Chapter 822 Isabelle looked at the old Mrs. Foster, who was wearing a dark red vintage vest. She wore mixed fabric pants and embroidered old-fashioned slippers.
She leaned on her cane, her silver hair resembling a layer of white frost, her big eyes deeply sunken and sharp with sarcasm.
Her weathered face had shallow wrinkles.
Her lips drooped down, exuding an air of an old-fashioned grandmother from another era. It was easy to see that she must have been a beauty when she was young but could not withstand the ravages of time.
Despite being over eighty years old, the old Mrs. Foster remained spirited and full of vitality.
Isabelle listened to her commanding words without getting angry. When she decided to come back with Darius, she knew very well that the Foster family would not accept her like Darius did because in other people's eyes, she was indeed a woman full of flaws.
On their wedding day, someone took advantage of her innocence without realizing it herself; for five years after marriage, her husband neglected and abused her while his family mistreated her as well; then came Bethany, an illegitimate child whose origins were unknown.
She breathed out softly, but thankfully, Sylvia appeared in Isabelle’s life at just the right time.
"I came here as Mr. Darius’ guest," Isabelle said calmly, "not to become part of the Foster family or anything like that... | just want my daughter to meet all the Foster family members who are related by blood." "So if the Foster family doesn't welcome me," Isabelle continued firmly, "then my daughter and | will leave now." Darius frowned when he saw how tense things were between Isabelle and the Fosters.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Grandma," he said sternly, "Isabelle is Bethany's mother... how can you treat her this way? Not only that, she is also my chosen woman, the woman | love most! | hope the Fosters treat Isabelle with respect just as they do me." The old Mrs. Foster's face suddenly changed upon hearing what Darius had said..."What did you say?" Her voice almost squeezed through gritted teeth filled with disbelief and shock...
How could her outstanding grandson choose this abandoned woman from Middle Evroya? What makes this woman so special?" "Darius, it's not me being nosy, but... how many socialites and heiresses in Urgford want to become the Foster family's lady? You don't even take a glance at them, why do you treasure her so much? Middle Evroya is such a barren place... you know that very well. | heard they are particularly biased towards men over women..." Although Madam Gisselle didn't say anything explicitly or mention Isabelle by name, her disdainful tone towards Isabelle was evident.
As she spoke, Madam Gisselle flicked off some nonexistent dust from her expensive skirt as if Isabelle was standing there covered in dirt. She even felt contemptuous breathing the same air as her.
This blatant mockery made Madam Karina turn pale with anger. She forced a smile and said, "Miss Deleon, please sit down. You must be tired after traveling such a long way." Isabelle immediately sensed some kindness from her. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Madam Karina who had aged gracefully despite being almost fifty years old; she exuded elegance and nobility that bore some resemblance to Darius’ features.
On the other hand, Madam Gisselle emitted an inexplicable sharpness all over her body despite being thin with pointed chin and mouth; she wasn't ugly nor unattractive but always seemed shrewdly streetwise.
Isabelle could tell that Darius" mother still hoped for her to stay since she had expressed interest already. If she insisted on leaving now without showing respect to Madam Karina who was after all Darius’ mother...
Just thinking about it made Isabelle's heartstrings quiver slightly as she sat down on the sofa with Bethany next to her.
Darius also sat down beside them after glancing briefly at his grandmother before asking the butler coldly, "How is dinner coming along?" The butler trembled under Darius’ icy aura and couldn't speak honestly; he could only awkwardly reply, "It's... still being prepared..." "The food may not be ready yet," The old Mrs. Foster saw how protective Darius was of Isabelle, which made her feel angry inside.
