Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 718

Bella finally let out a sigh of relief. She'd sensed a strange hesitation in Debbie, almost as if she were terrified of crossing paths with Old Mr. Blake.

But now that she had agreed, Bella's mind was racing, plotting the perfect scenario to orchestrate a run-in between the two of them.

Under these circumstances, Bella naturally prioritized her scheming over everything else.

Across town, however, Sebastian's expression darkened the moment he realized she wasn't at the office.

Bella knew how much he valued her professional competence, and she was well aware that she couldn't let her work slip.

But this was a matter of a billion-dollar wedding settlement. She couldn't afford to be careless.

Why did Lillian get a massive payout, but she didn't?

Was she somehow inferior to her?

Absolutely not. She had to fight for what she deserved, and she wasn't going to back down.

"Where is Bella?" Sebastian demanded.

His secretary lowered his voice, looking nervous. "Mr. Blake, she requested a leave of absence. She said she's working remotely today."

Sebastian stared at him, convinced he'd misheard. "What? Working remotely?"

Was she out of her mind? Who just spontaneously decided to work from home in the middle of a major corporate push? It was a logistical nightmare.

The secretary shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond.

The upcoming wedding between Sebastian and Bella was an open secret within the company.

She had been incredibly flashy about her wedding preparations around the office. Everyone knew she was about to become the CEO's wife, the future matriarch of the Blake Group.

He was actually yelling at her in front of his staff? How was she supposed to maintain her flawless image as the future CEO's wife if he treated her like an intern?

"Sebastian, I—I know the company's projects are important, but what I'm handling right now is just as crucial," she stammered, trying to regain her composure. "Don't worry, I'm going to give you a massive surprise.

"I might be working remotely today, but you have to trust my capabilities. I can manage my workload flawlessly from anywhere. Don't you trust me?"

Hearing her flip the script only made him more irritated.

"Whether I trust you or not is irrelevant. What matters are your results.

"Bella, don't forget the promise you made. You swore that getting married wouldn't compromise your performance. If it does..."

Before he could finish his threat, Bella cut him off. She couldn't bear to listen to the rest.