Isabella took the hot water and set it aside on the countertop.
She walked to the refrigerator and opened the door.
She took out a bottle of water from inside.
She turned back and handed it to Julian. "Mix it with warm water to drink."
Julian took it. "Mm."
Isabella picked up her own cup of brown sugar water.
She walked towards the kitchen door.
Julian's gaze followed her brazenly, watching her back.
He watched her disappear through the kitchen doorway.
He recalled how his brother and she had acted so guarded when they first met today.
He found it quite amusing.
To them, his sudden appearance must have been very troubling.
If not for Lena, his brother probably wouldn't even have let him in the door.
You stirred up his heart, even his entire life.
Did you think you could just continue on happily and lovingly so easily?
He twisted open the bottle cap.
He did not mix it with hot water.
He directly tilted his head back and gulped down the cold water.
That thug that day wasn't Julian.
Isabella couldn't quite describe her feelings.
She hadn't hoped it was Julian.
But if it was a stranger, she felt disgusted.
And she had protected that person for nothing.
Telling Alexander about it now...
If he asked her why she didn't say anything at the time, how could she tell him it was because she suspected it was Julian, so she chose not to call the police?
She could only accept her bad luck.
Just as Alexander said, Julian should have let go of what happened a year ago and started anew.
Seeing him laughing and talking with Lena, it should be true, right?
Anyway, after they returned to the country, Julian didn't have many chances to see her.
During the day, she was busy at the shop.
At night, Alexander picked her up and they returned home.
It was usually so late that Julian and Lena had already gone upstairs to rest.
They didn't see each other.
Even if they occasionally met, there were always three or four people present.
They were never alone together.
Several days passed like this in a row.
This morning, Julian and Lena woke up earlier than usual.
They had breakfast with Isabella and Alexander.
Lena said to Isabella, "Isabella, I'm sorry. Because of the jet lag, we haven't been waking up this early. We haven't managed to have breakfast with you."
Isabella smiled. "It's fine. You're here on vacation, no need to wake up so early."
"Today we're going out to have fun with Julian's friends here, have a party. Isabella, you and Alex should come too."
Isabella shook her head. "It's a gathering for you young people. We won't intrude."
Lena looked at her, then at Alexander. "You're not that much older than me, are you? You're not old at all! It's a very casual party. There's grilled food, hot springs to soak in. It's really fun."
Isabella wasn't very interested.
Alexander glanced at Julian. "Is it with Xavier and the others?"
Julian nodded. "Mm."
"You've returned to the country. Your brother should be arranging this kind of party for you, inviting your friends. Where's the place you booked? I'll send people over to serve you, cover the bill."
Julian didn't refuse. "At the Scenic View Resort Hotel."
"Okay, got it."
At noon, Connor called Isabella at the coffee shop. "Isabella, some people here want coffee. I said the coffee from your shop is the best in the city. Could you have someone deliver some?"
Isabella smiled. "Of course. I'll send you the menu. Have them place their orders and send it to me. I'll have someone deliver it—"
Before she finished, Connor's phone was taken by someone else.
Lena was on the line. "Isabella, why don't you come over? Come and have some fun. Since we returned, you and Alex haven't really spent time with us. We're going back the day after tomorrow. Who knows when we'll see each other next?"
Isabella paused, then agreed. "Alright then. I'll personally deliver the coffee to you."
"Thank you, Isabella!"
The Scenic View Hotel wasn't too far from her coffee shop.
The shop had a small delivery van.
Isabella packed the coffee and drove slowly towards the hotel.
At the hotel entrance, Lena, Julian, and Connor were waiting for her.
"Isabella, thank you for the trouble," Connor said, moving coffee out from the back of the van. "And for delivering it personally."
Lena and Julian also came to help carry the drinks.
Isabella smiled. "Having fun?"
Lena beamed. "This place is great!" She held several coffee cups in one hand and linked her other arm through Isabella's. "There are hot springs here. Perfect, you can come with me!"
Isabella was still in her work clothes. She demurred, "I didn't bring a change of clothes. Better not."
"The hotel has them," Lena said.
Connor added, "Mr. Sullivan called earlier asking how things were here. I told him you were coming, Isabella. He said he's coming too."
Hearing that Alexander was also coming, Isabella stopped insisting. She nodded to Lena. "Alright then, I'll go with you."
Alexander had booked the entire outdoor area of the hotel for them.
Julian's friends were only Xavier and another guy named Sean Melville.
The other five men and women were friends of Xavier and Sean from the country, invited to join the fun.
Altogether, less than ten people.
The place was large, making it seem not lively enough.
No wonder Lena had dragged Isabella along to add to the crowd.
The group of young people stared at Isabella for a couple of seconds, momentarily stunned.
Xavier had previously only helped Julian find a private investigator to look into Alexander and Isabella's relationship.
He didn't know about Isabella seducing Julian and their affair.
He had only seen Isabella in photos.
Now, seeing her in person, he understood why Alexander went to such great lengths, deceiving and coaxing, determined to keep her by his side.
A rare beauty.
A single glance from her seemed capable of stealing one's soul.
Lena, seeing everyone's expressions, grinned slyly. "Do you all also think Isabella is explosively beautiful?"
Everyone was amused by her pronunciation and word choice.
The atmosphere was harmonious.
As coffee was handed out, the guys and girls thanked Isabella for personally delivering it.
Then Isabella was pulled away by Lena to go to the hot springs.
In the indoor spring, Lena again couldn't stop admiring Isabella's bare, well-proportioned figure.
Isabella laughed. "I've already had a child. My skin is loose, can't compare to you young girls."
"You've had a child? Where is your child?"
Isabella was taken aback. She touched the back of her neck and changed the subject. "You could actually come with Julian. I saw some couples from your group coming in to soak too."
Lena's expression dimmed. "Don't mention him. We've been together for so long, and he still won't touch me."
Isabella was somewhat surprised. "You mean you haven't—?"
"We haven't had sex." Lena nodded, sounding a bit aggrieved. "He always refuses. I've even tried—" Lena blushed slightly, "tried to seduce him, but he—" Lena was very frustrated. "Sometimes I really wonder if I truly have no charm at all. Why is he like this?"
Isabella didn't know what to say.
She belatedly realized that she really shouldn't have gotten together with Lena like this.
At a time like this, no matter what she said—comforting her that Julian definitely didn't have problems in that area, comforting her that she was lovely and to be patient until things got better someday—no matter how she put it, it would sound disingenuous.