Twisted Ties of Love novel Chapter 538

Izabella had learned the hard way that skipping meals and erratic eating habits could lead to serious stomach issues. She had endured gastric ailments before, even stomach cancer.

Brett voiced his concern now, saying he feared for her pain, for her discomfort, for the agony of another bout of gastritis. Yet, he seemed to forget that he, of all people, had been the source of her deepest hurts.

Abusers seldom saw themselves as the villains in any story.

True to his nature, Brett was an embodiment of relentless severity. He had the uncanny ability to make someone suffer - and then find a way to twist the knife even deeper.

Their conversation, circuitous as ever, seemed to spiral back to the same old wounds. Brett knew that if this continued, Izabella would clash with him once more.

Eating a little was better than not at all. Brett finally said after a tense silence, attempting to change the subject, "Let's not make a fuss about it. Being upset will take a toll on your body."

"So now you acknowledge that stress can take a toll on the body? Irony doesn't begin to cover the number of times you've pushed me to the brink," Izabella retorted, slamming her plate down and standing up, her eyes reddening with anger.

"Brett, you really couldn't care less, could you? The only reason you're clinging on to me is your damn pride. President Windham can dump others, but God forbid you’re the one getting dumped. Does it eat you up inside to see your discarded plaything finding happiness with someone else? Does it?" Her voice rose despite her efforts to stay calm, the words spilling out like the desperate roars of a cornered animal.

Brett remained silent, sitting still, his hand trembling at Izabella’s words as he held his fork.

It was his right hand that held the fork, yet for some inexplicable reason, his left hand throbbed with pain. The scar in his palm, long since healed, seemed to rip open anew.

His palm had been severely cut by Izabella's knife.

The one he had pushed away had forfeited his right to regret.

Izabella's eyes fell, "Brett, you always do things that leave me utterly baffled. What are you after? Are you genuinely looking out for me, trying to prove you're right, or just trying to drag others down to your level so you can feel less guilty about your past?"

People on the brink often compared themselves to those they perceived as worse off - it was as if they thought death would erase their regrets.

Brett remained mute.

Seeing his stoic expression, Izabella let out a self-deprecating laugh, then turned and walked into the living room. She flopped onto the couch and instinctively reached for her phone to check her messages, only to remember that she had turned off the Wi-Fi.

Time used to fly by for her. Now, every second was an ordeal.

Brett quietly finished the remaining food on the table, blood from his mouth mixing with the flavors. He had never been one for cooking; he loathed the smell of grease that lingered in a kitchen.

He usually dined out or had restaurant food delivered to his door. Eventually, finding even that too bothersome, he hired a chef. Still, the chef's creations never quite matched up to Izabella's.

No matter how good the food was outside, it could become tiresome. But home-cooked meals, no matter how simple, were something one could never grow weary of. If deprived of them, the longing would persist.

He yearned for another taste of Izabella's cooking.

For four years, Izabella had cooked for him, and not once had he shown appreciation. Now, her dishes were a luxury he could never again afford.

After Izabella's death, Brett had been tormented by a severe breakdown, desperately seeking chefs to replicate her culinary touch.

He scoured J City but found nothing. Then he traveled to R City, recalling a little dumpling restaurant near the University of R City that Izabella had often mentioned.

One bite, and he knew it was her favorite.

The owner had only seen Brett in photographs. That year when Izabella married Brett, she was the only one who was ecstatic, who would want to tell everyone that she married someone she loved.

But deep down, she was aware that Brett didn’t love her; the more boisterous there was in the wedding, the more disgusted Brett felt towards her.