Chapter 8: Does She Have a Good Heart?

"Get up," Isabella snapped, her voice cold and tinged with impatience and a hint of menace.

She knew exactly what Bianca was trying to do.

Bianca's plan was simple. Pretend to fall, wait for Gabriel to rush in, then mumble something incoherent to make it seem like Isabella made her trip purpose.

Gabriel would then scold Isabella, and when Olivia returned, she'd hear about it and accuse Isabella of being manipulative.

It was a trick Bianca had played countless times in their past lives.

Startled, Bianca quickly got up from Isabella's arms, straightening her disheveled clothes and hair.

"What happened?" Gabriel asked, looking at Bianca. "Did Isabella bully you again?"

Bianca bit her lip, unsure of what to say. She had expected to fall, but Isabella had reacted too quickly.

"Bianca almost fell just now," Isabella said calmly, her gaze fixed on Bianca. Her tone was as somber as autumn breeze. "Isn't that right?"

For some reason, Bianca felt a chill run down her spine at Isabella's words. She bit her lip and nodded. "Yes, Gabriel, I almost fell, but Isabella caught me."

Gabriel frowned in disbelief. "She would do that?"

Isabella smiled and stood up. "Why not? Just because you can be nice to Bianca doesn't mean I can't. Don't forget, Bianca is my sister too."

Gabriel glared at Isabella. "Be nicer to Bianca from now on! I might take care of you for her sake."

"Of course!" Isabella glanced at Bianca. "Bianca, be more careful next time. If you fall and ruin your face or break a leg, it won't be good."

Bianca clenched her fists, forcing a smile. "Thank you for your concern, Isabella. I'll be careful."

Gabriel noticed the scattered makeup and clothes on the floor and knelt to pick them up. "Bianca, some of these things are outdated. I'll take you shopping today to get some new ones."

Bianca's mood brightened, and she smiled sweetly. "Okay, thank you, Gabriel."

She then added, "Gabriel, let's bring Isabella along too."

Gabriel immediately frowned, annoyed. "Why bring her? Isn't it better with just the two of us?"

"Gabriel, she's your sister too," Bianca pouted, trying to be persuasive. "She's never been to the mall with us since she came back."

Gabriel shot Isabella a glare. "Fine, for Bianca's sake, I'll let you come along."

Isabella looked at him, not protesting, and simply nodded.

In their past life, she had gone to the mall with them on this day too.

Unfortunately, while getting coffee for Gabriel and Bianca, the mall elevator malfunctioned, trapping her and another girl inside.

That girl was Sophia.

Sophia, who had a congenital heart condition, panicked and had trouble breathing. Isabella had done her best to comfort her.

They were trapped for over forty minutes.

After that, they became close friends, bonded by the experience.

Later, when Isabella attended Stellar High School, she met Sophia again, and they became good friends.

This time, Isabella could avoid the elevator malfunction, but Sophia wouldn't know about it.

And right now, Sophia didn't even know her. Isabella didn't have her contact information.

Last night, Sophia's brother William had called her. Though he was silent before hanging up, his number was still on her phone.

She could try to contact William and ask him to warn Sophia about the elevator...

But she knew William would think she was crazy and curse her out.

Isabella couldn't just ignore this.

What if Sophia got trapped again and there was no one to help her this time?

As the car drove, Isabella took the front passenger seat, leaving the back for the inseparable Gabriel and Bianca.

Gabriel noticed Isabella didn't argue for the back seat and scoffed. "At least you know your place."

Isabella smirked and said nothing.

The car started.

She watched the scenery flash by, already planning her next move.

She'd wait by the elevator on Sophia's floor, spill coffee on her by "accident," and apologize profusely. Anything to keep Sophia off that elevator.

Soon, they arrived at the mall's underground parking lot.

"I have an appointment. You two go ahead," Isabella said as she got out of the car without looking back.

Gabriel was stunned.

He stood there, staring at Isabella's indifferent back, frowning.

She had a perfect chance to spend time with him, and she just left?

Who could she possibly have an appointment with? She had just arrived in Emerald City.

Gabriel felt inexplicably uneasy.

Standing in front of elevator 6, Isabella frowned at the "Elevator Under Maintenance" sign.

This elevator was out of service?

The incident she worried about wouldn't happen.

But in their past life, it hadn't been like this.

Isabella assumed someone had done early maintenance. She lingered by the elevator for a while before entering elevator 5.

The elevator was empty.

This mall, Century Mall, was owned by the Brown Group. This section, Building C, was newly developed and had no tenants yet. The elevator she was using was at the South Gate, which was usually closed, so she hadn't seen anyone else.

Last time, she had ended up here by accident while getting coffee.

The elevator display showed "-2."

Isabella stepped out, and suddenly, the door of elevator 4 opened.

Two masked men emerged, one on each side of a half-conscious girl.

Isabella's eyes widened.

"Sophia?"

The men froze, not expecting anyone to be there.

One of them, eyes filled with malice, raised an iron bar and swung it at Isabella's head. "Since you saw us, don't blame me!"