Refuse the billionaire

Chapter 3

Murad Assad stepped into the villa, and an eerie silence filled the air.

He frowned and looked around. The sofa where Isabella usually sat was empty. The scent of her favorite perfume had vanished without a trace, replaced by an inexplicable coldness.

“Where’s Isabella?” His deep voice echoed through the empty hall, tinged with impatience.

The butler, Judy, hesitated, carefully replying, “Sir, Miss Moriarty...she’s left.”

Murad raised an eyebrow, a sneer tugging at his lips. “Throwing a tantrum again?” he muttered to himself, as if it were routine by now.

He pulled out his phone and opened the chat with Isabella, only to find the breakup message she had sent.

Murad chuckled in disbelief. Breakup? Could she really bear to?

“It’s just a little game,” he said confidently. “She’s always like this. She’ll come back in a few days.”

Judy’s eyes flickered with a complicated emotion, seemingly displeased with her master’s attitude, but she remained silent.

Murad walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of whiskey. The amber liquid sparkled enticingly under the light, and he took a sip, savoring the warmth of the alcohol.

He gazed out at the night sky, Isabella’s beautiful face flashing in his mind. “I’ll give her a week to cool down,” he murmured. “By the time I return from F-country, everything will be back to normal.”

With that, he picked up his phone and began arranging his trip to F-country.

Meanwhile, at the H-city airport, Isabella Moriarty had just returned to her small villa in H-city after spending the night there. The two-story house held cherished memories from her childhood.

As she was about to open the door, the neighboring house’s door swung open, and a figure rushed out in the opposite direction. His footsteps were hurried.

Isabella looked up and saw that it was her long-lost friend, Lilo Castillo. Dressed in a sharp suit, Lilo’s eyes held concern and a hint of surprise.

“Lilo?” Isabella forced a smile. “It’s been so long.”

Lilo walked over and took her luggage, his voice filled with concern. “Isabella? Are you alright? You look exhausted.”

Shaking her head, Isabella’s eyes clouded with pain. “It’s a long story... What about you? Why are you here?”

Lilo sighed, sadness washing over his face. “I’m here to sort through Lilian’s belongings.”

Isabella froze, then remembered that Lilian was Lilo’s ex-girlfriend. “Lilian? What happened to her?”

“She... she passed away. The war in Y-country... she was hit by a stray bullet,” Lilo’s voice was hoarse. “She left behind a child. I have to adopt the child, but... I need your help.”

Isabella looked at Lilo, shocked and unsure how to respond.

Lilo took a deep breath and, summoning his courage, said, “Isabella, I know this is sudden and outrageous, but... could you marry me? Just for show. That’s the only way I can adopt Lilian’s child under the current policies.”

Isabella was stunned. She stared at Lilo’s pleading, pain-filled eyes, feeling a pang of sorrow.

She thought about the betrayal she had just endured and the efforts of this old friend standing before her for the sake of an innocent child.

“Lilo, do you know what you’re asking?” Isabella’s voice trembled. “This isn’t a game.”

Lilo held her hand, his eyes filled with desperation. “I know this is too much, but I have no other choice. That child... he’s Lilian’s child.”

Isabella fell into deep thought.

She recalled Murad’s cold indifference, the love that had been taken for granted. A wild idea flashed through her mind.

“If... if I agree,” Isabella began slowly, “can you promise this will only be temporary?”

Lilo nodded, gratitude flickering in his eyes. “I promise, Isabella. It’s just for the adoption process. Once it’s over, we can...”

“Alright,” Isabella interrupted, her voice firm. “I’ll do it.”

Lilo was taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to agree so quickly.

“You... you’re sure?”

Isabella took a deep breath, a look of resolve crossing her face. “I’m sure. Maybe... maybe this is a new beginning for me as well.”

And so, on a quiet morning in H-city, Isabella and Lilo stood in front of the civil registry office. The soft sunlight bathed them, as if blessing this unexpected marriage.

