Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
Her eyes reddened as she stared intently at him with exhaustion and determination showing in her gaze. “Fine, if that’s how it is, let’s give it a shot. I’ve heard that when you’re with someone you like, you can feel it-“
Her words made him increasingly uncomfortable, and his smile froze when he looked at her.
Afterward, Isabel gently undid the buttons on her shirt one by one, with a hint of girlish tenderness and shyness on her face. As she took off her top, revealing her soft pink bra, Gilbert finally snapped out of it. Grabbing a coat from the back of a chair, he covered her and shouted, “Isabel Lynwood!” He called her full name for the first time, furious.
When she heard that, she shivered, possibly from the cold but more likely from fear. However, the fact that her actions had angered him gave her a strange sense of relief. Does this mean I have a special place in his heart?
“This is your first time doing something like this, and I hope it’s your last. Don’t do this again,” he said with a slightly annoyed expression. Nevertheless, his words did not reflect his concern for her, and he continued, “Otherwise, I won’t be able to face your sister.”
“Can you stop bringing up my sister?” When Isabel heard his words, the light in her eyes slowly faded. Unable to contain her anger, she pushed him away hard. “Gilbert, tell me straight up if you don’t like me. Can you stop using my sister against me?”
“Why don’t you ever listen? It’s not about that-” Gilbert rubbed his brow and noticed the tears in her eyes. He clenched his teeth and steeled himself again. “Even if I do use your sister against you, so what? She’s beautiful, bold, and way more interesting than you. You’re not my type.”
“Gilbert, I know you don’t want me to like you, but you can’t treat me like this-” She choked out through her tears, unable to stop them. “My sister is already pregnant, so why are you still thinking about her? Gilbert, you say I’m boring, but you’re the most boring person in the world!” she yelled, unintentionally striking a chord with him.
He stood up from his chair, grabbed her shoulders, and looked at her anxiously. “What did you say? She’s pregnant?”
“Yes, pregnant! It’s the result of her love for Callum and has nothing to do with you.” Isabel wiped away her tears, which were already streaked across her face.
After hearing that, Gilbert’s face turned deathly pale, and he slowly released his grip. As if recalling something, he opened the door and prepared to leave.
“Where are you going?” she called after him, but he continued straight down the stairs as if he hadn’t heard her. So, she gave chase, following closely behind him, only to see the man hurrying away. Then, she shouted from the top of the stairs, “Gilbert, can you stop being stupid for once? You always call me stupid, but can’t you see what you’re doing?”
After hearing that, there was a brief pause in his footsteps, and he quickly walked away. As the door slammed shut, Isabel slid down the banister and collapsed on the floor, tears streaming down her face.
With Gilbert’s clothes on her, her exposed skin hinted at her earlier boldness. Still, he wasn’t interested in her at all. In his eyes, Elspeth is the only girl he has been infatuated with since his youth. Even though she is already married and pregnant, he loses control whenever her name is mentioned. Am I really wrong? With that, she rested her head on the stair railing, her heart calming down. If my presence really troubles him, leaving might be a good option.
…
On the other hand, Gilbert arrived at the Winthrop Residence, practically barging into the living room.
At that moment, Callum and Elspeth were cuddling on the couch watching TV, with her nestled in his arms as they laughed and chatted. Seeing Gilbert enter unannounced, they both froze.
Callum reacted first, his face turning cold. “What are you doing here?”
Gilbert’s face showed a trace of embarrassment, having come in such a hurry that he had even forgotten to think of a proper reason. The moment he saw her, his mind raced while quickly coming up with a perfect excuse. “I want to discuss something with Elspeth.”
She straightened up upon hearing that, her eyes calm and serene. “What is it? Go ahead.”
“It’s about Isabel.”
Her face finally showed a hint of emotion. “What happened to her? Is she in trouble?”
He has rushed in with urgency; could something have happened to her? At that thought, Elspeth couldn’t help but clench her fists.
“No, she’s fine. The thing is, I think living with Isabel is a bit inappropriate and not good for her reputation. So, I bought her a house near the Winthrop Residence. If it’s okay, she could live here with you guys looking after her. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Gilbert had thought it through, and if it wasn’t because she knew how Isabel felt about him, Elspeth would’ve applauded him.
“Nonetheless, you know how Isabel feels about you.” She wanted to test his intentions. If he had no feelings for Isabel, the two living together would significantly negatively impact her emotions. After all, living long-term with someone you loved but couldn’t have could be pretty depressing.
“I can’t let her stay with me because I know this. Moreover, I don’t want to hold her back.” He took a deep breath, finally laying all his cards on the table.
However, Callum wasn’t happy because he found Gilbert’s behavior suspicious, especially his frequent glances in Elspeth’s direction.
After hearing that, Elspeth could only sigh and say, “Alright, let’s do as you say. Isabel can move in today.”
Suddenly, Callum chimed in, “If it’s possible, Mr. Payne, please don’t come over here and disturb Isabel. If she sees you, it might bring back memories, and it wouldn’t be good if she can’t forget the past.” He pretended to be concerned about Isabel but warned Gilbert not to have improper thoughts about Elspeth.
Gilbert nodded upon hearing that, his heart aching. “I know; I won’t.”
On the other hand, Elspeth tugged at Callum’s hand, signaling him not to be so harsh. Then, he let it slide for her sake.
