The Pampering CEO: Don't Mess With My Secretly-Married Sweet Wife
Chapter 175 Exposed

The look on Isabelle's face right now could melt any man's heart, save for Julian. His face showed no expression and his eyes were hard.

With a stern voice, he repeated, "You took care of my mother, so it's natural for me to pay for your service."

Isabelle did not say anything as she looked at Julian with her eyes filled with tears. She could read right through him, and she knew what he was aiming to do. He wanted to use the money to put an end to everything. If she said yes to his condition, it would be over for her.

Just when she was racking her brain to come up with something, she caught something in the corner of her eyes.

Someone was walking towards them from a distance. When she realized who that person was, her expression changed - it was so swift and subtle that Julian failed to notice. She then forced the piteous expression back onto her face as she said, "I don't want your money, Little Leaf. The reason I accepted the 5 million business contract was that I was taking it for my parents. When our family was facing financial constraints, they kept forcing me to marry a rich guy, and they would beat me up if I refused to listen to them. They're the ones who ordered me to approach you. At that time, I still didn't know that you were Little Leaf. Do you have any idea how hurt my heart was when I was forced to do things that I didn't want to do? However, the silver lining is that my parent's attention is on the business contract now. They didn't force me too much lately since our financial problems were lifted. Honestly, taking care of Madam Shaw is something that I should do for you, but... but if you insist on paying me back, then..." Isabelle bit her lower lip.

Julian looked at her, "Then what?"

"I hope you can give me a hug," Isabelle said, the plea apparent in her eyes. "Just like hugging an old friend."

Julian frowned but he did not say anything.

Seeing that the person was getting closer and closer, Isabelle's expression changed slightly and she hastily said, "I'll take it as a yes if you don't say anything, Little Leaf." Before Julian could do anything, she rushed forward and hugged him.

Startled, the first thing Julian tried to do was push her away, but Isabelle would not budge. Then, she began to talk again, her voice filled with sadness, "Little leaf, I didn't say yes when you wanted to put our past to an end through the contract. But after you told me that Susan is your life and your everything, I realized that I was wrong. I'll give up this time. I'll let you go, Little Leaf. But my heart aches so much, so can you please empathize with me and give me ten seconds? Just ten seconds will do. After ten seconds, I'll let go of our past entirely."

'Ten seconds?' Julian's frown deepened. He still felt a little pang of guilt for Isabelle, or Little Flower. If letting her hug him for ten seconds could make her let go of everything that happened in the past, he felt that it was quite a good bargain. As such, he forced himself to stand as stiff as a ramrod although he felt uncomfortable being hugged by Isabelle. He tried to picture Susan instead, but to no avail. Susan's body was way softer and warmer. Her arms were more tender and her hair held more fragrance. However, the most important thing was that he felt comfortable and calm when he was being enveloped by Susan's

arms.

When Susan saw Julian from afar, she picked up her pace. Just when she wanted to call out for him, she saw something and her face went pale.

There was another person in front of Julian. What's more, that person was somebody she knew.

Isabelle!

'Why on earth did Julian meet Isabelle in the early morning? Didn't he come for a morning run?'

Susan slowly came to a halt. Just as she was wondering why Julian would meet Isabelle, she saw Isabelle suddenly take one step forward and hug Julian. Julian did not push her away.

Her eyes widened and her face went even paler as a mixed feeling rose from her heart. Standing frozen stiff, she did not know whether she should go forward or go back. All of a sudden, Julian pushed Isabelle away and attempted to turn around. Susan hastily hid behind the wall.

After that, she set her jaw tight. She did not know why she was hiding.

Julian and Isabelle would be here at every moment. With that thought in mind, Susan hurriedly rushed away from the scene through another pathway.

The pathway she took was shorter so she arrived at the manor earlier than Julian and Isabelle.

"Mrs. Shaw? You couldn't replace Mr. Shaw?" A servant asked curiously.

"Huh? Yeah. I think he went another way," Susan jumped back, causing the servant to look at her strangely.

She commanded herself to calm down and then said constrainedly, "I'm sorry. I saw a snake on the way just now so I was in a bit of a shock."

"Snake?" The servant was even more dumbfounded," But it's winter. Why would there be a snake?"

"Oh, maybe I mistook it for something else," Susan replied absentmindedly.

"Yeah. I suppose that should be a rope or something else," the servant said with a smile.

Susan nodded and then dismissed the servant.

Her brain was filled with the scene of Julian and Isabelle hugging each other right now.

She could not stop herself from thinking and making conjectures.

She felt she was going mad soon.

Before this, she chose to believe whatever Julian said about the 5 million business contract without any qualms. But after she saw both of them hugging together, her faith in him began to waver. She really wanted to trust Julian, but the scene kept on repeating in her mind, reminding her that Julian had once again lied to her.

She tried to shake the scene out of her head, but it was a futile attempt. It was then that footfalls could be heard from the entrance. She lifted her head blankly and saw Julian coming in.

She stared at his back for a moment, yet she could not see anyone.

Julian was with Isabelle just now, but he returned alone.

'Why didn't he return with Isabelle? Is he afraid that I will replace out? Or maybe he doesn't want me to get suspicious?'

An indescribable bitterness spread from Susan's heart.

She looked straight at Julian.

Julian felt strange being stared by Susan like this. He walked up to her and asked, "What's wrong, Susie?"

Susan pressed her lips tight and asked, "Did you... go for a morning run just now?"

"Yeah," Julian nodded.

"Did you bump into anyone?" Susan asked unintentionally.

"It's still pretty early, so I just saw a few people who came out for a morning run like me," Julian replied.

"That's it? No one else?" Susan pressed on.

"Yeah," Julian shook his head, "What's wrong, Susie?"

Susan looked at him, "Julian, I think I told you before. Don't ever lie to me."

Julian's heart somersaulted when he saw the light in Susan's eyes. He did not know why Susan would suddenly bring this up. Could it be that she saw something?

"Susie, you..." Just as Julian wanted to ask something, Susan suddenly let out a chuckle as a triumphant expression hopped onto her face.

"Hah! Gotcha! Did I scare you?" 3

Looking at her playful look, Julian could not help and break out into laughter.

He had thought too much. He did not want to lie to Susan about Isabelle. It was just that things were settled, and it would just make Susan unhappy if he told her everything. 2 After all, from now on, he would not let Isabelle become the obstacle between him and Susan.