She scolded the butler in a stern voice, "Hurry up and prepare! Didn't you prepare the ingredients this morning?" "Yes, yes, I'll go instruct the kitchen immediately.” The butler left immediately "Miss Deleon, you're from a place like Middle Evroya and may not have seen our grandeur here. Early in the morning, nearby supermarkets deliver fresh ingredients such as king crabs, Boston lobsters and yellowfin tuna... Have you tasted any of these before?" Camille smiled knowingly. "You must taste them later.” She looked at Bethany with regretful eyes. "This child has suffered so much following you in Middle Evroya." Darius's expression was cold and severe as he stared at Camille with a warning look in his eyes. "Auntie, Isabelle and Bethany have tasted these things before. Middle Evroya is not as backward as you think it is." If it were really that backward, they wouldn't be striving to master new energy cars.
Camille didn't agree; she was Darius's aunt who had taken care of him when he was young until he went to elementary school.
This was also the main reason why she fell out with Madam Karina; she always felt that she had put so much effort into raising Darius while Madam Karina never showed enough gratitude towards her.
She always brought up her past favors for raising Darius during those years when they were close, but now that Darius has grown older and more sensible, their relationship started to drift apart.
Although he still respected her for taking care of him when he was young, Camille became insatiable no matter how much appreciation or compensation she received from him.
In recent years, Darius began distancing himself from her gradually, but Camille didn't seem to realize this, instead thinking that Darius was simply too busy.
So when faced with Darius's warning gaze, she paid no attention whatsoever, continuing on talking to Isabelle, "Miss Deleon, do girls in Middle Evroya even attend school? Can they find jobs?" "Our children here receive prenatal education before birth, then foreign language once they can speak, while also learning piano or dance... We cultivate our girls into socialites who possess both temperament and artistic sense.” "I bet your daughter doesn't even know what a piano is after staying so long in Middle Evroya, right?" She pointed to the piano in the corner of the living room and said, "Child, do you see that? That's a piano.” Isabelle chuckled softly, and her laughter was beautiful and gentle. Especially with her good looks, her pretty face shone even brighter with the addition of a smile.
"Middle Evroya may not be as good as H Rovirsa, but... Bethany, of course, knows how to play the piano.” As soon as she spoke, everyone in the Foster family looked at her in surprise.
"She will ruin the piano. She has never even seen it before, | disagree!" June immediately became unhappy when she heard that Isabelle wanted to let a five-year-old child use her piano.
The piano in the living room is her exclusive piano. Whenever there are guests or events at home, she will show off her skills on it.
June, as the daughter of the Foster family, may not be from the main branch, but she has been carefully nurtured since childhood and has excelled in various extracurricular activities, becoming a leader in one after another.
"If I remember correctly, that was the birthday gift | gave you when you turned 18," Darius’ face darkened even more upon hearing June's words.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Bethany, go ahead." After scolding June, he looked gently at the little girl beside him.
"Dad, | don't like it here, although | know your home here, they don't welcome me and Mommy." Although Bethany is only five years old, she is very sensitive and precocious.
"However... | can sacrifice my personal feelings for the sake of you, Dad. | can try to be more tolerant and accept them a little bit.
But if they continue to mock me and my mom, dad... | don't know what I will do." The meaning in her words is very clear. It also carries a hint of naked threat.
These adults completely disregarded Darius.
But she and Isabelle have been enduring the rudeness of these people all along, out of respect for Darius.
"Hehe, you really are a child with a big mouth," June sneered, treating Bethany's words as childish babble.
But as soon as she spoke, she received a scolding from the old Mrs. Foster, "Shut up!" Old Mrs. Foster never expected that a five-year-old girl would speak such words.
How should Darius feel when he hears this? Are they really better off as a group of adults than as a single child? As he spoke, he glanced apologetically at Isabelle. Without a word, Isabelle stood up and led Bethany to the piano. "You can do this," she said encouragingly.
Bethany sat down at the piano with perfect posture. It was just a piano after all, why make such a fuss over it? She placed her small hands on the black and white keys in front of her, without any sheet music in sight. Beautiful music flowed effortlessly from her fingertips.
After hearing Bethany's performance, June's expression changed suddenly. "You're playing..."