As she spoke, she diligently refilled Hank’s wine glass.
Seeing that his face was flushed and his eyes were getting hazy, she finally adopted a soft, adoring tone. "Working by Mr. Harrison’s side, you’re busy around the clock, yet you still made time to have dinner with me. Thank you so much, Hank."
Hank, his eyes blurry with drink, waved his hand. "It’s… it’s been fine recently… We just finished a big project not long ago, so things haven’t been too busy…"
Isabella blinked. "I heard that Mr. Harrison recently launched a new project, a national-level one. Is it so confidential that you can’t even tell me about it…?"
As she spoke, she carefully watched Hank’s expression.
She had to know just how much prestige this so-called core project would bring Serena!
Thinking about the atmosphere at the Lancaster estate these past two days, Isabella was practically green with envy, a bitter taste rising in the back of her throat.
For the past two days, ever since Serena left, a gloomy cloud had hung over the entire Lancaster estate.
She had originally planned to take advantage of Serena’s absence, doing everything she could to please her family and prove that she was more outstanding and better than Serena.
She even woke up early to make breakfast for the family with Agnes.
But not only were they unimpressed, they barely ate a bite, saying that such tasks were for the staff and that she didn’t need to do them.
She peeled fruit for them, tried to feed it to them, and acted cute, but they listlessly pushed her away, saying she didn’t need to go to all that trouble.
She used what little was left of her allowance to buy them gifts, hoping to cheer them up, but they just said it was the thought that counted.
All of their reactions were incredibly lukewarm.
Their minds were completely occupied by Serena.
She absolutely would not let Serena use this project to add another feather to her cap, using such a deceptive method to outshine a true, genuinely talented academic like herself!
She couldn’t accept it. Why could Serena, a country girl, be placed in such a project to boost her reputation, while she couldn’t?
Since the family only wanted to burnish Serena’s image…
…she would rely on her own abilities to seize that glory!
With that thought, Isabella’s eyes curved into a smile, her tone a mix of coquettishness and envy. "Hank, look, they even placed another untalented person in your latest project. Do you think I might have a chance to join and learn? I’d even be willing to be your assistant."
As she spoke, she grasped Hank’s hand, her expression a mix of shyness and admiration.
Feeling the soft warmth envelop his hand, Hank was dazed. The alcohol made his head spin, and he didn’t think twice. "Isabella, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but… our institute really doesn’t have any new projects starting right now."

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Messing With Her? Are You Crazy!