Can't Win Me Back (Isabella and Nathan)

This dress, whether in size, style, or even the potential harm from the chemicals used in its fabric, had been carefully considered by Nathan. The price was undoubtedly sky-high.

Why had Nathan suddenly changed his mind and decided to have her replace Victoria at tonight's event?

The maid from the Hill family also felt awkward, sympathetically comforting Isabella:

"Madam, would you like to try another store?"

Isabella waved her hand, dismissing the suggestion. Eventually, she walked into the high-end boutique where Victoria was shopping. Victoria looked up and froze for a moment when she saw Isabella.

She then casually started showing off her dress.

"Bella do you think my dress is beautiful?"

Isabella replied subtly,

"Sis, diamonds represent eternal love.

But with you wearing it, I'm afraid the elite men will misunderstand and think you're already married.

In that case, wouldn't you miss out on many good marriage prospects?"

Victoria's face turned pale, and she quickly changed the subject.

"Bella you're here to buy a dress, right? Pick whichever one you like, I'll pay for it."

People around them cast envious glances at Isabella.

The sales assistant, Miss Jones, said,

"You're really lucky, Miss. Your Sis is so kind to you."

Isabella stared at the smiling Victoria, lost in thought.

Victoria always liked to project the image of a loving older Sis, but who would know that this so-called Sisly love had cost Isabella her kidney, her husband, and perhaps even her life? Isabella smiled slyly.

She would let Victoria know that the role of the doting Sis wasn't so easy to maintain.

Looking around the store, she decided to pass on the ridiculously expensive dresses on display and avoid being labeled as the Sis who lived off her older Sis's blood. Instead, she casually picked one from the rack:

"I'll take this one."

This dress, though stacked on the shelves, was still quite expensive, second only to the limited edition gowns displayed in the store.

Victoria was certain that Isabella didn't know much about fashion, and she knew Isabella's frugal nature, so she assumed she could easily play the role of the caring Sis. But when Victoria saw the price tag on the dress, her face instantly fell.

"Bella, this dress doesn't suit you. Your skin is so fair, this color doesn't match."

The maid muttered softly,

"If you don't want to buy it, don't make a big deal out of it."

Isabella held her head high and instructed the maid,

"I want this one... and these as well. Pack them all up."

She casually picked out a few more dresses until the maid quietly informed her,

"Madam, the money Mr. Hill gave might not be enough."

Isabella stopped shopping at that point.

She bought five dresses in total and casually handed one to Victoria:

"Sis, my brother-in-law gives me so much pocket money.

I can't spend it all, so you can help me."

Victoria watched as Isabella spent money freely, without a care in the world. She frowned.

It was as if Isabella was slicing off a piece of her flesh, and she felt the pain deeply.

"Bella, buying so many dresses and spending so much money, don't you feel sorry for how hard Nathan works for his money?"

The maid retorted,

"Miss Moore, your dresses cost much more than my Madam's.

You're so extravagant, yet you want my Madam to be frugal?"

Victoria was embarrassed, unable to reply. After a long pause, she finally said something insipid,

"I'm wearing these for social events. Unlike you, who seems to be banned from attending your husband's gatherings."

Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Isabella responded coldly,

"Sorry to disappoint you, but my brother-in-law has already invited me to attend tonight's event.

I heard it's very important, and no other woman can replace me, so I must accompany him personally."

A hint of pity flashed in Victoria's eyes.

"Bella Nathan is just indulging you.

He's already prepared for me to attend the banquet."

Isabella clenched her fists under her sleeves.

Victoria's mocking tone grew even sharper.

"Nathan lets your mother come after you, letting her hurt you.

He feels guilty, that's why he's giving you the opportunity to attend this banquet. But..."

She whispered into Isabella's ear, "He's sure you wouldn't like this kind of event, so the dress he bought for you is so cheap."

Isabella smiled slyly. "Well, I'll do as he wishes and wear this cheap dress to the banquet. After all, it won't just be me who's embarrassed." Victoria didn't expect her scheme to backfire. But being the proud person she was, she couldn't let the inferior Isabella rise above her.

She curled the corners of her lips and, in a voice only Isabella could hear, said, "Sis, between you and me, Nathan's choice has always been me. If you don't believe me, just wait and see.

