You are Amazing!

“Because they couldn’t make it back to the city in time, she was sent to the only hospital in the town. That night, another pregnant woman was also sent in…” 

What happened then? ” Alexander asked, even though he had roughly guessed what had happened next. 

Isabella shrugged, “It caused a drama! That small hospital had very few staff and a disorganised system, so the two female babies were swapped… and this mistake continued for 18 years! Did you know? Vanessa even has the same blood type as me, so this matter stayed hidden! ” 

“Then how was it discovered later on? ” 

She turned and smiled at Alex, “About that, well, I should thank that unbridled uncle of mine! ” 

“Arthur Hartley? Alex had some impression of him, but didn’t know much. He only knew that he was one of the more well-known people amongst the younger generation back then in the capital. 

“That’s right. My uncle was a playboy. Even after marriage, he continued sowing his wild oats outside and even caused quite a few deaths… He has one son and three daughters in total! ” 

She continued “For some reason, when it came down to their generation, it was difficult for both brothers to give birth to boys. But my uncle eventually gave birth to a son and the child became the only male successor of the family”

“My uncle was rather cocky at that time and thought that he could finally become the successor to the family. However, in the end, they discovered that that only male son wasn’t even his, he had been cheated on by that girl he had outside, haha! Can you guess what happened next? ” 

Alexander had fallen completely in love with that bright sparkle in her eyes. He seemed to ponder the question before answering, “Then your grandfather forced all the grandchildren to go through a DNA test, and found out that Vanessa wasn’t even part of the family?”

Isabella showed a gloomy expression, “Can’t you play along? There’s no point in trying to keep you in suspense! ” 

Alexander chuckled gently, “I’ll improve on that. ” 

Isabella harrumphed once before she continued narrating, “Anyway, once they started investigating, they found out that I had been swapped with Vanessa at the hospital back then, so I was brought back to the Hartley family! ” 

Hearing her speak of this matter so casually, Alex stroked her head lightly, “They treated you badly? ”

She hadn’t thought much of it at first, but for some reason, upon receiving that gentle pat from Alex, she suddenly felt like she had suffered a major grievance.  

As expected, it was only when someone cared about you that you would feel aggrieved. If no one cared about you, who would you complain to? 

Seeing the girl’s downcast appearance, Alex magnanimously spread open his arms, “Hug??. ” 

She looked at the man speechlessly with his cute gesture and laughed a bit “No, I'm okay, thank you!” She smiled.

He didn’t say anything more, but continued looking at her with his full attention, “What about your adopted parents? Did they treat you well? ” 

Speaking of her adopted parents, Isabella recovered a little of her spirit, “My grandmother favoured sons over daughters and didn’t like me at all. When I was born, she almost tossed me into the river to drown. She did throw me in the river once, but my dad picked me up and took me home. My mum… she treated me very well. I also have a very sensible and obedient little brother! ” 

Hearing that she had almost been thrown into the river to drown, Alexander’s heart clenched. When she mentioned her mother, her expression didn’t seem right, but he didn’t ask any further. 

“I really liked my original home. When they told me I wasn’t their biological child, it felt like the sky had just fallen on me. However, with the Hartley family’s power, I didn’t even have the freedom to choose. If I had resisted with all my might back then, perhaps there would have been a shred of hope that I wouldn’t have had to leave, but…” 

Isabella sighed, “But back then, I had fallen in love with a man, and I needed an identity that could match up to his. ” 

The light in Alex's eyes flickered, “That man was Gabriel Rowes? ” 

Isabella raised her eyebrow, and nodded, then she smiled, “Aren’t you curious how I was acquainted with a rich heir like Gabriel with my identity back then? ” 

To prevent Alex from guessing it again, she didn’t keep him in suspense and answered her own question, “Because Gabriel's lungs were weak when he was young, he came to our town to recuperate. He lived right next to my house, and he stayed for seven years. ” 

“The first time we met, I just happened to bump into him when his illness was acting up, so I carried him all the way home. ” 

“Later on, we slowly got more familiar with each other. The more we got to know each other, the more we fell in love. Childhood sweethearts, innocent playmates; what beautiful words! Huh. However, later on, reality told me… that this wasn’t a Cinderella story, fuck wasn't even close to it! ” 

“Don’t be upset, he’s not a good match for you. ” Alex consoled her. 

She hadn’t expected that she would unconsciously start talking about her ex- boyfriend with Alex. Isabella scratched her head and said in embarrassment, “We’re a little off topic, let’s continue talking about the Susan couldn’t bear to let go of the daughter they had raised for 18 years, after demanding to have me back, they didn’t return Vanessa to her family. She remained their beloved daughter. ” 

“You can imagine what happened next. The distance caused by a separation of 18 years wasn’t something that could be fixed in a single day. In front of Vanessa, who had been raised under elite education for 18 years, I was an extremely unsophisticated little village girl. ” 

“I was too naive back then, and treated her as a friend from the start. She used my trust to trick me into thinking that the lemon water used to rinse hands was a drink, and sent me a counterfeit dress to wear at the banquet. Using these little tricks, she slowly pushed me away from the family and away from upper-class society…” 

“Those people were already friends with Vanessa and were on her side. On the surface, they treated me as friends, but in private, they would mock, laugh and insult me. Even my biological parents hated my existence and felt that I was a stain on their reputations… After that, there was Gabriel….” 

After Gabriel, the most important things for a girl were all trampled on and destroyed: her chastity, her reputation and her dignity.  

Bit by bit, Isabella started hugging her knees, “Today on set, something went wrong with the props. My sword hurt Vanessa by accident. In the hospital, my mother… my biological mother slapped me without even asking about what had happened. My biological father only criticised, insulted and blamed me…” 

She gazed out the window at the inky black night. She continued with an airy tone, “Back then, for some reason, the tension I had been holding back for five years just snapped. I suddenly felt that there was no meaning in living, I felt that I was a failure in life. Was it because I just wasn’t good enough that everyone hated me? I had worked so hard for so long, but there was no meaning to it in the end…” 

Right after she had just finished speaking, Alex suddenly pulled her shoulders towards him with some force, “Belle, look at me. Not everyone hates you. They’re the ones who aren’t good enough. They don't even match up to you pinky finger. Understand? ” 

Isabella’s eyes turned slightly red. 

Though she had always been acting cold, like she didn’t care, she was still a young lady who was only twenty or so. 

Alex drew her into his embrace and kissed the top of her head gently…

He stared at her with an extremely serious gaze, “If you doubt yourself, then believe me, you'reamazing!. ” 

Isabella’s sadness turned into joy, “Of course I believe you! ” 

Alexander relaxed. That completely disheartened look in her eyes just now had caused him to panic badly for an instant.

After staying silent for a moment, he took the initiative to ask, “ can I ask you a question? ”