Can't Win Me Back (Isabella and Nathan)

Isabella looked at him innocently, her expression one of pure confusion.

But Nathan was furious as he stepped up to her, grabbing her roughly. His grip on her wrist was so tight that it sent a sharp pain through her body.

"Isabella, did you deliberately set up Victoria? Did you make her the target of ridicule at the banquet, forcing her to drink on my behalf? Do you have any idea how much she suffered today because of the alcohol?"

His eyes were bloodshot, filled with fury as he roared at her like a wild beast.

"Nathan, what are you doing? I don't understand," Isabella attempted to break free of his grasp, her voice feigning confusion.

Though she claimed not to understand, in truth, her mind was as clear as ever. She had known all along that Theodore had made Victoria drink those two glasses. Given Victoria's frail health, especially with her one kidney, it was impossible for her body to handle the alcohol.

In a strange way, Isabella felt a sense of satisfaction. After all, Victoria was only enduring the same pain that Isabella herself had suffered before.

Nathan, seeing her feigned confusion, the innocence in her wide eyes, and the stark contrast between this simple, plain appearance and the glamorous, fashionable woman at the banquet, felt a sinking realization.

He let go of her wrist, slumping into the couch in frustration.

He couldn't understand. What was Isabella's status? How could she have possibly orchestrated the people at the banquet to target and retaliate against Victoria like that? And with her intelligence, she couldn't have planned such a complex scheme, one that had caught him off guard so completely.

He had acted impulsively, and now he felt like he was lost in his thoughts.

Finally, he slumped in defeat on the couch and said, "Your Sis drank too much and her kidney disease has relapsed. She's in the hospital."

Isabella blinked innocently, her voice dripping with schadenfreude. "It's karma."

Nathan's anger flared up. "You..."

Isabella leaned back nonchalantly, "Who told you to go back on your word and have her replace me at the banquet? If that hadn't happened, then I would have been the one drinking and suffering." Nathan's face froze as he struggled with the awkwardness of the situation.

Just then, the phone rang from the hospital.

Nathan immediately picked it up, eager to hear the news. He couldn't hear the other side of the conversation, but he saw how his gaze turned calculating as he kept his eyes fixed on Isabella. Isabella sensed something was off and started to make a move to escape.

But Nathan, quick on his feet, caught up with her, grabbing her hand tightly. "Isabella, your Sis's life is at risk. You need to give her blood. We're going to the hospital now."

Isabella nearly collapsed under the weight of his words, her legs giving way. Desperation flooded her eyes. "Nathan, you want me to donate blood? Have you even asked if I'm willing?" Nathan stood frozen, taken aback. He had assumed that someone as kind-hearted as Isabella would be willing to help her Sis.

"She's your Sis. Shouldn't you save her?" he demanded, his voice almost pleading.

Isabella's face twisted in fury as she clenched her fists, shouting back at him. "I'm not willing!"

At first, Nathan's expression was stiff, and then anger overtook him. He grabbed her wrist with a tight grip, his tone harsh and authoritative. "She's your Sis! If you don't save her, who else will?" Isabella sneered. "She already took my kidney-why should she take my blood too?"

"Isabella, your Sis is very important to me. I can't let her die," Nathan's eyes darkened, a shadow of pain flickering across them.

"Then give her your own blood," Isabella shouted frantically. "Whether she lives or dies doesn't matter to me. Why should I save her with my blood?"

Nathan stood frozen, staring at her in disbelief. "Isabella, how can you be so cold-hearted? You weren't like this before."

"What was I like before?" Isabella met his eyes with a sharp glare.

She genuinely wanted to know-did he remember how she had been?

Nathan paused, his expression softening slightly as he reminisced. "You used to be so selfless. You always did what I asked, whether it was donating your kidney to Victoria, making porridge for me, waiting up for me no matter how late, being polite to both me and your Sis..." "What do I get out of this?" she sneered in response.

"Your identity as Mrs. Hill," Nathan said, as if granting her a great favor.

Isabella smiled mockingly. "Mrs. Hill? Can I eat it? Can I drink it?"

Nathan was taken aback. It seemed he had finally realized that the title of Mrs. Hill hadn't brought Isabella any benefits.

He also realized that the once innocent and naive Isabella was starting to see things with a businesswoman's perspective. She was beginning to care about this unfair trade.

"Once you save your Sis, whatever you want, I will give it to you," he said without thinking.

"I want a divorce. Is that okay?" Isabella's words were like a sharp blade.

Nathan froze, unable to believe what he had just heard.

He studied her eyes carefully, making sure she wasn't joking. And when he was certain she wasn't, an inexplicable anger began to rise in him.

"Don't say things in anger. Anything but that, I will give you," he gritted his teeth, trying to keep his temper in check.

But Isabella was stubborn. "I only want a divorce. If not, we have nothing more to talk about. You can find someone else to save your precious woman."

Nathan stood there, staring at her. The way she raised her delicate brows with such pride-something he had never seen in her before-made him feel a sense of anger, frustration, and confusion.

His grip on her wrist tightened in agitation. He gritted his teeth and growled, "Isabella, who do you think you are? This marriage is not for you to decide."

Without giving her a chance to respond, he dragged her down to the basement and forcibly shoved her into the luxury car.

"Whether you like it or not, you will go to the hospital and donate blood for your Sis. Isabella, this is the purpose of your existence. You should understand your place."

Isabella was forcefully taken to the hospital by Nathan, her mind swirling with despair. In his eyes, was she truly so worthless?

His words struck her like a hammer, draining her of all strength. She felt like a puppet, powerless as he dragged her into the blood transfusion room.

"Doctor, test her blood immediately. She is Victoria's biological Sis, and their blood types match. Just take her blood and give it to Victoria," Nathan said with an air of authority.

The doctor, startled by Nathan's command, hesitated for a moment, but Nathan immediately rolled up Isabella's sleeve, revealing her pale arm, and stretched it out onto the transfusion table.

The doctor looked at Isabella, unsure and feeling guilty. The sorrow in her eyes made him feel as if what was happening was a crime.

Nathan shouted angrily, "What are you waiting for? Victoria is waiting for her blood to save her!"

The doctor, as if compelled by something he couldn't control, inserted the needle into Isabella's vein.

Isabella closed her eyes as the sharp pain of the needle pierced her skin. The pain spread through her body, and her heart felt as though it were being crushed.

"Nathan... I hate you."

She spoke the words softly, almost as if they were an afterthought, but the venom in them was unmistakable.

Nathan's face remained cold and expressionless as he looked at her. When he saw the hatred in her eyes, his body involuntarily trembled.

"Bella, I will be good to you from now on," he said.

If this were in the past, hearing him say these words, even though she knew he was lying, would have made Isabella feel somewhat comforted. But now, it felt hollow. No matter how much he spoke, no matter how grand his promises, she couldn't be moved. She only felt disgusted, repulsed by him.

After the blood was drawn, the doctor handed over a cotton swab to press on the needle's injection site.

Nathan, trying to act kind, offered to help her press the cotton in place, but Isabella suddenly pushed his hand away with all her strength, letting the blood flow freely as she stood up without even looking at him and walked away. Nathan stood frozen in place.

His face darkened as he followed her. "Bella, I know you're angry, but saving a life is more important. You understand, don't you?"