Here's the updated version of Chapter 7 with the name "Bella" changed to "Isabella" throughout:
"What's the matter? You don't have anything to say to your big brother?" Thomas Sheffield leaned back in his chair languidly, fixated on his cell phone. He raised an eyebrow and asked teasingly.
Ever since Isabella Sheffield had come in, she had kept silent, not because she didn't want to talk to Thomas, but because she didn't know how to start.
"Are Mom and Dad doing okay?" After choking back for a long time, Isabella managed to find an entry point.
"They eat well, sleep well, have fun. If certain people didn't upset them, they'd be even better," Thomas kept staring at his phone, not even bothering to glance at Isabella, and said lazily.
Isabella was speechless. She understood the meaning of Thomas's words. She had a huge fight with their parents back then because she wanted to marry Ethan McMillan, the jerk. The parents were almost ready to kick her out of the house.
She had been blinded by love. Now, thinking about it, her parents had endured more hardships than she had walked paths. What they said was quite right.
"I'm sorry..." Isabella said in a low voice with her head down.
"Sorry? You're not supposed to apologize to me, but to our parents. Saying sorry to them makes sense, not to me. However, how is it going with your destined one? Have you really gotten your marriage certificate?" Thomas finally put down his phone and propped up his head to ask.
"We broke up." Although Isabella didn't want to admit it in front of Thomas, she had to. For this brother of hers, she understood him better than anyone. He seemed harmless on the surface, but in reality, he was ruthless. However, he'd been nothing but kind to her, supporting her no matter what she did.
Thomas stared at her without speaking. She rolled her eyes and told him all that had happened. Of course, she didn't mention the matter with Alexander Cole, taking a marriage certificate with a man she'd known for less than half an hour. Even if Thomas spoiled her, he would surely scold her.
As she spoke, Isabella also observed Thomas's face. Seeing that his expression didn't change, Isabella was in turmoil. If Thomas could give her any expression at this moment, she would have felt much better. However, this expressionless appearance made her feel like something major was going to happen.
"Are you hungry?" Isabella was waiting for Thomas's criticism, but unexpectedly, she got this question.
Isabella was stunned for a moment, only able to nod dumbfoundedly.
The meal was incredibly heavy. Isabella was terrified, not knowing what Thomas's mood was.
"Do you want to go home with me?" After the meal, Thomas looked at Isabella and asked.
Isabella quickly waved her hands. "No need, I've found a job here, and I'll start working tomorrow, so I'll go back when I have time."
"Okay." Thomas nodded, didn't say anything more, and walked straight out. Isabella had no choice but to follow Thomas's footsteps.
"Huh? Isabella? Are you also eating here?" Just a few steps out, Isabella saw the oncoming Rachel Stewart and Ethan McMillan. She was about to pull Thomas to walk away, but Rachel still spotted her.
Isabella didn't want to meet Rachel and Ethan right now, but what she feared had happened. It was truly a case of enemies often crossing paths.
"Heh heh..." Isabella gave a dry laugh.
Ethan looked at Isabella, his eyes falling on her hand, which was holding Thomas's. He felt very unhappy in his heart. When he was dating Isabella, they rarely had the chance to hold hands, let alone do anything else. Now he saw her holding another man's hand without any scruples, and Ethan felt unspeakably upset.
Moreover, this man looked and carried himself in a way that was obviously slightly better than him. Ethan had felt the same way upon seeing this man at the Civil Affairs Bureau yesterday.
"Isabella, when did you become so shameless? It's only been a few days, and you've changed your target?" These words were quite ungracious, but Ethan didn't care right now. As long as he saw Isabella holding another man's hand, he found it very glaring.
"So you're Isabella's ex-boyfriend?" Thomas hadn't seen Ethan in person, but he had seen pictures of him. He would, of course, want to understand about his little sister's past relationships.