“I heard you’re pregnant?” Gilbert suddenly asked.
She was caught off guard that he knew about it and figured Isabel must have seen the pregnancy test when she visited and told him about it.
“I had an abortion.” She could tell Callum’s mood had changed when she said that.
“You should rest up.” For some reason, Gilbert didn’t feel anything. There were no mixed emotions as he expected. “Would it bother your rest if I bring Isabel over today?”
“Since you’ve mentioned it, go ahead and bring her here. I’ll be fine.”
Relieved, he took a deep breath. “Alright, I’ll go now.”
Returning home, Gilbert called out in the hallway but got no response. He felt guilty, thinking Isabel might be upset since he took her away. He went upstairs, knocked on her door gently, and said, “Isabel, come out. I need to talk to you.”
Since there had been no response, he finally decided to force his way inside due to his unsettling intuition. He noticed the room was spotless as if no one had ever lived there. His heart tightened as he looked around and spotted a white note on the desk. He read it and was speechless. ‘Gilbert, I know you don’t like me, and I’m not running away out of spite. Don’t worry; I won’t bother you or Elspeth. I’ll find a job somewhere. I’ve grown up and have some savings, so I’ll be fine. Goodbye.” The words were curt but firm.
Suddenly, Gilbert felt dizzy, not expecting Isabel to run away. He had no choice but to tell Elspeth and send people to search for her. Hearing about Isabel through the phone, Elspeth sprang up from the couch. “What did you say?”
“Isabel ran away.”
She found the remark that Isabel would run away a little preposterous, given that she had never seen Isabel do anything so outlandish. She had always been so well-mannered that finding flaws in her was difficult.
“Why did she run away?”
“Maybe because I said some harsh words to her this morning.” He still wanted to take responsibility, even though he knew Isabel crossed the line first.
“She’s only a kid. If you don’t like her, simply talk to her, and she’ll listen-” Elspeth spoke anxiously.
Nonetheless, Gilbert didn’t try to defend himself. He sighed and rubbed his forehead before saying, “Don’t worry, I will definitely find her.”
The busy tone interrupted him, and he realized she had hung up on him a while ago. He couldn’t waste any more time and started looking for Isabel at places where she might work. Where would a girl who has never attended school and has no work experience go? Suddenly, he had an idea of where she could be.
…
The Luna Bar during the day only had a few customers, but it still reeked of smoke and alcohol. When Gilbert arrived, he saw a girl in a maid outfit carrying a tray resembling Isabel from behind. He rushed forward and tapped her shoulder but was disappointed to see a panicked face he didn’t recognize. He returned to the bar and asked the staff on duty, “Have you seen a girl about the same height as that one, but a bit slimmer, with straight black hair and big eyes?” He described Isabel’s appearance to the person as best as he could, but they shook their heads and said they hadn’t seen her.
Then, he clenched his fists, feeling even more uneasy. He suddenly realized that he might have been too aggressive and should have considered her feelings when he spoke to her. Still, finding her was the most urgent matter now. If she isn’t here, then where could she be? He thought carefully and remembered another place.
Ten minutes later, he arrived at the second most famous bar in town, Celestial Tavern. As Gilbert walked in, he caught sight of a thin figure standing near the stage. It was Isabel. Even though she had put on heavy makeup and looked quite different, he could still recognize her innocent face.
What is this girl doing? He was furious. So, he approached her and grabbed her arm when she was about to go on stage. “What are you doing?”
However, she was surprised but not shocked to be caught red-handed. I’m aware of his skills, and the fact that he could track me down so quickly suggests that he must have feelings for me, right? Soon, that thought was quickly extinguished. It’s not possible. It’s merely his responsibility to watch out for me. Ultimately, she remained silent, looking at him quietly.
“Do you know what you’re doing? Why did you leave without saying anything? Why did you come here and start this kind of job?”
Isabel was already 18, and there was no way she could have been ignorant of the potential consequences. Still, she decided to take the chance and work at the bar, something Gilbert found incomprehensible.
“I-I’m already an adult, so why can’t I work here?” She bit her lip and added, “Besides, Elspeth also worked at this kind of place before-“
The instant he heard Elspeth’s name, he realized what Isabel was referring to and snorted angrily. “How can your experience compare to hers?”
Little did he know that those words cut her deeply. Her face turned pale in an instant. “I know my experience can’t compare to hers,” she said, her lips trembling with sadness. “Moreover, experience is gained through life, isn’t it? As long as I work here-“
“Enough! Stop fooling around and come with me.” Gilbert grabbed her wrist and prepared to take her away, but she shook him off fiercely.
“I’m not fooling around, and I want to work here. You have no right to tell me what to do.” Isabel finally found the courage to rebel.
Her reaction shocked him, and he couldn’t say anything for a while. After a long time, he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. “Isabel, why do you have to compare yourself to her?”
“It’s because you like her and she’s the only one in your heart. I can never gain a place in your heart no matter what I do.”
Isabel nearly sobbed when she made those statements, tears already streaming down her face.
She couldn’t figure out why Gilbert couldn’t let Elspeth go even though she was married and had a child.
Every time Elspeth’s name was brought up, she feared the arrogance and trust in her sister’s eyes.
Elspeth was too outstanding. No matter what she did, Isabel just couldn’t catch up with her.
