Blizzard, First Love and a Wife Who Finally Snaps novel Chapter 45

It wasn't that Adrian cared about Oliver.

He just felt it was too much work for Selena to constantly coaxing him.

That's why he had personally tracked her down and forced her to come back for a visit.

Her heart, already full of holes, had just started to mend, only to be viciously stabbed again.

But her expression remained unchanged.

Without a single glance at the little family of three on the sofa, she walked towards the kitchen.

Behind her, Selena's delicate, cheerful voice rang out, "I told you, she'd never lie to you."

Oliver clapped his hands happily and followed Isabel into the kitchen.

"Mommy, I want superheroes fighting monsters, and that crab character from my cartoon."

Isabel grunted in acknowledgment, rolling up her sleeves.

Once Oliver was sure Isabel would make it, he ran back to Selena.

"Auntie Selena, let's play a game!"

"Okay!"

Martha followed Isabel into the kitchen, far more indignant than Isabel was. "Miss Hayes, why did you come back?"

Isabel gave her a small smile, taking out her old tools and preparing the ingredients.

Martha rushed forward. "I've learned a bit of this, let me help you. Your hand is still covered in scars. It hasn't been that long; they can't have healed properly yet."

Isabel shook her head. "It's fine."

This was the last time.

She felt she had done right by Oliver, fulfilling her final duty.

...

Laughter echoed from the living room.

Isabel sat alone at the kitchen counter, quietly carving.

Martha assisted her nearby.

Seeing beads of sweat forming on Isabel's forehead, Martha took a tissue to wipe them away. "Let me do it..."

Isabel said, "It's fine. It's good practice for my hand."

She was only doing it this once, not every day.

Adrian had grabbed her right hand yesterday.

It had ached for a while last night, but she had applied medicine.

She wasn't being stubborn; she left the more intricate carving to Martha.

Martha finished what Isabel had started and began preparing dinner.

She said to Isabel, who was snacking on a cherry tomato nearby, "I'm making that chicken dish you love and some roasted vegetables. You should stay for dinner."

Isabel shook her head, tossed the tomato stem into the trash, and washed her hands. "I have other things to do, I can't stay."

Martha glanced toward the living room and understood.

"Well, be careful on your way then. If you ever crave it, I can make it during the day and bring it to you."

"It's okay, I won't starve." Isabel smiled. "I appreciate the thought. You take care of yourself too. Bye."

"Bye."

Isabel walked out of the kitchen, straight through the living room without a glance, and headed for the entryway.

Oliver noticed and ran over. "Mommy, where are you going?"

Leaning against the doorframe, Isabel removed her shoe covers. "I have things to do."

Oliver didn't understand why she was so busy lately. "Are you coming back tomorrow night?"

"No," Isabel said flatly, tossing the shoe covers into the designated bin outside before turning to leave.