Chapter 81

Matthew's words didn't bother Isabella at all.

She fell asleep in no time, perhaps because she was thinking about her situation so much.

When she woke up, it was the next morning.

Samantha's bed was empty. Since she had broken up with Matthew, she didn't come back often, which made Isabella feel more at ease.

Isabella got out of bed to freshen up. Since she had gone to sleep without showering last night, she felt sticky and dirty. She grabbed some clothes and headed to the bathroom for a shower.

As she came out of the bathroom, there was a knock on the dormitory door.

She walked over to open the door. It was Matthew.

Isabella held the doorknob, not intending to let him in. "Why are you here again?" she asked.

Matthew was dressed in a dark blue casual outfit. A few stray strands of hair fell over his forehead. Despite the sunlight shining behind him, Isabella no longer felt any attraction toward him.

His gaze swept over Isabella's hair cap. His eyes were gentle yet ambiguous. "Have you taken a shower?" he asked.

Isabella started to close the door, but Matthew stopped her with his hand.

"I've come to bring you some clothes," he said, lifting the bag in his hand.

"I have clothes to wear, I don't need you to bring me any," Isabella replied without even looking at the bag.

She used her foot and hands to push the door to close it firmly. After quickly locking the door and completely isolating Matthew outside, she finally relaxed and went to blow-dry her hair.

Halfway through drying her hair, she saw Matthew in the mirror.

Isabella was so startled that she dropped the hairdryer, which landed in the sink. She turned around in shock and stared at Matthew. "How did you get in?"

She was sure she had locked the door!

Before she could say anything more, she noticed the key in Matthew's hand.

Isabella's scalp tightened. "How did you get the key to our dorm?"

"This?" Matthew opened his palm. "Samantha gave it to me."

Isabella reached out to grab it, but Matthew avoided her easily.

"I've put the clothes on the table. Change into them, I'll wait for you outside," he said before leaving.

After she was done blow-drying her hair, Isabella saw a gift box on the table. Inside was a dark blue casual outfit identical to Matthew's. It was clearly a couple's outfit.

Isabella tossed the clothes into a bag, ready to head toward the door. Just then, her phone rang.

It was Nina.

Isabella calmed her emotions slightly and answered the phone. "Hello, sis."

"Bella, your brother-in-law and I have already set off. Are you there?" Nina asked.

Isabella was taken aback. "Set off? Where are you going?"

"Charlie said you were going to surprise us today." Nina sat in the car, holding the phone and looking at Charlie beside her, asking softly, "What's going on?"

Charlie gestured for her to put the call on speakerphone.

Nina did so and held the phone to his lips.

Charlie spoke on the phone as he drove. "Bella, Matthew contacted me a couple of days ago."

Isabella was stunned.

No wonder Matthew had been so confident that she would come. He had gone behind her back to see Charlie!

Isabella knew Charlie too well. Matthew must have shown Charlie that he was an important person or offered Charlie enough benefits to use Nina to pressure her.

"Bella, your sister has been worried about you since you moved out. I wanted to surprise her too, so I didn't tell her about this. I planned to let you tell her in person when we all meet," Charlie explained.

Isabella gritted her teeth. "Fine, you guys go ahead, I'll be there ."

A few minutes later, Isabella opened the dormitory door.

Matthew was outside, looking down at his phone. When he saw the door open, he put away his phone, stood up straight, and looked toward her.

His gaze swept down Isabella. "Why aren't you wearing the outfit I bought you?"

Isabella handed him the bag. "I don't like it, you can have it back."

Matthew frowned but accepted it.

As they walked toward the car, Isabella noticed Matthew reaching out a hand to hold hers.

She dodged it.

Isabella quietly opened her phone, called Samantha and asked, "Matthew, are you sure you want me to go to your house and meet your parents?"

"Absolutely," Matthew affirmed. "Bella, don't you remember our agreement from the beginning? We said we would get married after graduation. We're graduating in a month, so we'll meet my parents now, set the engagement for a month, and then get married. It might seem rushed, but I'll take care of everything. Our wedding will be perfect, I promise. You might not be sure about this now, but I have a way to make you marry me willingly and happily."

Isabella felt uneasy and turned to him. "Did you go see Charlie?"

"I did. Bella, I know that you care very much about your sister."

"Despicable!" Isabella cursed.

Matthew just smiled lightly. "Don't worry, as long as you behave, I promise Charlie will treat your sister well."

"What did you promise Charlie?" Isabella clenched her fists.

Matthew pursed his lips. "That's between him and me. Just know that if you behave, Charlie's crisis will be averted. Otherwise, Charlie will face a disaster, and your sister will be affected."

"Do you think I'll bow down to your threats?" Isabella tightened her fists.

Matthew stopped the car at a red light, turned to face Isabella's angry eyes, and said, "Bella, this isn't a threat. I'm giving them a way out just because of you."

Isabella looked at Matthew, feeling that the person in front of her was unfamiliar.

She used to think of Matthew as gentle and sunny, someone who exuded warmth. That was what she had liked most about him, but ever since he got involved with Samantha, the image of Matthew she had in her mind had started to deteriorate.

And now, he was shrouded in darkness.

Isabella couldn't understand him now. She found it frightening.

As they approached the mansion area where the Landon family resided, Isabella saw Charlie's car from a distance. Charlie and Nina were standing beside it.

Matthew drove over, and Charlie immediately came forward to greet them.

"Matthew, Bella, you're here," Charlie said with a flattering smile on his face. It made Isabella feel physically uncomfortable.

Matthew glanced at Isabella through the rearview mirror, and politely asked Charlie, "Why aren't you going in?"

Charlie pointed to the security booth, looking embarrassed. "We couldn't specify the exact house number, so we were stopped outside."