Ch. 2141..2145

Chapter 2141

The security guards almost caught up to her.

Isabel did not have the time to turn around. She climbed up the stairs and went straight up to the third floor, which was empty. The third floor was for meetings and all the doors were closed at the moment.

Isabel panted heavily as she continued running forward. She was trying the doors and wanted to hide inside one of the meeting rooms.

Unfortunately, all the doors were locked.

The footsteps of the security guards came closer.

Would this be the end for her?

Exhausted, Isabel took a few steps forward to reach the next door.

She did not hold any hope left but she tried to reach for the doorknob nevertheless. However, before she could reach it, the door opened.

Isabel was shocked.

Ahand came out from inside, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into the room.

When the security guards arrived, the door was locked tight.

Everything returned to peace.

Isabel stared at the man before her behind the door. She was pressed against the door by the man. Afraid that she would scream or make any noise, the man covered her mouth tightly. All she could do was look at him in shock.

When the security guards left, she started to struggle and muttered in a muffled voice, "Mhmm! Mhmm! Roland? Why are you here?"

Roland stared at her with furrowed brows. He looked frosty, somewhat fierce.

Isabel shuddered for a moment when she looked into his eyes, but she mustered up her courage and glared at him. "Mhmm! What are you looking at? Let go of me!"

Roland refused to release her mouth, so Isabel was forced to pry his hand away.

However, he seemed to not want to release her or let her speak. He clutched her face tightly and refused to let go. Isabel got anxious. He pinched his hand, forcing him to release her.

Just when she was about to gasp for air, his hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer to his face.

His handsome looks assaulted her vision.

Isabel's lips were sealed again by his forceful kiss.

The familiar yet strange feeling widened her eyes.

Aside from the shock, her heart pounded wildly.

What was he doing?

They had broken up a while ago.

Was he not afraid that she would annoy and cling to him?

Isabel was confused.

Awhile later, the pain on her lips forced her to recollect her thoughts.

She pushed him.

What a jerk! Not only did he kiss her, but he also bit her lips.

The stronger she pushed, the harder he bit.

He was trying to suck the air out of her body.

As the suffocation rose, Isabel got anxious and stepped on his foot.

He froze and forced to release her lips, but his hands were still around her waist. His gloomy eyes stared right into her surprised eyes.

"Isabel, why are you looking for him? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he asked.

Isabel's eyes fluttered, and her gaze turned evasive. The words she prepared to curse him were all stuck in her throat.

Chapter 2142

Was he angry? Why?

They had broken up!

Her eyes fluttered. She smiled and answered, "Yeah, I’m trying to get myself killed, but it has nothing to do with you. Why are you so riled up?"

Roland pursed his lips. His expression turned bitter.

If Isabel was not familiar with his temper, she would be terrified by his expression.

She gritted her teeth and said, "Roland, we've broken up a long time ago."

Roland pursed his lips tighter. If Isabel was correct, the man was biting his lip.

Isabel scoffed. "If we're no one to each other, please let me go. My life and death have nothing to do with you." She sounded frosty when she said that.

Her words were like an icy blade piercing Roland's heart. His expression remained bitter as he closed his eyes, trying to hold back his emotions.

The atmosphere went quiet for a few seconds.

Isabel poked the back of his hand. "Let go of me."

As soon as her words subsided, he pulled her closer again and kissed her once more.

Isabel's eyes widened. She pushed him.

What a jerk! Did he kiss her again?

She struggled for quite a while. When she was almost out of strength, he finally let her go.

He stared at her and said with a hoarse voice, "| never said | want to break up with you."

Isabel was confused. She pondered his words.

He did not speak of the word ‘break up’ to her when he proposed they stay separated for a while.

"You didn't say you wanted to ‘break up' with me but you ran back to Southboro without saying anything. When I called you, you clearly said you want to separate!"

She had a good memory and could remember every word he said.

Roland frowned. "| said we should stay separated for a while, it's not a breakup.”

"A breakup is a breakup! You even said if | can’t wait for you, you want me to forget about you. You said it because you're too cowardly to say the word ‘break up’.”

Roland frowned tighter. His expression looked complicated. "| never wanted to break up with you."

‘Then what do you mean? If you don’t want to break up with me, why did you go back to Southboro without saying anything?" os Poses

"|? What you, me, |, he? Let me go or I'll scream!" Isabel was annoyed and ran out of patience.

Roland narrowed his eyes. "Isabel, I..."

Isabel screamed, "Anyone-!"

Before she could attract any unwanted attention, Roland covered her mouth again.

He sighed and said, "| come to Southboro because | have something to do here. When I'm done, | can be with you openly."

Isabel's widened eyes looked shocked. "Mhmmm..."

