Chapter 38 Your Explanation Is too Perfunctory.

Maybe because Isabella's analysis hit home, or maybe he just got her situation, Nathan stayed quiet for a long time.

After their dance, Isabella told him, "Stop doing dumb stuff and start living right. It'll make things easier for you and make me happy too."

Juniper, holding a glass of wine, came over to Nathan and said, "Still not giving up? They just get what they need from each other. You still have a shot."

Nathan glanced at Juniper's perfect makeup for a few seconds before sneering.

Isabella sat next to George. He didn't say anything, but she felt the need to explain.

"It's not what you think."

George turned slightly and asked, "What do I think?"

"I know you don't care, but since we're married, I should explain my relationship with Nathan. We were never exes."

"Then what are you?" he asked.

Isabella paused. 'What are we? Friends? Siblings? Something else?' she thought.

"Nathan is my good friend's brother. We've known each other since we were kids. If we have to define it, maybe family," she explained.

George raised an eyebrow. 'Family?'

Someone came over to chat with George, and Isabella sipped her wine.

'I don't know if George believes me, but I want a clear conscience,' Isabella thought as she headed to the restroom.

When she came out, she saw Juniper fixing her makeup. Isabella tried to avoid her, but Juniper called out, "Ms. Neville, aren't you curious why I came with Nathan?"

"Not interested," Isabella replied coldly.

"Don't you think you're pathetic? Marrying a vegetable for money, staying with a man who doesn't love you for money," Juniper's words stung.

'Why does everyone think they can lecture me? Patricia, John, Thalia, and now Juniper, who barely knows me,' Isabella thought.

"Whether I'm pathetic or not, what's it to you?" Isabella said.

Juniper wasn't mad. She crossed her arms and stepped closer. "Just a reminder, true love is rare. Since Nathan likes you, why stay with George? All he offers is money. If you need money, I can give it to you."

"I think you're not reminding me out of kindness. You're just jealousy," Isabella said coldly. "You and Nathan are both nuts."

Juniper knew Isabella was insulting her but didn't get it. "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? You can't be George's wife, so you're miserable. That's why you try to wreck our families. If you're lonely, find a man, not someone else's."

Juniper's face turned white, then red. "You..."

Isabella walked away and almost bumped into someone as she left the restroom.

She quickly apologized, and the man didn't respond for a while.

Isabella looked up. "George?"

"Why did you take so long?" he asked, concerned.

"Nothing much..." Isabella replied.

Just then, Juniper came out of the restroom, looking a bit disheveled and teary-eyed, which made Isabella feel nauseous.

"George, I'm not feeling well. Can you take me home?" Juniper said, leaning towards him.

He skillfully dodged, holding Isabella's hand. "We weren't planning to leave yet. Call your assistant."

"Assistant, he's not..." Before Juniper could finish, George and Isabella had already turned their backs on her.

'I underestimated Isabella. With such poise, how could she be a bumpkin? Her silent allure could easily spark a war between men. This woman is harder to deal with than I think,' Juniper thought.

Isabella thought George's words to Juniper meant he really wanted to stay longer, but to her surprise, after saying goodbye to Trevor, he was ready to go home.

"If we're leaving, why not give Juniper a ride?" Isabella asked.

George, sitting in the back seat, gently rubbed his forehead. "If you feel charitable, I can call her right now."

"It was clearly your idea," she said.

"No, it wasn’t," George slowly lay down, resting his head on Isabella's lap, his eyes half-closed. "The one I'm really thinking about is that guy named Nathan."

"I already explained."

"Your explanation was too perfunctory."

Isabella was indignant. 'I explained seriously, how was it perfunctory?' she thought. "Then what would satisfy you?"

"For example, when did you first feel moved?" He slightly lifted his eyelids, looking at Isabella.

'Moved? I don't deny that I once felt moved. It was probably the first time I saw Nathan. I was just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl then, curious and attracted to him, which is normal. Could that feeling be considered being moved?' she thought.

"That should be called a flutter, not being moved," she explained.

"Flutter?" George laughed. 'The word is well-chosen.'

"What about now?" he asked.

"I'm already married. Feeling moved again would be crazy, right?"

'You asking this question is also crazy.'

George was satisfied with this answer and slowly closed his eyes. "I'll take a nap. Wake me when we arrive."

'If you want to sleep, why rest on my lap?' she thought.

Isabella said nothing, propped her arm on the car window, and also took a nap.

The next day at school, Elodie leaned on Isabella's desk, gossiping about what happened at Trevor's birthday party.

"Then Nathan must be very sad?"

Isabella just shook her head. "It was bound to happen."

Elodie almost gave up too. 'Not to mention whether Nathan could still win over Isabella, even if he could, the best time has probably passed. Besides, Isabella is now in love with George.'

"Let's talk about our painting. Owen said we should just color over the part Sierra ruined, no need to redo the whole thing. Sierra just came to school to withdraw, and she looks completely defeated," Elodie said.

Isabella just responded with an "oh."