Under His Protection

Chapter Eight: Living Together

“Okay, wait for me to calculate for you.” The landlord took out his record book and flipped to Isabella’s page.

“Deposit is three thousand, which can be refunded to you. But the remaining rent for this month cannot be refunded. We agreed upon this when you rented the place. You should have informed me at least half a month in advance if you were planning to move out suddenly. It puts me in a difficult situation.”

Isabella pursed her lips, reluctantly nodded. Although it was the truth, she still felt a pang in her heart.

She even considered discussing with Vincent about staying until the end of the month before moving out.

Vincent had been discreetly observing Isabella. Seeing her pained and helpless expression, he couldn’t help but find it somewhat endearing.

As they stepped out from the landlord’s place, Isabella held onto the three thousand deposit, her mood not lifting.

Vincent spoke up, “How much more rent should she refund you?”

Isabella looked up at him, mentally calculated, then held up two fingers. “Two thousand.”

Vincent nodded, took out his wallet, counted two thousand in cash, and handed it to her.

Isabella didn’t take it, just looked at him with confusion.

“It was my suggestion for you to move out now, which led to you losing two thousand in rent. It’s only fair that I take responsibility,” Vincent said.

Isabella blinked. Although she found this reasoning a bit forced, she still accepted the two thousand in cash from him.

On the first day they officially met, Vincent had already mentioned responsibility twice to her.

Isabella sincerely praised, “Mr. Vincent, you’re truly a responsible person.”

Vincent: “…”

After packing up, Vincent called the driver to move the lighter luggage directly into the trunk.

For the remaining items, Vincent had already arranged for a moving company to handle. “It’s been a busy day. Let me take you back to rest for a bit. It’s almost dinner time too.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“But someone needs to watch over here,” Isabella said.

Vincent glanced at the driver, then said to her, “He’ll watch over. Let’s head back first.”

Isabella was already tired, so she didn’t refuse. After thanking the driver, she sat in the passenger seat.

As Vincent was about to start the car, his phone rang.

Vincent answered, and a woman’s voice came through. “Mr. Vincent, hello, I’m Audrey. Is Isabella with you right now?”

“Yes,” Vincent said, handing the phone to Isabella.

Isabella took it, slightly puzzled.

Only upon hearing Audrey’s voice did she realize who was calling.

Audrey was always straightforward and asked directly, “Isabella, have you had your check-up? How is it?”

Isabella fell silent for a moment. How could she explain this to Audrey? She hadn’t figured out how to explain this complicated situation to her.

“What’s wrong?” Audrey’s voice instantly became tense when she didn’t hear Isabella’s response. “Is it bad? It’s okay, Isabella. Whatever it is, we’ll cooperate with the treatment. Wait for me, I’ll take a leave from work and come to the hospital to see you.”

Listening to Audrey’s concerned voice, Isabella’s eyes reddened instantly.

She cleared her throat and said, “It’s nothing, Audrey. I’ve had my check-up, and there’s nothing wrong.”

She still wasn’t ready to confess to Audrey now. Such matters might be better explained face-to-face, with time to explain slowly.

Besides, there was Vincent sitting beside her, making it awkward to discuss certain things.

Hearing her response, Audrey breathed a sigh of relief. “You scared me. If you’re okay, Isabella, why didn’t you say so earlier? Anyway, it’s fine as long as you’re okay. I’ll get back to work now. I’ll bring your phone and wallet tonight.”

Isabella was about to instinctively agree, then suddenly remembered something. She hurriedly said, “Audrey, about the phone and wallet, I’ll come to pick them up myself.”

“Oh, stop it. You’re not feeling well, why bother? I’ll bring them to you,” Audrey insisted.

“I…” Isabella was at a loss for words for a moment.

Vincent, after handing the phone to Isabella, hadn’t started the car. He probably guessed Isabella’s dilemma.

“Give me the phone, I’ll talk to her,” Isabella didn’t know what else to say, so she handed the phone to Vincent.

After passing it over, she regretted it. She feared Vincent might say something shocking.

Therefore, after handing the phone over, she kept staring nervously at Vincent.

Vincent noticed her anxiety, gave her a reassuring look, then said to the person on the phone, “Later, I’ll have someone come to help her get them.”

