Chapter 286

Isabella didn't want to answer, but Leo tightened his grip on her arm and asked again, "Will you?"

To make him give up, Isabella said, "No."

The smile on Leo's face faded a bit, but he still didn't give up. "Really? Not even a single tear?"

"No!" Isabella said firmly, then added, "Don't worry. Someone as bad as you won't die so easily."

Leo was taken aback, then chuckled. "You're right."

His grip loosened, and Isabella pulled her hand away. Music started playing from the front yard, signaling the beginning of the party. Isabella hurriedly said, "I have to go."

This time, Leo didn't stop her.

Isabella took a few steps forward and vaguely heard him call her name.

Hesitating for a moment, she paused in her steps. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing." Leo smiled.

As the sun set, the courtyard was bathed in golden light. Leo stood under a tree, seemingly out of place with the brilliant sunset.

For a moment, Isabella felt sorry for Leo. But it was just a moment, and she quickly found herself ridiculous.

Shaking her head, Isabella turned to walk away without looking back.

Leo stood there, watching her figure fade into the distance, and muttered in a low voice, "Isabella, you're right. Someone like me, even if I die, no one would shed a tear for me."

It wasn't until Isabella's figure completely disappeared that Leo looked away, a wry smile appearing on his face.

A breeze blew by, and Leo took out his phone from his pocket. Glancing at the caller ID, he pressed the answer button. A deep male voice came from the other end. "Mr. Anderson, your test results are out. It's late-stage cancer."

The person on the other end rambled on, but Leo just listened quietly, his expression unchanged. Finally, he asked calmly, "How much longer do I have to live?"

After a brief silence, the other end said, "At most six months. But if you agree to aggressive treatment..."

Leo chuckled lightly and said nonchalantly, "No treatment."

The number of people attending the party was even more than Isabella had imagined.

She searched the crowd for a while but couldn't find Sebastian, not even Zaire. Instead, she saw Emily.

Emily was standing among a group of men. At first, Isabella didn't recognize her. Since the last time she saw Emily at Springfield Hot Springs, Emily had disappeared.

Sebastian had mentioned that Emily was taken away by Kevin.

It had been a long time since they last met. Emily had lost a lot of weight, and even the smallest dress size was almost too big for her. Yet, she still held a wine glass, laughing and chatting among the men.

Isabella saw a man touch Emily's butt, another one deliberately brushing against her. The men surrounding her all had lecherous looks, taking advantage of her.

Emily giggled, her playful resistance making the men even more eager.

The men were uttering revolting remarks. Emily had been displaying an expression of sheer enjoyment, but the moment her eyes unintentionally met Isabella's, she froze as if electrocuted.

Isabella, fearing Emily might recognize her, lowered her head, pretending to tidy up the cakes and the table.

"Miss Lopez? What's wrong with you?"

Emily snapped back to reality and shook her head. "Nothing."

For a moment, she thought she saw Isabella.

But upon closer inspection, it was just a servant from the Landon family.

She thought, 'Thank goodness it isn't Isabella.'

Emily breathed a sigh of relief.

She thought, 'I can afford to lose my dignity, but not in front of Isabella.

'Especially not to Isabella!

'I've lost to Isabella, and lost so badly. Do I now have to let Isabella see me like this, a laughing stock? No way!'

"Miss Lopez, I'm very interested in the cooperation you mentioned earlier. It's quite crowded here, why don't we go somewhere quiet and secluded to discuss it further?"

"Speak of the devil, I'm also quite interested in Miss Lopez's cooperation."

"Miss Lopez, you can't just consider him and leave us out. If we're going to talk, we should all talk together. It's more lively with more people, isn't it?"

The men let out lewd laughter.

Emily felt uneasy. She set down her glass and was about to make an excuse to leave.

But then, Kevin walked over with a glass in his hand and chimed in, "If you gentlemen are serious, I've already arranged for a hotel nearby. If you don't mind, you can go there to talk. The environment is elegant and quiet, I'm sure you'll be satisfied."

The men were, of course, pleased with his thoughtful arrangement and happily made their way there.

Emily frowned, "Does it have to be today? I'm not feeling well and I don't want to go."

Kevin's face suddenly turned cold. "Emily, don't play the damsel in distress with me. Your task today is to keep these gentlemen company and secure their investments. If you fail to do so, just wait and see how I'll deal with you when we get back!"

Emily felt indignant, "Kevin, is that even human? You know I'm not feeling well today, yet you still want me to do that. And with multiple people at once, what do you take me for?"

"What am I taking you for?" Kevin sneered, his eyes full of sarcasm. "Aren't you just a whore?"

"You!"

"What you? Don't forget, you begged me for this. Emily, you said as long as I let you out, you'd do anything for me. So, what's the problem with this little request now? Don't forget how you begged me!"

Remembering the dark, windowless dungeon, Emily felt a chill run through her body. She never wanted to be locked up again, and the only way to avoid that was to obey Kevin.

But the thought of those pot-bellied men made her feel physically sick.

Emily reached out and grabbed Kevin's sleeve, pleading softly, "Kevin, please just let me do this one at a time. I'm really not feeling well today. Can't I just keep one company today and the other tomorrow when I'm better?"

Kevin roughly shoved her away, sending her stumbling and nearly knocking over a nearby cake.

"Emily, who do you think you are, picking and choosing? I'm telling you, if you don't secure these deals today, you're not coming out!"

Emily's face paled, and she gritted her teeth, "Fine, I'll go!"

With that, she teetered away on her high heels to catch up with the men.

After Emily had left, Kevin spat on the ground and cursed, "Bitch!"

As Kevin turned to grab his glass, a cake suddenly flew by and splattered onto his suit, leaving a mess in its wake.