Chapter 153

Isabella dozed lightly in the car, her rest fitful at best. Blinking awake, she noticed Julian withdrawing his hand but didn't comment. "Are we there yet?" she asked instead.

"Almost."

Two minutes later, the car stopped outside the hospital. Julian stepped out with Lily in his arms. "Need someone to drive you back?" he offered.

She shook her head. "I'm fine. I can manage."

Julian didn't press further.

As Isabella neared home, her phone buzzed with a text from Alexander. "Grandmother wants us three to visit the Sinclair residence together after she sees your grandmother," it read.

A response was necessary.

She called him immediately.

He answered on the first ring. "Yes?"

"I'll pick up Sophia now," Isabella said.

She assumed Alexander wouldn't actually want to accompany her to the Sinclair residence. He'd been dodging these visits with increasingly creative excuses lately.

Besides, her family wasn't exactly eager to see him either.

There was a brief pause before Alexander replied, "Alright."

Hanging up, Isabella drove to his villa.

Sophia stood waiting outside with a tiny backpack when she arrived.

The moment Sophia spotted Isabella, she clung to Alexander's side, avoiding eye contact.

Isabella assumed the girl was still sulking about being left behind during last week's ski trip.

Alexander studied Isabella's face. "Didn't sleep well last night?"

The question caught her off guard.

She must look terrible - no makeup, hair slightly disheveled, exhaustion written across her features.

"Mm," she hummed noncommittally, seeing no need to elaborate.

Richard interjected, "Trouble sleeping? We have excellent incense. I'll place some in your room later."

Isabella shook her head. "No need, Richard. I slept fine. Just wasn't used to camping last night."

Richard frowned. "Camping in winter? Hope you don't catch cold."

She smiled. "It was actually fun. Snowball fights, building snowmen, hide-and-seek by the bonfire."

Everyone else at the campsite had seemed to enjoy themselves immensely.

She'd envied them.

Alexander set aside his newspaper at this, his gaze lingering thoughtfully on her.

Sophia, meanwhile, grew visibly more upset.

Isabella hadn't even tried to make up with her after their last argument.

How could she go camping without her when it sounded so wonderful?

Dragging her backpack, Sophia jumped off the couch with a huff and bolted upstairs.

Isabella frowned, opening her mouth to speak.

But Alexander's voice cut through first. "Come back here, Sophia."

His tone held no anger.

Yet Sophia froze instantly.

Pursing her lips, she turned and stood stiffly.

Alexander gave her a look.

Seconds later, the girl trudged back downstairs, dragging her backpack.

But she didn't approach Isabella.

Instead, she went to Alexander and tugged his hand. "Will you come too, Daddy?" she asked sweetly.