“Huh?” Audrey was momentarily stunned. She couldn’t explain why, but she just found Vincent’s words very strange.

Vincent didn’t explain, after saying that, he handed the phone back to Isabella.

Isabella: “…”

She actually thought Vincent had a good solution, but he just left such a statement, leaving her with the hardest part of explaining.

“Audrey, I’m exhausted today, I don’t want to move. Mr. Vincent said he’ll have someone come to help me later, so you can just give it to them directly,” Isabella said.

Although Audrey was still puzzled, she thought about Vincent being the best friend of her brother, and he even helped Isabella today. He must be trustworthy, so she didn’t ask any more questions.

After the call ended, Isabella breathed a sigh of relief. She was safe for today.

Vincent waited until Isabella hung up before starting the car again. He used to race cars and loved speed, but today he never exceeded thirty miles per hour. Combined with his excellent driving skills, Isabella didn’t feel a single bump throughout the journey.

The car was silent, and it moved exceptionally smoothly.

Isabella, exhausted from the day, fell into a deep sleep before the car had even gone three kilometers.

Vincent had been keeping an eye on her. Seeing her sleeping against the seat, he raised the car’s air conditioning temperature.

The car stopped in front of a detached villa. Isabella was still sound asleep, showing no signs of waking up.

Vincent didn’t wake her up, just waited for ten minutes.

But Isabella, already pregnant and easily fatigued, didn’t wake up even after ten minutes.

Vincent knew that sleeping like this in the car for too long would cause her neck to ache when she woke up.

Therefore, he pondered for a moment.

He opened the car door and got out. After getting out, he walked to the other side and opened the door.

He bent down, gently unfastened the seatbelt, and then stood up, taking off his coat and covering Isabella with it.

With these movements, Isabella still didn’t wake up.

Vincent suddenly felt confident about what he was about to do next.

He reached out, carefully lifted Isabella, who was still sleeping, into his arms. Isabella remained asleep, her face serene.

Vincent was about to smile when Isabella suddenly opened her eyes.

Waking up to find herself being held by someone, Isabella was startled.

Her body even trembled.

Vincent suppressed the disappointment rising in his heart and gently put her down.

“Let’s go, we’re here,” Vincent said, while draping his coat over Isabella.

Isabella didn’t know what to say. She really thought Vincent had a good solution, but all he did was leave such a sentence, leaving her with the most difficult task of explaining.

“Audrey, I’m exhausted today. I don’t want to move. Mr. Vincent said he’ll have someone come to help me later, so you can just give it to them directly,” Isabella said.

Although Audrey was still puzzled, she thought about Vincent being her brother’s best friend, and he even helped Isabella today. He must be trustworthy, so she didn’t ask any more questions.

After the call ended, Isabella breathed a sigh of relief. She was safe for today.

Vincent waited until Isabella hung up before starting the car again. He used to race cars and loved speed, but today he never exceeded thirty miles per hour. Combined with his excellent driving skills, Isabella didn’t feel a single bump throughout the journey.

The car was silent, and it moved exceptionally smoothly.

Isabella, exhausted from the day, fell into a deep sleep before the car had even gone three kilometers.

Vincent had been keeping an eye on her. Seeing her sleeping against the seat, he raised the car’s air conditioning temperature.

The car stopped in front of a detached villa. Isabella was still sound asleep, showing no signs of waking up.

Vincent didn’t wake her up, just waited for ten minutes.

But Isabella, already pregnant and easily fatigued, didn’t wake up even after ten minutes.

Vincent knew that sleeping like this in the car for too long would cause her neck to ache when she woke up.

Therefore, he pondered for a moment.

He opened the car door and got out. After getting out, he walked to the other side and opened the door.

He bent down, gently unfastened the seatbelt, and then stood up, taking off his coat and covering Isabella with it.

With these movements, Isabella still didn’t wake up.

Vincent suddenly felt confident about what he was about to do next.

He reached out, carefully lifted Isabella, who was still sleeping, into his arms. Isabella remained asleep, her face serene.

Vincent was about to smile when Isabella suddenly opened her eyes.

Waking up to find herself being held by someone, Isabella was startled.

Her body even trembled.

Vincent suppressed the disappointment rising in his heart and gently put her down.

“Let’s go, we’re here,” Vincent said, while draping his coat over Isabella.