Chapter 48: Birthday dinner
[London]
"Oh god.. My love. Why do you have to look this beautiful?" Dylan groaned and buried his face into her neck as he back hugged her.
Isabella flipped her hair proudly, but still a faint blush painted her cheeks, showing how his complements affect her.
"Stop exaggerating. We have to leave now." Isabella said but made no efforts to get out of his embrace.
She looked at their reflection in the mirror. She was wearing a light blue dress with full sleeves. The V-neck wasn't deep, so she was comfortable moving around without worrying. The skirt flared down beautifully, stopping two-inches below her knees.
She chose not to wear any jewellery except of the engagement ring. Her brownish golden hair gave her a soft yet elegant glow, making her look both mature and innocent.
"Do we have to leave now? I am getting hard looking at you.."
"Shut up your pervert." Isabella scolded and blushed . He always did this. No matter what she wore. She got that it was still their honeymoon phase going on, but can he be serious at least now.
Dylan chuckled and stopped teasing her. He wasn't lying, but still controlled himself. Then he looked at what he was wearing.
Simple white shirt and blue denim but he paired them with a baby pink blazer. This gave him a prince charming glow.
"I thought you would wear that maroon dress." Dylan said as he eyed the closet. He thought she would try to match his attire.
Isabella raised her brows. Was her husband upset? She smiled looking at his demanding face.
She turned around and wrapped her around Dylan's neck. "Thigh-high slit, off shoulder, backless - ordinary men don't deserve to see this princess in that dress." she said as she played with his hair.
Dylan raised his brows. "Then why did you buy it?" She wouldn't have bought it just admire herself in the mirror and put it away right?
"To seduce my husband... It's very easy to take it off." Isabella whispered in his ears. Her lips gently brushed his earlobes but she quickly retreated. Dylan sucked in a deep breathe.
Isabella was such a fast learner. She effortlessly used his flirting techniques back on him.
Dylan groaned again, making her laugh. "The cab in waiting. Let's go." She dragged him out. Anymore flirting and he would pounce on her.
They both settled in the cab and Dylan had the gift in his pocket. He hoped the dinner at the Barnetts would finish early and they could come back home without much melodrama there.
Soon the cab drove into high class communities. The villas were all systematically lined up with beautiful gardens.
Isabella bit her tongue remembering her pollen allergy. Just as she was thinking about her allergic reactions Dylan forwarded her medicine chip towards her. This made her smile at his thoughtfulness.
"Water" She said as she put a pill in her mouth. The car drove into the Barnett estate as she gulped down the water.
Dylan took a deep breathe as he saw the main door closed. He really didn't want to be among these people.
"It's fine. Stop thinking so much. We will greet, eat, gift and return. Okay?" Isabella cheered him up looking at his defeated expression.
She was curious to meet the Barnett family. The last time she saw was years ago, when they came to pick up Dylan from the orphanage. And she cried a lot that day.
Dylan paid for the cab and both of them walked towards the door. Isabella could already see their cold behavior looking at that closed door.
Dylan had to ring the door bell thrice before the butler opened the door and welcomed them in.
"Good evening young master. Everyone is waiting for you at the dining table." The butler informed and led the way. Isabella took a glance around before walking alongside Dylan.
Everyone in the Dining hall turned to look at Dylan and Isabella walk in.
Benjamin smirked, while Grace glared coldly. The man sitting at the head of the table artificially smiled, as if he couldn't wait for this dinner to get done.
"Happy birthday Mrs Barnett" Dylan greeted first.
"Many more happy returns of the day Mrs Barnett. It's nice to see you again." Isabella made her formal greeting.
Grace eyed her from head to toe but couldn't say anything as her anger clogged up her throat.
Dylan shrugged and pulled out a chair for Isabella. He noticed the dining table was new. He still don't know how he managed to break the previous one.
He himself sat between Benjamin and his wife.
"Long time no see sis-in-law. Hope my little brother is treating you well." Benjamin chirped excitedly.
"He does. Thanks" Isabella politely replied.
"Good. You can always come to me if you are not satisfied with anything" Benjamin winked and leaned back in his chair. Dylan gave him a side eye. Isabella just stayed silent without replying. That guy seemed drunk to her.
"What's you name?" Grace finally opened her mouth. Her no nonsense tone was icy cold. She thought that should intimidate Isabella a bit but it didn't work.
Instead, Isabella smiled and replied. "Isabella Dylan Jordan"
Dylan smiled hearing this. He liked his name attached attached to hers. Grace clenched her fists under the table.
Isabella's smile looked fearless. It wasn't provocative, but sincere. A sincerity which she neither had, or got in her life.
"How hold are you?" Grace asked, her boring into Isabella's.
"I turned 18 a couple of months ago." Isabella replied patiently as Dylan filled her glass with water. Few maids standing there started serving the food.
As they served Isabella, they couldn't help but sneak a few glances at her. Her presence was very magnetic. And not to mention her beauty. It held the power to both intimidate and assure.
"Thanks" Isabella said softly after a maid served her plate.
"Aren't you quite young for marriage?" Grace pressed. This was her birthday dinner, but she doubted she could swallow even a morsel of grain because of what her adopted son did.
"I am at a legal age to get married Mrs Barnett."
Isabella's answers were crisp and clear. She didn't feel pressurized under Mrs Barnett's cold glares. She actually felt quite funny and childish at how Mrs Barnett was stressing herself out on her birthday.
When she clearly didn't like her, then what was the need to invite them here and torture herself?
"And my dear son. May I know what's so special in this young lady here that you married her in such a hurry?" now it was Dylan's turn to answer.
"We love each other. And there was no hurry. We had enough time to plan."
Yes. They had enough time. Time to invite whoever they wanted to invite. This indirect statement made the woman even more angry.
Everyone got startled when Grace finally banged her fist on the table. So her patience finally ended. Isabella expected better.
"AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF TAKING MY PERMISSION BEFORE MARRYING THIS SLUT .. cough cough"
Dylan was about to lash out hearing Grace insult his wife but then Grace suddenly held her throat and started coughing, as if trying to remove something stuck in her throat.
Everyone looked taken aback. None in the room panicked actually, as no one cared about Grace. A maid brought a glass of water but Grace wasn't able to gulp it down. Isabella started feeling bad for the birthday aunty now.
'One more insult to my daughter and heads will roll down'
Dylan gulped hearing Lawrence's dangerously calm voice. He hadn't heard from him for the past few days. Aliza told him that his father-in-law was out of town. Seems like he was back in town. What a perfect timing.
Grace stopped coughing after a while. Her entire face was red due to lack of oxygen. She tried saying something but her voice felt like pig's oink. No one understood what she said. Everyone thought that since she was eating and then screamed, something must have got struck in her throat.
"Eat baby" Dylan reminded Isabella to eat. He patiently cut the mushrooms on her plate into smaller pieces for her before eating his own food.
The dinner went lot more peacefully after Grace stopped speaking. But she was now glaring daggers at Dylan and Isabella. Her glare would have set the table on fire.