emma was nowhere to be seen.

Isabella felt uneasy, as if something was about to happen.

Leo handed her a peeled orange segment.

Isabella took it but held it in her hand, murmuring, "Thank you."

Leo glanced at her. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." Isabella replied.

Just then, a servant came to call them for dinner.

Soon, Sebastian and Emily came down.

As soon as they sat down, Charles also came down.

Isabella looked behind him but didn't see Emma.

"Everyone, sit down and eat," Charles said.

Emily asked, "Where's Emma?"

"Oh, she's not feeling well and is resting in her room," Charles replied expressionlessly.

"Not feeling well?" Emily put down her fork and was about to get up. "I'll go check on her."

"No need" Charles interrupted Emily, "Emma is already asleep. Let her rest; don't disturb her."

Since he said so, Emily couldn't insist and sat back down.

Isabella's gaze remained fixed on Charles, her suspicion palpable. Maybe her stare was too intense because Charles eventually looked over.

Their eyes met, and Isabella didn't shy away. She simply furrowed her brow slightly.

Charles coolly averted his gaze and didn't look at her again.

During dinner, Charles and Leo discussed the Northhaven project.

Isabella paused; she remembered that land belonged to Sebastian.

She had even gone to inspect it with Sebastian, and he had cooked a meal for her in a restaurant there.