When the official handed over the marriage certificate, Isabella’s hands trembled slightly. She stared at the photo, feeling as though the woman with the strained smile was no longer herself.

“For the child,” she silently told herself, “and for a fresh start.”

Lilo took the marriage certificate, thanked Isabella, and hurried off to the airport. Time was pressing, and every moment of delay meant more danger for the child.

Watching Lilo’s hurried figure disappear, Isabella prayed quietly.

“I hope Lilo and the child return safely.”

She didn’t realize that as she spoke those words, a circle of white light seemed to surround her, as if something magical were happening.

---

A week passed quickly, and Murad returned from F-country. His car was already waiting at the airport.

After getting into the car, he glanced at the time. It was dinner time.

He turned to his assistant, Anse, and said, “Anse, contact Isabella and arrange dinner at the Starlight Restaurant.”

Anse obediently responded, “Yes, sir.”

He dialed the number but was met with the message: “The number you are calling is currently switched off.”

Anse hesitated and then cautiously informed him, “Sir, Miss Moriarty’s phone seems to be switched off.”

Murad’s expression darkened instantly. In his long fingers was a delicate jewelry box, inside which lay a diamond necklace shaped like the sun, glittering brightly.

The moment he saw it at the auction in F-country, he thought of Isabella.

The engagement party had indeed been his mistake, and he needed to make amends.

Now, with Isabella not answering her phone, his mood soured.

He was busy; he didn’t have time to coax her.

Expressionless, he closed the jewelry box.

“Take me to the villa!”

When he opened the door to the villa, he was greeted only by an empty, cold atmosphere, as though Isabella’s presence had never existed.

“Judy!” Murad roared, his voice echoing through the empty hall.

The butler, Judy, hurried over. “Sir, you’re back.”

“Where is Isabella?” Murad asked through gritted teeth, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Judy lowered her head, her voice trembling. “Miss Moriarty has been gone for several days. She said she had urgent matters to attend to and left in a hurry.”

Murad felt a wave of dizziness, as if struck by a heavy blow. He stumbled to the sofa, his mind buzzing.

“Impossible... how could she dare...” he muttered, disbelief and fury lacing his voice.

At that moment, Anse hurried in. “Sir, I’ve tracked Miss Moriarty’s whereabouts. She’s in H-city.”

“Go bring her back!” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

---

Meanwhile, on the other side of H-city, Isabella Moriarty stood in the garden of her family’s old estate. The gentle sunlight glistened on her golden hair, casting a soft glow around her.

She knelt down, carefully planting a camellia into the soil, as if sowing seeds of hope.

“I hope you’ll find a home here and bloom into the most beautiful flower,” Isabella whispered, her gaze reflecting a mixture of hope and a barely noticeable sadness.

Just then, hurried footsteps broke the garden’s tranquility.

Isabella looked up and saw Anse standing at the entrance of the garden, his face filled with urgency.

“Miss Moriarty,” Anse said respectfully, “Mr. Assad sent me to bring you back. He’s very worried about you.”

Isabella stood up, brushing the dirt off her hands, her expression turning icy.

“Please tell Mr. Assad I won’t be coming back. Not ever.” Her voice was as firm as steel.

Anse was stunned. He hadn’t expected Isabella to reject him so bluntly.

“Miss Moriarty, you must understand. You and Mr. Assad are not equals. Him sending me to fetch you is already giving you face.”

“That’s enough,” Isabella cut him off coldly. “Anse, I know about your relationship with Rebecca. You think I don’t know the dirty things you’ve been doing behind the scenes?”

Anse’s face instantly turned pale, as if caught red-handed.

He hadn’t imagined Isabella would know about those shameful secrets.

Isabella continued, her voice as cold as ice. “Go back and tell Murad that I, Isabella Moriarty, am no one’s plaything. From now on, we are finished.”

Anse’s eyes grew frosty, filled with disdain.

“Isabella, you’re too proud. Do you really think Assad cares now? If he truly did, he wouldn’t have canceled the engagement party. So, stop pretending to be angry. Don’t push it too far.”