Sweet Flash Marriage with the Restrained Tycoon (Isabelle and Damien) novel Chapter 255

Chapter 255 Awkward Encounters

“Abigail,” Sophia said brightly, settling into the seat beside Abigail.

+10 Free Co

Sophia had always been fond of Abigail. Usually, when Abigail had something good, she made sure to share with Sophia too. Sophia felt they were practically like sisters–though her brother always maintaine a certain reserve around her.

Abigail didn’t actively create distance. After all, she valued family harmony, so she interacted with Soppa normally. But when real issues arose, she wouldn’t personally intervene.

She wasn’t particularly fond of Sophia, truth be told.

But since marrying Jonathan, she couldn’t let relations become too strained. Unless completely necessary, she avoided making a scene.

“Sophia,” Abigail greeted her, then waved to Isabelle, who was walking over behind her. “Isabelle, over here.”

The seat beside her had been saved for Isabelle. Sophia awkwardly shifted to sit on the other side.

She felt a pang of jealousy. Usually, Abigail treated her quite well at home, but now it felt like someone else was taking her spot.

Isabelle smiled. “Abigail.”

She took her seat. On the table was already a glass of chilled sweetened milk and a plate of steamed clams in garlic butter.

Abigail leaned slightly toward Isabelle and said quietly, “That dress I asked you to make last time probably won’t fit anymore. Have you started it? If not, maybe hold off for now.”

Isabelle listened, taking a moment to process. She glanced briefly toward Abigail’s midsection–she had an inkling of what might be going on, but seeing how discreet Abigail was being, she didn’t pry. Instead, she simply nodded in understanding.

Abigail enjoyed talking to perceptive people and didn’t elaborate further.

After breakfast, Isabelle drove Abigail over to the studio.

“Morning!” Bonita was watering the plants in the front yard. Beside her, the housekeeper they’d hired just a week prior was tidying up the grounds.

“Morning,” Isabelle said, linking her arm casually with Abigail’s as they walked in.

“Good morning,” Abigail replied, glancing at the housekeeper. She looked familiar, but Abigail couldn’t quite place her.

Isabelle was occupied all morning, while Abigail relaxed leisurely in the garden, enjoying the peace Upstairs in the studio, Isabelle and Diana were discussing the finer details of a custom evening gown. Their

13

Chapter 255 Awkward Encounters

+10 Free Coms

collaboration had grown much smoother and more intuitive compared to when they’d first started working together.

“I’ll need a few days off in early June,” Diana mentioned suddenly.

Isabelle found it unusual–Diana was someone who lived for design year–round. Taking time off was rare for her.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“My mom’s getting married again,” Diana said with a faint smile. “Third time. The guy’s seven years younger than her.”

Isabelle didn’t pass judgment. She knew Diana’s mother was vibrant, kept herself in great shape, and her youthful appearance was clearly a priority. It wasn’t surprising she’d attract a younger partner.

“So you’re attending the wedding?”

“I skipped her second wedding. I feel like I should go for this one.”

“That’s fine. Honestly, I admire your mom’s spirit a bit–living in the moment, enjoying life. Who’s to say what comes later? What matters is being happy now. Maybe you could try seeing things that way too.”

Isabelle wasn’t just talking about Diana’s mother–she meant Diana herself.

Isabelle knew Diana had feelings for Brian but was too hesitant to act on them.

Living in the moment.

Diana turned the phrase over in her mind and smiled faintly.

Her mother had said something similar to her once.

When Diana’s mother married her father, she’d endured a lot, building a life from the ground up with him. But when her father fell for someone else, she divorced amicably, without a single tear shed.

The next year, she used the settlement to support a younger partner, invested shrewdly, built her own fortune, and remarried in the third year–only for that marriage to end in less than six months.

Now, here she was, getting married again.

Her mother had said that the decade with her father felt like a regretful, difficult chapter. After leaving, it was as if the sky had cleared.

Seizing the moment was the greatest kindness she could show herself.

The process didn’t matter–what mattered was never forcing herself to endure anything, doing exactly as she pleased, whenever she pleased. D

2/3

10:58 Thu, Jun 4 MOD

Chapter 255 Awkward Encounters

“Ms. Foster,” Bonita called out to Isabelle as she was exiting the restroom.

“What’s up?” Isabelle dried her hands.

+10 Free Coms

“This morning when I opened up, I noticed a man in dark clothes lingering near the property line. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but I just spotted him again, wandering around the back. I’m starting to worry he might be casing the place or has some other intention,” Bonita said, her voice edged with concern.

Isabelle paused, a tightness forming in her chest.

“Pull the security footage. Note where he appears most frequently, have the patrol service/increase their rounds, and ask Evelyn and Emily to keep a closer watch on the perimeter.”

She thought for a moment, the unease not subsiding.

“Send the footage of that person to Mr. Larson and see if he can dispatch a couple of his security team members here,” she added.

“Okay.” Bonita nodded and hurried off.

Isabelle picked up her phone and called Damian, but he didn’t answer. She sent him a text instead.

Just after sending the message, the housekeeper nearby offered her a polite smile.

Isabelle gave a brief nod in return and headed back upstairs.

“This dress really is stunning,” Abigail said, having changed into the finished gown made for her.