Chapter 724: Chapter 724: Blowing Smoke on Her Little Face
Isabelle Willow curled her fingers, and at that moment, Jude Crawford’s sharp and cold voice came through, "Why are you silent, Isabelle Willow? I hate it when you’re silent. I can give you a chance to explain, so tell me what happened with that surveillance footage from all those years ago. Why did you actively seek out Dylan Gardner, why did you enter Iris’s room, and why did you end up rolling around with Dylan Gardner?"
These questions were not the first time Jude Crawford had asked, and Isabelle Willow was still as speechless as before because she couldn’t explain.
Back then, she didn’t know what had happened. It was Iris Crawford’s birthday, and Jude Crawford had brought her back to the Crawford family mansion for dinner. Midway, she started feeling unwell, and afterwards, she had no idea what happened. When she awoke, she was already in bed, entangled with Dylan Gardner.
She had seen that surveillance footage too. Watching herself in the footage going to find Dylan Gardner and then voluntarily walking into Iris Crawford’s room, she was shocked and speechless. She had no recollection of these events.
But the person in the footage was indeed herself; she had done all those things.
She wasn’t familiar with Dylan Gardner at all. Before this, she only knew he was her brother-in-law, and she had never spoken privately with him.
This incident was very peculiar. Isabelle Willow had once explained it, but her explanation seemed pale and ridiculous in the face of evidence.
No one believed her.
That day, Iris had an accident; a nine-month-old baby was cut out from her belly. Isabelle Willow and Jude Crawford were standing in the corridor, watching the bruised baby being carried out, while inside, Iris screamed in utter agony. From that day on, a dark cloud loomed over the Crawford family, and there was an permanent scar between her and Jude Crawford.
Isabelle Willow was deeply pained and guilty towards Iris Crawford and that child back then.
"Where are we going now?" Isabelle Willow changed the subject.
Jude Crawford did not mention Iris again, knowing this topic would only drive them to a dead end. He lifted his thin lips, "Back to my place."
Back to his place?
Isabelle Willow promptly refused, "We certainly can’t get a divorce certificate today. Just take me home first, okay?"
"I have a forehead injury. Let’s go to my place first and you can take care of it," Jude Crawford stated firmly and unapologetically.
Speaking of his forehead injury, Isabelle Willow’s heart suddenly softened. Earlier, under emergency circumstances, he had turned the steering wheel to the left and injured himself to protect her.
Actually, she knew he loved her.
She knew from the start his love was overwhelming.
It’s just unfortunate, she couldn’t afford his love.
"Alright, but after treating your wound, I’m going back," Isabelle Willow compromised, considering his forehead had a large bump.
At this point, Jude Crawford turned his head, glancing at her with amusement, "Why are you panicking, afraid I’ll keep you overnight? It’s not like we haven’t shared a bed before."
What was he saying?
In their youth, he liked to talk recklessly like this. The first prince of the business world in Aethelgard, shedding his prestigious suit, became fearsomely unpredictable, like a flood unleashed. Back then, he was at the peak of his youth, first experiencing desires, always making her blush furiously.
It’s been so many years now, he’s a fifty-year-old middle-aged man, yet still so... mischievous!
Truly becoming more mischievous with age!
Isabelle Willow simply turned her head to look outside the window, ignoring him.
...
Back at the villa, Jude Crawford went into the study while Isabelle Willow found a small medicine box and went to the study to find him.
Just as she reached the study door, Jude Crawford’s deep and sinister voice came through, "What kind of mess is this financial report? Take it back and redo it!"
He was losing his temper inside.
Isabelle Willow glanced through the crack in the door, seeing documents flying over the handmade wool carpet. Riley Sutton bowed low, his eyebrows and eyes respectfully picking up the documents one by one.
Jude Crawford sat in the office chair, wearing a dark grey shirt, holding a cigar between his distinct fingers. Through the swirling smoke, she vaguely saw his eyebrows furrowed tightly like a ’川’ character, his entire demeanor was cold and displeased, and the heavy presence of intimidation made people afraid to meet his gaze.
Isabelle Willow knew he was in a bad mood, unhappy. Now he was venting inside, and Riley Sutton, who had worked with him for many years, was usually competent and rarely reprimanded.
Should she go in?
No.
Isabelle Willow decided not to go in because she was familiar with the way he vented his anger. Every time he got angry, he would use her as an outlet!
This time, because of Iris’s matter, he was deeply repressed.
Isabelle Willow turned to leave.
But the next moment, Jude Crawford’s deep, commanding voice came from inside, "Where do you think you’re going? Get in here!"
He had already noticed her and asked her to... come in.
"..." Isabelle Willow stopped her steps, and at this moment, the study door opened, Riley Sutton walked out holding the documents, "Ma’am, Sir asked you to go in."
Isabelle Willow wanted to say she had already heard him!
She hesitated for a moment, then lifted her foot and walked into the study.
Riley Sutton stood outside and closed the study door, turning to go downstairs. Just then he encountered a maid who was about to take coffee upstairs, and he spoke out immediately, "No need to deliver the coffee. From now on, do not disturb Sir and Ma’am upstairs, no matter what urgent matter arises, understand?"
The maid nodded, "Yes."
Riley Sutton glanced up at the closed study door. Having worked with his master for so many years, he was intimately familiar with some of his master’s aspects and habits, ingrained into his bones.
For instance, whenever Sir got angry, he would seek out Ma’am.
Initially, he would call Ma’am into his study. They’d stay inside for a long time, and then Ma’am would be carried out in Sir’s arms, covered with Sir’s coat...
Later, Ma’am understood and refused to go to his study anymore, so Sir would directly find the bedroom, kick the door shut, and curse, little thing, dares to defy, huh!
...
In the study, Isabelle Willow stepped forward, placing the small medicine box on the desk, raising her pair of clear almond eyes to look at him, "Put out the cigarette first, so I can treat your wound."
Jude Crawford extended his large hand and grabbed her wrist.
Isabelle Willow was startled, and at that moment he pulled hard, causing her to directly fall onto his solid thigh.
His thighs were strong and muscular, and when she fell onto them, she felt a sharp pain. Just as she tried to struggle, Jude Crawford lowered his head and directly blew a mouthful of smoke onto her face, maliciously and recklessly.
Gah, gah.
Isabelle Willow immediately choked, coughing twice, her clear almond eyes reddened and moist from the smoke, "Jude Crawford, what are you doing?"
Jude Crawford looked at her, faintly curling his thin lips, "What do you think I’m doing? Can’t you see I’m in a bad mood? When I’m in a bad mood, I don’t want to treat any wounds but rather... do something with you."