Roland noticed Isabel was willing to talk and she had lowered her voice, so he let go of her mouth.

 

Chapter 2143

Isabel asked, "What is that you want to do in Southboro? Why must you finish whatever you want to do, only then you can be with me openly?"

A quick thought later, Isabel frowned and added, "Were we not together openly before?"

As far as she knew, they were quite open with their relationship.

"It's a long story. Let's get you out first,” Roland said. He held her hand and wanted to leave. Isabel did not move. She said coldly, "If you don't make things clear now, | won't leave with you."

She refused to follow him. If she followed him out and he brushed her off with some excuse again, she would not be able to do anything against him.

Roland sighed helplessly. "Isabel, only with your family’s approval can we be together openly."

Isabel thought of when Flint called her mentioning Roland's departure from the company. Flint told her that her father disagreed with them being together, so Roland left the company.

However, it was not a big deal to her.

Isabel said, "| can handle my dad. My mom, my brother, and Flint, they all respected my decision. If | want to be with you, they won't stop me."

"| know, but getting your family's approval is my duty as your boyfriend," Roland said with pursed lips.

Isabel was silenced as if a piece of cotton was stuck in her throat.

Roland also went silent momentarily before he said, "| have to prove my worth to your family, that's why | have to go back to Southboro to retake what's mine."

If he could not even retake what was his, then he was not worthy of being with her.

He sounded determined yet gentle.

Isabel's heart pounded but she was still irritated by his attitude.

She glared at him. "Then you should just tell me the truth. Why did you keep it from me?" He had no idea how terrible she felt when they broke up.

Roland's eyes narrowed. He hugged her into his arms and said, "I'm sorry, Isabel."

He hugged her tightly and explained, "My grandfather and Decker have full control of the company, it will take me more than a day to reclaim my rightful position. | don’t want you to see me in my worst state and | don't want you helping me with your family's power."

If he relied on her help, he would not have retaken the company back with his own ability and he could not prove himself to Odell.

Therefore, no matter how he saw it, he had to keep it a secret from Isabel. Isabel's heart clenched when she knew the truth.

She did not know that he left her because he wanted to prove himself to her family and was afraid that she would intervene using her family's power.

He wanted to reclaim the company with his own ability, so he returned to Southboro without saying anything and kept it a secret from her. He even had to turn his back on her when he ran into her the other time.

“Are you not afraid that I'll think that we're breaking up for real? What if | cut all ties with you and never look back?"

She hated looking into the past. If she had made up her mind to cut all ties with him, she would never come to Southboro nor see him again.

She would never care about his life anymore and would never use the Rockwells to test him.

The answer she got was a tighter grip around her waist.

He refused to let her go. He propped his chin on her head for a while before he said with a hoarse voice, "Of course, I’m afraid." Since he separated from her and came back to Southboro, he had never had a night of peaceful rest.

Especially when he saw her crying a river on the internet. He could not sleep for the entire night.

When he knew Clarice cut off all of Isabel's resources, he could not sleep as well. He used his subordinate's name and contacted Amanda as a jewelry fair organizer, hoping that Isabel would show up to the invitation.

He never thought she would agree to appear, but she did.

He asked his subordinate to find out which hotel she was staying at and purposely asked his client to meet him there to discuss the deal.

He did not expect to run into her in the lobby. Even though she was in disguise, he recognized her at first glance. As for the kick, he remembered it until now.

It was painful but it was heartwarming.

 

Chapter 2144

Chapter 2144 Isabel's heart clutched but she remained irritated.

She grunted and said, "What are you afraid of? If you're really afraid, why did you pretend that you didn't see me? Why did you run away?"

Roland frowned. "Isabel, |..."

"What you? If you don’t explain yourself, let me go."

Roland hugged her tightly. "Isabel, | miss you. If | don’t pretend that | didn’t see you, | would..." Isabel's eyes fluttered. She asked with a raised brow, "You would what?"

Roland moved closer to her and looked at her with bloodshot eyes. "I would hug you and kiss you." Isabel's heart pounded, and her face blushed. The irritation and annoyance in her heart were gone. She averted his gaze and said timidly, "I'm not that stupid. Don't expect me to forgive you after telling me all this.” Roland pursed his lips. "Isabel, you come to the Rockwells' company on purpose right?"

Isabel's eyes fluttered. She said, "Of course it's on purpose, | came here to see Decker."

"You come to see him because you want to make me jealous, am | right?"

He looked at her crystal clear eyes. They looked as sincere as usual but a mischievous glint flashed. It seemed like he already knew what she was thinking but he did not want to expose her.

Isabel's eyes fluttered again. She glared at him with annoyance and said, ‘Yeah. | did it on purpose. What are you going to do about it?"

