Chapter 553
Then, she said to Alfred, “Alfred, take Isabella back to her room. Staying in the living room isn’t going to help her rest p>
Alfred quickly agreed and called over a few maids to help Isabella up.
Isabella had been deliberately staying in the hall to play the poor, pitiful victim. If she went back to her room, who would she be performing for?
Besides, it was obvious her mother was trying to get rid of her.
Isabella dug her nails into the palm of her free hand. Her eyes were red as she said pitifully, “Mother, I-I want to stay here… Seeing you makes me feel a little more at ease p>
“Isabella,” Catherine’s voice remained gentle, but the look in her eyes held a deep, unreadable meaning. “Your priority right now is to get your health back. Don’t let your grandparents worry, understand p>
That look sent a sharp pang of fear through Isabella’s heart.
Did Mother… guess that she had complained to her grandparents?
Did she guess that Isabella had manipulated them into pressuring her, forcing her to let her stay?
And after what happened just now… with that country girl Serena and her friend making all those sarcastic comments, implying her fever was intentional.
Mother must have believed Serena p>
Isabella desperately wanted to defend herself, but meeting her mother’s gentle yet profound gaze, it felt like something was caught in her throat. She couldn’t utter a single word.
In the end, she could only nod obediently, her voice a hoarse whisper. “I understand, Mother. I’ll cooperate with the doctor and get better as soon as possible p>
The maids supported her on either side, while Alfred called for the family doctor to stay in the room next to Isabella’s to monitor her condition.
As she was about to go upstairs, Catherine called out to her again.
A spark of joy lit up in Isabella’s heart. She thought her mother must have seen how
weak she looked being helped up and felt a pang of pity and affection.
She immediately put on a fragile, wronged expression and looked back at Catherine, her eyes misty with tears.
A glimmer of cautious hope appeared in her gaze. “Mother p>
Catherine walked over. She glanced at Serena, who was now seated at the dining table, then lowered her voice. Her tone was still gentle. “I’m letting you stay to recover During this time, you need to behave focus on getting better, and don’t get any other ideas. It would be best if you didn’t go near your sister, understand p>
After all, Isabella was clearly struggling to accept Serena’s return to the family.
If she kept hovering around Serena, it would only do more harm than good for her recovery.
Isabella’s eyes widened in shock, her face instantly turning ghostly white.
Was her mother… warning her?
For Serena’s sake.
Her mother was warning her!
Was she that worried Isabella would hurt Serena?
Catherine patted her on the shoulder and instructed the two maids,
Careful. Isabella is still sick, S BACT
gentle p>
With that, she turned and walked back toward Serena.
Isabella stared blankly at her mother’s retreating back as tears suddenly streamed down her face.
“Miss Isabella, please,” Alfred said respectfully, acting as if he hadn’t seen her tears at all.
Isabella’s gaze snapped to Alfred.
Her tear-filled eyes were bloodshot.
When she looked at Alfred, her pitiful act for Catherine was gone, replaced by a seething, teeth gritting anger “You must be thrilled that I’ve fallen out of favor, aren’t you p>