Chapter 9: Marry Me

Isabella sidestepped just in time.

With her extensive combat experience, she quickly delivered a sidekick, sending the attacker sprawling to the ground.

Her movements were swift and ruthless.

Seeing this, the other man hastily put Sophia down and gave Isabella a punch.

Isabella dodged, grabbed his arm, and executed a perfect throw.

The man screamed in pain and, as he struggled to get up, Isabella pushed him back, her strength matching his, and slammed him into a metal trash can with a loud clang.

The two men fled when they realized that they were no match for Isabella.

Isabella pulled out her phone and called the police. Then she knelt beside Sophia and gently tapped her face. "Sophia, Sophia?"

Maybe it was the sound of her name, but Sophia slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Isabella.

"How are you feeling? Are you hurt anywhere?" Isabella asked urgently.

"Drugs..." Sophia's face was pale, her eyes glazed over, and her forehead was covered in cold sweat.

She struggled to speak, "They... injected me with something."

Isabella had no idea what kind of drug had been used. If it was a virus, that could be very dangerous.

"I'll take you to the hospital!"

——

Evergreen Hospital.

Isabella tried to calm her nerves and stole a glance at William, who was sitting across from her.

William was dressed in a sleek black suit, his shirt buttoned meticulously up to his neck. His cold, handsome face exuded an air of authority and indifference.

Sensing her gaze, William looked up at her.

William's eyes were as dark and dangerous as a bottomless pit.

In an instant, Isabella felt like prey being watched by a predator, making her very uncomfortable.

She couldn't seem to meet his gaze, right then. "Um... Mr. Brown, since Sophia is okay now, do you mind if I leave?"

William was terrifying.

Even though she had met him a few times in her past life, she still found it hard to get used to him.

William stared at her silently, not saying a word.

Isabella stared back at him blankly.

David Jones, standing nearby, spoke up. "Ms. Taylor, please wait a little longer. If the investigation shows you had nothing to do with the kidnapping, we'll let you go."

This incident involving Sophia was a case of premeditated kidnapping.

Thanks to Isabella calling the police, the two suspects had already been arrested.

It appeared that Robert Davis, the owner of Prime Real Estate, had orchestrated the kidnapping. Prime Real Estate had gone bankrupt after losing a bet against the Brown Group, and Robert had taken his anger out on William's sister, Sophia, hoping to regain what he had lost from William.

A bodyguard in black soon walked through the hospital room door and handed William a tablet.

It held the surveillance footage from the scene.

The footage clearly showed everything that had happened.

William raised an eyebrow slightly when he saw Isabella kick the tall man away. "Ms. Taylor's skills..."

He paused, then added, "Impressive."

"Well..." Isabella rubbed her nose. "It's nothing, really. I just practiced some kickboxing for a while."

William nodded slightly and handed the tablet back to David.

"Ms. Taylor, I can confirm now that you had nothing to do with the incident."

Isabella let out a sigh of relief.

She stood up. "So, can I go now?"

William stared directly at her, his brows furrowing slightly. "In such a hurry?"

Isabella: "?"

In a hurry?

Was she?

Even though she really wanted to leave this cold, intimidating place, she hadn't shown it, had she?

Isabella nervously sat back down. "Is there something else you need from me?"

William continued to look at her, his sharp gaze seemingly piercing through her.

Isabella felt the temperature around her drop suddenly.

But... she hadn't said anything wrong, had she? Why did William's expression turn so terrifying?

"You saved Sophia's life. I should thank you," William said, his voice cold.

Anyone who didn't know the situation might think William was threatening her.

Only Isabella knew that this was just his personality. Every time she had seen him in her past life, he had the same icy expression.

"Mr. Brown, there's no need to thank me. I couldn't just stand by when I saw what was happening."

Isabella thought her response was perfect, but William's face darkened even more.

Isabella: "?"

Did she say something wrong again?

William's gaze was intense. "Marry me."

Isabella: "???"

Her eyes widened like never before.

What did William just say?

Marry... marry him?

It felt like she was hearing things.

Even David was stunned, frozen in place. "..."

Had William lost his mind? What was he even saying?

"Um, Mr. Brown... uh... I..." Isabella was at a loss. "I must have misheard. Did you just say..."

"I said, marry me."

Isabella: "..."

William actually wanted her to marry him?

Isabella jumped up as if electrocuted. "But we just met?"

Even though, in her past life, on the night she died, William had said something about marrying her over the phone, this time it seemed even more casual.

What was he thinking?

They had just met, and he was asking her to marry him? Was this appropriate?

"Well?" William asked. "Do you agree?"

No, I don't!

Isabella screamed internally.

But she only dared to scream internally.

After a moment's thought, she said, "Mr. Brown, you are very impressive."

William's lips tightened, his face darkening. "So, are you about to reject me?"

Isabella: How did he know?

She couldn't say that out loud.

Rejecting William... could she really risk angering him? What if he held a grudge and forgot all about her saving Sophia?

Isabella was at her wit's end when a sudden idea struck her. She looked up, her eyes bright as she gazed at William.

"Not at all, Mr. Brown. What I meant to say is, you're the ideal husband!"

William tilted his head slightly. "What?"

"Mr. Brown, to be honest, the moment I saw you, I was struck by how extraordinary you are. My heart couldn't stop racing. I knew it was love at first sight, and in that moment, I even thought of our future children's names..."

"So when you asked me to marry you, I couldn't believe such a lucky thing could happen to me!"

"Mr. Brown, I would love to marry you, but I suddenly realized that I'm underage and legally unable to get married right now, so unfortunately, I can't marry you at this moment..."

"No problem. I'll wait three years," William said. "Three years from now, we'll get married."

Isabella was stunned.

She looked at William's handsome face and saw a hint of what seemed like tenderness in his usually cold eyes?

What.

She must be seeing things.

Isabella rubbed her eyes and forced a smile. "Alright! Three years it is. Three years from now, we'll get married."

"I can't wait for that day!" she added, pretending to be enthusiastic.

Three years from now, who knows what will happen? She doubted William would remember this.

Even if he did, she could find another way to refuse.

"Mr. Brown, since we've settled this, can I leave now?"

Sophia hadn't fully woken up yet, but the doctor said she was fine, so Isabella wasn't too worried.

William nodded slightly. "You may."

Isabella quickly left the room.

William watched her retreating figure for a long time, and once she was out of sight, his eyes softened with undisguised tenderness and affection.

"Little liar."