No matter how much you want to attend tonight's banquet, as long as I don't want you there, Nathan will listen to me."

Isabella's eyes sparkled. "I'll be waiting."

After buying the dress, Isabella didn't bother trying it on and confidently left the boutique.

Victoria overheard the sales assistant's comment, "The wife of a rich family really has it easy, buying such an expensive dress without batting an eye." Victoria's face darkened.

The jealousy within her roiled like a storm.

Finally, she took out her phone and dialed Nathan's number.

"Nathan, for tonight's banquet, I want to be your companion."

From the other end came his indulgent voice, "Victoria, stop joking. If you're my companion, you'll inevitably be forced to drink a lot.

Your body isn't fit for that... Let Isabella be my companion instead."

Victoria was enraged.

"Just because of my damaged body, I lost the chance to stand by your side? What use is it to keep it?

Nathan, if you won't let me go to the banquet tonight, I'll go to a bar and drink to my heart's content."

"Victoria, stop making jokes about your health."

"Woo, Nathan, you don't know-today, Bella was showing off that she's going to accompany you to the banquet. I'm so jealous of her." "Isabella?" Nathan's voice darkened with anger.

"Then she shouldn't go."

His tone was resolute.

---

Hill family.

Isabella had changed into several different dresses, but the maid couldn't provide any constructive advice.

"Madam, you look good in any of them."

"The red dress makes Madam look enchanting, while the white one highlights her gentleness... Madam is already naturally beautiful; the dress only adds to her charm." Suddenly, the door to the living room was pushed open, and Nathan's footsteps rang out as he walked upstairs with firm strides.

Isabella stood in front of the full-length mirror, and her heart couldn't help but tighten.

"Isabella, you don't have to go to tonight's banquet."

Nathan's clear voice rang out.

Isabella knew this would be the outcome, yet she couldn't stop a shiver from running through her.

She turned to face him. "Nathan, I've already bought the dress."

"Next time."

Nathan's gaze lingered on her for a moment, briefly flickering with a hint of admiration, but then it turned cold and indifferent as he shifted his gaze away. Isabella's expression was hard to describe.

It could be called disappointment, but it felt more like the numbness of compromising with reality.

After all, after two lifetimes, she had never won against Nathan, and now, she had no expectations left.

But the humiliation of being treated as a mere toy, manipulated and mocked, still tore at her nerves with painful force.

"Why?"

She finally gritted her teeth and asked the three words she had been holding back.

---

Victoria whispered into Isabella's ear, "He's sure you wouldn't like this kind of event, so the dress he bought for you is so cheap." Isabella smiled slyly. "Well, I'll do as he wishes and wear this cheap dress to the banquet. After all, it won't just be me who's embarrassed."

Victoria didn't expect her scheme to backfire. But being the proud person she was, she couldn't let the inferior Isabella rise above her.

She curled the corners of her lips and, in a voice only Isabella could hear, said, "Sis, between you and me, Nathan's choice has always been me. If you don't believe me, just wait and see.

No matter how much you want to attend tonight's banquet, as long as I don't want you there, Nathan will listen to me."

Isabella's eyes sparkled. "I'll be waiting."

After buying the dress, Isabella didn't bother trying it on and confidently left the boutique.

Victoria overheard the sales assistant's comment, "The wife of a rich family really has it easy, buying such an expensive dress without batting an eye." Victoria's face darkened.

The jealousy within her roiled like a storm.

Finally, she took out her phone and dialed Nathan's number.

"Nathan, for tonight's banquet, I want to be your companion."

From the other end came his indulgent voice, "Victoria, stop joking. If you're my companion, you'll inevitably be forced to drink a lot.

Your body isn't fit for that... Let Isabella be my companion instead."

Victoria was enraged.

"Just because of my damaged body, I lost the chance to stand by your side? What use is it to keep it?

Nathan, if you won't let me go to the banquet tonight, I'll go to a bar and drink to my heart's content."

"Victoria, stop making jokes about your health."

"Woo, Nathan, you don't know-today, Bella was showing off that she's going to accompany you to the banquet. I'm so jealous of her."

"Isabella?"