Chapter 2

The visitor wore a dark gray custom-tailored suit, his face stern and expression unreadable as he sat there. Hearing the door open, he lifted his eyelids and lazily looked toward Isabella.

"Ms. Taylor, long time no see." Michael greeted her with a sarcastic tone.

Hugo Graves, beside him, stared in surprise. What was going on? From the sound of it, they knew each other?

He was just about to take the opportunity to build connections when he heard Isabella's voice.

"I'd rather not see you at all." Isabella's face was cold. She didn't step further inside, staring at this unwelcome visitor. "What do you want?"

Michael clasped his hands together, relaxed and casual. "Ms. Taylor doesn't seem very happy to see me?"

He spoke lightly, but Isabella was practically grinding her teeth.

Not happy to see him?

If she could, Isabella would love to tear Michael apart!

Three years ago, he publicly released fake compromising photos slandering her, unilaterally divorced her, made her the biggest joke in all of Starlight City, and trampled her dignity underfoot.

He orchestrated the collapse of her family; her only close friend disappeared because of Michael, and she was forced to leave her hometown and go abroad.

Now, Isabella had finally mustered the courage to return home, and this shameless Michael could still act so nonchalant?

Isabella's eyes churned with intense hatred, her fists clenched tight. The conference room was filled with a suffocating atmosphere.

Sensing trouble, Hugo quickly stepped forward and grabbed Isabella's wrist. "Isabella, Mr. Johnson is the client for our next project. He's here today to go over work details with us."

Michael glanced at Hugo's hand on Isabella's wrist, his eyes cold, and snorted. "Impressive. Even your boss has to sweet-talk you to work. Your tactics have leveled up?"

Isabella stared at Michael, her chest heaving violently, but she still had some basic sense. She turned to Hugo and forced herself to calmly refuse. "I can't take this project. Find another available colleague."

"Wait," Hugo held onto Isabella, glanced at Michael's displeased expression behind him, and quietly urged Isabella. "This project has a very high commission, three times higher than your previous ones. Don't you need the money?"

"Plus, we can't afford to offend the Johnson family. This time, Mr. Johnson specifically asked for you by name. If you don't agree, our firm will suffer too. I'm not trying to threaten you."

Isabella pressed her lips together and answered firmly. "I'm sorry, I really can't take it. If it's going to cause trouble for the firm, I'll resign."

She'd been crushed by Michael before to the point where she couldn't afford food. If she could start over once, she could do it a second time.

Hugo hadn't expected her to be so determined and was momentarily stunned.

Michael stared at the increasingly close distance between Hugo and Isabella, feeling quite uncomfortable, and interrupted. "What, enjoyed the climax, and now you don't recognize people?"

Isabella frowned and turned around under Hugo's shocked gaze, looking at Michael speechlessly. "What's wrong with you?"

"Isabella, you're still pretending with me?" Even if Isabella didn't recognize him at first glance yesterday, she should have figured it out later.

"Pretending what? Mr. Johnson, have you always been this self-absorbed?" Isabella couldn't suppress her anger at all.

Seeing her glaring at him furiously, Michael was momentarily speechless.

Last night, Isabella had been taking what she wanted from him, and today she could act like they'd never met.

She was still so heartless.

Michael stared at her for a long time and smiled bitterly. "Do you really have no heart?"

"That's what I should be asking you." Isabella didn't even blink.

Three years ago, Michael caused the Taylor family's stock to crash. Debt collectors came to smash up their home, and media flashbulbs lit up the Taylor Villa like daylight at night.

She knelt before Michael, begging desperately, but all she got in response was Michael's cold back.

And one emotionless sentence—"You brought this on yourself."

Isabella never understood what "brought this on yourself" meant. Until today, she finally understood—falling in love with Michael was bringing it on herself.

Hugo habitually patted Isabella's back, trying to ease the atmosphere. "Let's talk about work."

Michael smiled mockingly. "No wonder you don't want to take it. You don't have the ability, do you?"

Isabella quickly walked up to Michael, staring at him intently. "What exactly do you mean? Did you come here today just to disgust me? Since you find me so unpleasant, go hire another firm. Don't be an eyesore here."

Michael scoffed. "An eyesore? Got exposed and now you're guilty?"

After saying this, he looked her up and down, his gaze sweeping over the kiss marks on her collarbone. His Adam's apple bobbed as he looked away.

"Guilty? What do I have to feel guilty about? Guilty about not working for a scumbag like you?" Isabella had already died once anyway and didn't care at all what Michael thought.

Hugo's face was barely holding it together, his palms sweating, but given the situation, he couldn't intervene at all.

Michael narrowed his eyes, staring at Isabella. "How many times did you sell your body to get this position? You don't even have the confidence to take my project?"

Only then did Isabella fully understand what he meant.

She laughed in anger. "Michael, is your mind only full of such dirty thoughts? What, you've done so many shady deals that you think everyone is like those people you've had shady deals with?"

Michael frowned. "Don't talk nonsense."

"Oh, now you're protective?" Isabella smiled with some bitterness.

Back then, when she desperately barged into his office to beg for help, she saw him holding a young girl in a passionate embrace. He said it was a misunderstanding, but soon after, she saw that girl's headshot on the company website's executive page.

Now, Michael didn't forget to protect that girl's reputation—it seemed he was truly devoted to her.

"Isabella, you..."

"I'll take it." Isabella interrupted Michael, her eyes unusually determined.

She walked toward Michael step by step, bracing her hands on the desk in front of him, leaning down to stare at him. "I'll not only find the mole in your company, I'll also find dirt on you, drag you down from your pedestal, and bring down the Johnson family."

Isabella's gaze was burning. After a pause, she leaned to his ear. "Just like how you brought down the Taylor family back then."

Hugo was shocked behind them. What did he just hear?

Isabella wanted to find dirt on the Johnson family and bring them down.

"Mr. Johnson, please don't take it to heart. She's just joking—"

"Fine, I'd like to see if you have what it takes to bring me down." Michael unexpectedly curved his lips, meeting Isabella's gaze as he stood up. Their noses almost touched, breaths mingling.

Michael's gaze swept from her delicate nose to her slightly dry lips, suddenly remembering last night's soft sensation.

Such soft lips, yet always speaking such cold, hard words—making one love and hate her at the same time.

Isabella stood her ground. "When that day comes, don't beg me on your knees."

Michael smiled. "I look forward to that day."

He looked at her deeply, then walked past her and strode away.

Hugo wanted to see him out but was glared at by Michael and froze in place.

After he left, Hugo seemed to come back to his senses and hurriedly said to Isabella, "That scared me to death just now. I thought our firm was about to go under. You know Mr. Johnson?"