Dr. Klein was taken aback.
He hadn't expected Alexander Sullivan hadn't told Julian.
He had spoken out of turn.
He evaded the question.
"Heh, the prescription is ready. Just take this to the pharmacy."
Julian took the prescription and left the examination room.
He had only come to probe Dr. Klein, to see if Isabella really had depression, not actually to get medication.
He left the hospital directly.
On the way home, his thoughts were in turmoil.
He almost ran a red light and hit a pedestrian.
What had his brother lied to Isabella about?
When he returned, Isabella was still napping.
Margaret had gone to the supermarket.
Only the two of them were home.
Julian carefully lifted Isabella's blanket and gently lay down beside her.
Isabella opened her eyes.
Seeing it was him, she pushed him lightly.
"Be careful. If he finds out, I'm afraid he might hurt Jacob."
"It's fine. Margaret isn't home."
Isabella closed her eyes and turned, nestling into his arms.
Julian had a scent that made her feel secure. She loved it.
She held him tightly.
"I dreamed about Jacob again just now..." A tear slid from the corner of her eye.
Julian held her, patting her back to comfort her.
After a while, he spoke.
"My brother had you see Dr. Klein. He diagnosed you with depression, right?"
Isabella opened her eyes and looked up at him.
"I'm not sick. I just miss Jacob too much."
"My brother, he—" He wanted to tell her about Alexander secretly having someone give her medication, but he hesitated.
If she knew, she would only hate Alexander more, become more agitated, and suffer more.
"Did he really abuse Jacob? That sound of Jacob you heard last time, was it a phone call or an audio message?" he asked.
Isabella thought for a moment.
"It was an audio recording. I haven't spoken to Jacob on the phone. No matter how much I begged, he never let me talk to Jacob or see him. He just wants me to behave and stay by his side. He said Jacob is being well taken care of."
Tears welled in Isabella's eyes.
"Jacob is only four. Without his parents, who would truly take good care of him?"
As Julian listened, his thoughts veered far off course.
His heart felt suddenly encased in ice.
A vague idea surfaced in his mind.
But the conjecture was too cruel. Neither he nor Isabella could bear it.
He went back to the hospital.
This time, he didn't seek out a doctor.
He wanted to casually ask a nurse for information.
He didn't need to search hard.
His looks and status easily attracted attention from the young women at the hospital.
A nurse shyly approached him.
"Young Master Julian, are you here for a check-up? Which department? I can help you register."
Julian smiled.
"Lately, I've been feeling down because of family matters. It's not serious enough to see a doctor, but I'd like someone to talk to. Could you keep me company?"
The nurse was delighted.
"Of course! Certainly."
They walked and chatted on the lawn outside the hospital building.
"Oh, so you're upset about your future sister-in-law? Is she cold to you? Well, it's true, people with depression are pitiable, but it's really hard on those around them. I have a relative who has it. Tsk, it's tough. Is she taking her medication regularly?"
"Not really," Julian said.
"That's really—" The nurse shook her head and sighed, her eyes full of pity.
"Ah, such a beautiful woman. Life has been so hard on her."
Julian glanced at her.
"Can you tell me what exactly she went through?"
"This—" The nurse hesitated.
"Young Master Julian, didn't Mr. Sullivan tell you? These things are not really our place to discuss. Besides, Mr. Sullivan specifically instructed us to keep it confidential—"
Julian probed, "Is it about her son, Jacob? Did something happen to him?"
The nurse's eyes widened. She quickly waved her hands.
"Young Master Julian, I didn't tell you! You figured it out yourself!"
Julian's face changed drastically.
He grabbed the nurse's arm fiercely.
"Tell me quickly! What exactly happened!"
He parked the car in front of the house but didn't go in for a long time.
The house was so big. A vast garden, a beautiful main residence.
The house felt so unfamiliar too.
For as long as he could remember, he had been almost alone in this house. He had few warm memories.
He was sent abroad at ten, coming back less than once a year.
He hadn't known that this house was now a cage, imprisoning a woman, letting her neither live properly nor die.
Another afternoon when Alexander was at work and Margaret was also out.
Julian knocked on Isabella's door.
Isabella was sitting at the foot of the bed, staring blankly at the withered trees in the garden outside the window.
She turned and saw him, a flicker of hope appearing on her face.
"Any news?"
Julian walked over and knelt before her.
He placed his hands on her knees and looked at her.
"Don't think about it all the time. I'll tell you if there's news. Isabella, let me take you out. Let's go somewhere, have some fun, okay?"
"Go out with you?" Isabella's eyes lacked light.
"If he finds out, he'll be suspicious. If he discovers you're helping me look for news about Jacob, it will be terrible."
Julian grasped her hand.
"Isabella, let me take you away first. I'll help you find Jacob later."
"How can I?" Isabella refused.
"I have to be with Jacob. If I leave, who knows what he might do to him!"
Julian's eyes reddened.
He looked at Isabella, helpless and frustrated.
This cage was too strong.
Clearly, there were no locks or bars, yet it trapped this woman, making her afraid to take a single step away.
She probably didn't have depression. She was going mad.
He couldn't help but say, "Isabella, have you ever considered that Jacob might not be in my brother's hands at all?"
Isabella's face darkened.
"Not in his hands? Then where is he? Where is he? Where is he?!"
Her voice grew louder with each question.
She lunged at Julian agitatedly.
"What are you saying? Why wouldn't Jacob be with your brother? What's wrong with him? Where is he? Tell me!"
Her force almost knocked him to the floor.
He deeply regretted his words.
He held her tightly.
"No! No! It was just a guess. Don't be like this. I've already sent people to investigate. We'll have news soon! Very soon. We'll find him. You'll see him soon, I promise. I promise..."
Isabella lifted her head from his chest, looking at him with tear-filled eyes.
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
He held and comforted her for a long time until she fell asleep.
She slept for about an hour.
When she woke up and saw him, she propped herself up.
Her eyes still drowsy with sleep, she asked him, "Why are you here? Has your brother returned yet? I told you to be careful not to let him find out." She looked at him somewhat helplessly, smiled, took his hand, and wrapped it around her waist. "He should be back soon. Let's just hold each other for a little while." She nestled back into his embrace.
Julian was stunned. How—
"Isabella, don't you remember? I came in before your nap. I talked with you." Why did she seem to have a memory gap?
Isabella was taken aback.
"No, I fell asleep by myself." She frowned. "What did you say to me?"
Julian was utterly astonished.