Roland tightened his lips and curled it into a helpless smile. He stroked her cheek and said softly, "It was my fault. | shouldn't have left without saying anything. Can you forgive me?"

Isabel was stunned. The anger that got stuck in her throat swiftly dissipated.

However, if she simply forgave him, how would he compensate her crying at the restaurant and being put online as everyone’s after-meal joke?

Her expression changed. "What if | refused to?"

Roland went silent for a moment. 'Then you don't have to now."

Isabel's lips twitched. She did not answer him this time.

Roland smiled. "Come on, let's bring you out."

He held Isabel's hand and left the meeting room.

He was familiar with the floor plan of the building.

Isabel followed him to the first floor through the stairs and easily avoided the security guards. Through the fire escape, they exited the building.

The bright sunlight shone on their faces.

Suddenly, a thought rushed into Isabel's mind. "Carla! She’s still inside!"

Roland put a cap on her. He answered softly, "Don't worry. Go back to the car first. Shell be out in a moment." Isabel felt relaxed after hearing his assuring words.

He brought her to the car by the roadside and opened the door for her.

After she settled down, he went into the building again.

Isabel's eyes were glued to the entrance.

Roland's tall figure entered without any hindrance.

The security guard who was ordered by Decker to capture Isabel stepped down when they saw him. Isabel's eyes glinted.

Judging from the security guards’ reaction, Roland must have a certain authority in the company. She wondered what he had been through in the past two months.

After Roland entered the building, he brought his assistant to Decker's office.

The door was closed.

Roland glanced at his assistant.

The assistant went up to open the door.

Inside the office, Decker’s secretary and a security guard were holding Carla hostage; her mouth was taped.

Decker was behind his desk, toying with a mug with a gloomy look.

Chapter 2145

Chapter 2145 When Roland entered the office, Secretary Yamen and the security guard were shocked.

Even Decker was surprised by Roland's arrival, but he was able to squeeze a smile on his face. He asked, "Roland, at least knock before you come in."

Roland ignored him and turned his attention to Carla. He said, "Let her go."

He sounded cold and succinct. His deep voice naturally sounded dignified.

Decker squinted. He scoffed and said, "Roland, are you ordering me?"

Roland looked at him with the same expression. "You can choose to ignore me but Ms. Houston will be here in five minutes." Decker looked disheartened. His gaze became gloomy." Roland, you think that | don't dare to touch you?”

Roland ignored him and stared at him with his calm and clear eyes.

Even though Decker’s gloomy gaze was terrifying and if his gaze could kill, he would always be dead. He was unfazed. The room went silent for a moment.

Decker then said, "Release her."

The security guard released Carla.

Carla got up and ran behind Roland.

Roland glanced at his secretary and said, ‘Take her out."

"Yes sir."

The secretary immediately brought Carla out.

Just when Roland wanted to leave, Decker said coldly," Roland, have you taken Isabel out as well?”

Roland glanced at him. "I have nothing to say."

He then walked out of the office.

When the door closed, Decker swept the documents off the desk.

He bolted up and glared at the door grimly. With gritted teeth, he bellowed, "Just you wait!"

Back in the car, while Isabel was recalling what happened in the past two months, she saw Carla coming out with a young man.

Isabel saw the young man before. When she arrived at Coastrock and ran into Roland, the young man was beside him. He must be Roland's assistant.

The young man sent Carla to the car before returning to the building. Carla went into the car.

"Isabel, are you alright?" Carla looked at her, worried.

"I'm fine. How about you? Did they hurt you?" Isabel asked.

Carla was still shaking. She took a deep breath and said," They tied me up and wanted to use me as bait to bring you in. Fortunately..."

Isabel continued her sentence by saying, "Roland arrived?" Since Isabel no longer had scruples calling the name, Carla nodded and explained, "He told Decker to release me.

Decker refused at first but he said Ms. Houston will be here in five minutes. Only then Decker released me."

Isabel pursed her lips.

Decker must be eager to expel Roland from the company and he had to rely on the Houstons’ resources and power to do that, which was the reason why he could not afford to mess things up with Clarice.

If Clarice knew Decker abducted Carla just to force Isabel to come back to him, it would hurt their relationship. Roland was using Clarice to threaten Decker which was a wicked move indeed.

Isabel's lips curled. She asked, "What happened next?"

Carla added, ‘The assistant sent me out."

Isabel frowned. "He didn't say anything to you?"

"No."

Isabel grunted.

Not only did he not say goodbye himself, but he also did not even ask Carla to send her a message. Was he planning to ignore her like before?

Ding! Her phone buzzed all of a sudden. She pulled it out and saw a text from an unregistered number.

"I'm busy now. I'll go to your place at night."