Cheated Once Cherished Forever: The Billionaire's Bride novel Chapter 146

Isabella glanced at the hefty lunchbox, then at Kenneth's eager expression. She sighed helplessly. "Thanks, Wilson. You probably haven't eaten lunch either, right? Why don't you take the food, then? I already have plans to eat out with my junior…"

"If you don't mind, Ms. Moore, I can leave the lunchbox on your desk. You can heat it up later when you're back," Wilson said, his tone carrying a hint of insistence. "Mr. Sinclair mentioned you barely ate breakfast this morning. He was worried you'd go hungry at lunch."

That hit a soft spot—Isabella had indeed only nibbled on a couple of bites of bread that morning. But when she glanced at Kenneth's phone screen to see the restaurant guide he had prepared with her favorite dishes circled, she felt torn.

Kenneth spoke up first, giving her arm a friendly pat. "It's fine, Isabella. Take the food. You'll just owe me another meal. I'll hold you to a good one next time!"

Isabella blinked, warmed by the genuine cheeriness in his eyes. She nodded. "Alright then. Hurry up and go eat. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting so long…"

She felt a bit guilty.

Kenneth, ever perceptive, caught her unease and cracked a joke to lighten the mood. "I'll always be happy to wait for you, no matter how long it takes. Well, I'm off. Catch you later!"

Wilson relaxed once Kenneth was gone and set the lunchbox on Isabella's desk. She glanced at it to see that every dish was something she loved.

"Has your boss eaten?" she asked.

Wilson said respectfully, "He's still busy. He has a business trip tomorrow, so he's handling urgent matters today."

"A business trip? Tomorrow?" Isabella's surprised tone carried a trace of disappointment.

Wilson didn't pick up on it and simply nodded. "Yeah, tomorrow afternoon."

It was Isabella's birthday tomorrow—not the one listed on her ID but the one she had chosen for herself. Hardly anyone knew. She'd been hoping to have a meal with Theodore tomorrow to celebrate, but now, he was leaving on a trip.

"What's wrong, Ms. Moore?" Wilson's voice pulled her back to her senses.

She shook her head, covering two of the dishes and handing the containers back to him. "Take these to your boss and tell him that he needs to eat no matter how busy he is."

When Theodore entered the room in the middle of the night, he immediately spotted Isabella on the bed. The warm glow of the lamp traced her soft profile, and her long lashes cast faint shadows. Her breathing was feather-light, and her brow was much more relaxed compared to during the day.

He stepped lightly toward her, his fingers brushing the strands of hair that had fallen across the pillow. His gaze lingered on her slightly parted lips. They were pale yet glossy.

Theodore's throat tightened. Almost involuntarily, he leaned down, his fingertips grazing her cheek to ensure she was sound asleep before he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. It was light and brimming with unrestrained tenderness.

Afraid of waking her, he pulled back after two seconds. However, he couldn't resist brushing his thumb along the corner of her mouth. He whispered, "Why'd you just show up like this? How am I supposed to let you go when you're so sweet?"

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Isabella stirred slightly, as if about to wake.

Theodore straightened up, ready to step back. However, she instinctively caught his sleeve. Her eyes stayed shut, and her voice was soft and sleepy. "You're back… The food's still warm…"

Theodore's heart melted. He gently took her hand, his voice coming out even lower than usual. "Got it. Go back to sleep…"