Chapter 3 Isabella Is Not Trash
The bright light sliced through the gap in the curtains, hitting Isabella's pale face.
She slowly opened her eyes, and an unfamiliar ceiling came into view, with a faint smell of disinfectant tickling her nose.
"You're awake?" A gentle, elderly voice called out.
Isabella turned her head and saw a kind old lady standing by the bed, holding a cup of water.
"Good morning, ma'am. Why am I here?" Isabella asked politely.
Aurora Anderson brought the cup to Isabella's lips and smiled, "Mr. Brown brought you back. Drink some water first. You had a fever all night, and it really worried Mr. Brown."
Mr. Brown? A pair of deep eyes flashed in Isabella's mind. Was it the guy who picked her up on that rainy night?
"Where is he?" Isabella tried to sit up.
But Aurora gently held her down. "Mr. Brown went to the company early this morning. He asked us to take good care of you. He said you should rest and not worry about anything."
"Thank you." Isabella took the cup and sipped the water slowly.
Seeing Isabella being so polite, Aurora gave a kind smile and left the room.
Just then, Isabella's phone buzzed next to the pillow. She picked it up and saw a message from Amelia on Facebook: [Trash belongs in the trash.]
In the attached photo, Isabella's mom, Vivian Cooper's keepsakes were thrown in a pile of trash, dirty and torn.
Vivian's favorite wool scarf was ripped into pieces, covered in dirty footprints, and the handmade doll Vivian had crafted was missing an eye, with stuffing poking out, like it was silently crying.
The worst was the shredded photo, the only solo portrait of Vivian. Her smile was radiant in the picture, but now her face was unrecognizable from the cuts.
Isabella felt a sharp pain in her chest and covered her face, unable to hold back her sobs. "These things might mean nothing to you, but to me, they are everything."
Hearing the crying, Aurora rushed back into the room. "Ms. Johnson, what's wrong?"
Seeing Aurora's concerned face, Isabella tried to hold back her emotions, but the tears kept coming.
She handed the phone to Aurora. "They destroyed my mom's things and threw them out, calling them trash."
Aurora took the phone, and after reading the message, she frowned. "Oh my, this is just too much." Then she looked at Isabella with determination. "But if those things are important, we should get them back. Who says only trash belongs in the trash? We’ll dig out your treasures."
Isabella felt a glimmer of hope from Aurora's words. She wiped her tears and nodded. "Thank you."
After a while, they arrived at the garbage heap near the Johnson Villa.
"Aurora, it's just up ahead." Isabella sniffled, pointing to the towering pile of trash. "It should be around here."
Aurora looked at Isabella with sympathy, then used a stick she brought to sift through the trash while muttering, "Don't worry, Isabella, I'll help you find all your treasures."
The pungent smell and chaotic heap were nauseating, but Isabella forced herself to endure the discomfort, diligently searching through the pile.
"Isabella? What are you doing here?" A sharp, sarcastic voice came from behind.
Isabella didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Amelia, dressed in designer clothes with a meticulously made-up face, held her nose in disdain while looking at Isabella like she was something filthy. "Are you seriously picking through the trash? That's so disgusting."
Isabella just pursed her lips tightly, not wanting to call Amelia sister anymore, and continued to search through the trash. Those items were irreplaceably precious to her.
"Isn't this that raggedy doll your mom left you?" Amelia spotted the doll Isabella had found, then walked over to pick it up. "How did it end up like this? So pathetic, just like you, unwanted trash."
With that, Amelia gave a strong swing, hurling the tattered rag doll deep into the garbage heap.
"Miss, you're going too far," Aurora snapped, stepping in front of Isabella. "These things were left to Isabella by her mother. What right do you have to throw them around?"
"Who do you think you are to lecture me?" Amelia shoved Aurora aside, her arrogance on full display. "I threw it away. What can you do about it?"
Aurora stumbled and fell to the ground, her hand getting cut by broken glass, blood streaming out.
"Aurora!" Isabella exclaimed, rushing to her side to check her injury.
Amelia hadn't expected Aurora to get hurt. Worried about any potential consequences, she quickly turned and ran away.
"Aurora, are you okay? I'll take you to the hospital," Isabella said anxiously, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm fine, it's just a scratch, nothing serious," Aurora said, trying to comfort Isabella despite the pain.
"It's all my fault. If it weren't for helping me find my things, you wouldn't have gotten hurt," Isabella blamed herself, tears still falling.
"Isabella, how can this be your fault? That girl was out of line," Aurora said, wiping Isabella's tears, feeling quite heartbroken. "Come on, let's go back first."
Isabella helped Aurora back to Luxury Heights Estates, the guilt weighing heavily on her heart like a boulder.
"Aurora, I'm sorry, it's all my fault," Isabella said, helping Aurora to the sofa and berating herself.
Aurora patted Isabella's hand gently, her voice soft but firm. "Silly girl, what are you saying? I'm fine, aren't I? Come on, help me disinfect the wound." As she spoke, she tried to stand up to fetch the first aid kit but was stopped by Isabella.
"Aurora, please, let me. You rest." Isabella insisted, gently but firmly pressing Aurora back into her seat and turning to get the first aid kit.
Watching Isabella's busy figure, Aurora smiled with relief. Isabella was truly someone to be cherished!
After the wound was treated, Aurora looked at Isabella's thin frame and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. 'What an unfortunate girl, being thrown out of her home and humiliated. It's truly heartbreaking.'
Thinking of this, Aurora tried to stand up while saying, "Isabella, you must be hungry. I'll go make us some food."
But she was stopped by Isabella again. "Aurora, you rest. I'll cook. I'm a very good cook, you'll see," Isabella said, her tone firm, leaving no room for refusal.
Aurora wanted to say something, but Isabella gently pushed her back onto the sofa.
"Aurora, please let me repay your kindness today, okay?" Isabella pleaded, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness.
Seeing Isabella's sincere eyes, Aurora finally relented. "Alright, I'll wait to taste your cooking."
Isabella smiled shyly and happily went into the kitchen.
She opened the fridge, finding it stocked with a variety of fresh vegetables and meats.
As for cooking, Isabella was quite confident, as Amelia's picky tastes had honed her cooking skills.
Before long, the delightful aroma of food filled the villa.
When Alexander returned home and opened the door, he was greeted by a long-missed warmth.
He paused for a moment as he looked towards the kitchen in disbelief.
There, Isabella, wearing an apron, was busy cooking, creating a heartwarming scene that etched itself deeply into his memory.
A feeling he had never experienced before surged in his heart. Was it warmth or peace?
"Hello, you're back," Isabella said, coming out of the kitchen with a dish. Upon seeing Alexander at the door, she gave a faint smile.
Instantly, Alexander felt like a wanderer who had finally found his way home.
"Yeah," he nodded slightly, his voice deep and gentle, his gaze unwilling to leave Isabella.
"The food will be ready soon. Go wash your hands first," Isabella said, turning back to the kitchen.
Watching Isabella's busy figure, Alexander couldn't help but smile.
Bringing her home was definitely a good idea.