Chosen By My Mate's Father-in-law-Chapter 75: Babysitter

[Jasmine’s POV]

Before Gareth could reply, I stepped to the side and stormed off. Part of me felt good at having the last word, but my eyes were burning with tears that I refused to shed. I could feel his stare as I walked down the hallway, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of turning around and looking back.

Why did he have such a low opinion of me? Why did he believe me to be such a sinister person?

And the biggest question was, why did I care what he thought of me so much? Why did Gareth Laken thinking that I was a malicious person splinter my heart right down the middle?

When I made it to Isabella’s door, I took a deep breath to calm myself and let it out slowly. My only goal right now was to cheer her up. I would try to forget about her aggravating father for now.

I knocked on her door.

"Come in," Isabella called in a brighter tone than before.

In her room, Elliot’s scent hit me like a slap to the face as usual, worsening my mood.

At least Isabella seemed happier now that I’d agreed to spend the day with her. She was holding out a short white dress with an excited grin.

"I think that your tan skin will look lovely in white!"

I tried to fake a smile, but I caught sight of myself in the mirror, and it came out more like a grimace.

Isabella’s face fell. "What’s wrong? Did my dad say something to you?" She put one hand on her hip and frowned.

"He just wanted to talk about how Michelle’s tutoring was going." I avoided her questioning gaze. "That dress is pretty."

I purposely changed the subject to fashion so that Isabella would be distracted. It worked, and she excitedly gave me the dress, saying that she couldn’t wait to see it on me.

After I showered and changed into the short dress, Isabella gave me wedge sandals and expertly put my hair into a complicated-looking braid. She kept my makeup light and natural, sticking to mostly neutral tones.

"You look beautiful!" she exclaimed when she deemed me ready.

"So do you," I replied and nodded at her light-blue dress.

We walked down the stairs, but Isabella stopped short when she noticed her father and Beta Kevin standing by the front door, speaking in low voices.

Isabella frowned and glanced back at me.

But I couldn’t look away from Gareth. My hands clenched into tight fists. I had a feeling that I knew what this was about.

"Isabella," Gareth called, turning toward his daughter, ignoring me. "Beta Kevin will drive you wherever you’d like to go."

"Jasmine and I are just going to the mall and out to eat," Isabella told him. "I can drive us. I’m an adult. I don’t want a babysitter, Dad."

"I’d feel more comfortable if Beta Kevin drove you," Gareth insisted. "Please do not argue with me." His eyes sparked with barely suppressed anger.

"But—"

He raised his hand to cut off his daughter’s retort. "End of discussion, Isabella."

Gareth’s bad mood had to be because of me. He was having Beta Kevin drive us to keep an eye on me so I didn’t corrupt his precious daughter.

I resisted the temptation to roll my eyes.

"Fine," Isabella huffed and walked out of the house without saying goodbye to her dad.

I left the house without even looking at Gareth. But I felt his heated gaze on me as we followed Beta Kevin to one of the many fancy cars in the long driveway.

When we got into the backseat, Isabella tapped Beta Kevin on the shoulder. "Please roll up the divider. I want to have at least a little privacy."

He smiled fondly at her. "No problem."

Once the black divider was up, she leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms tightly.

"Are you alright?" I asked as I put on my seatbelt.

She looked out the window as Beta Kevin started to drive. "I wanted to...get away for a little bit. I just wanted to be a normal girl for once and have a fun day with a friend. Not Gareth Laken’s daughter. But my overprotective dad makes that impossible."

"At least it’s just Beta Kevin," I replied, trying to stay positive. "We probably won’t even notice his presence."

Isabella snorted and hitched her thumb out the back window. "Think again."

I turned around and saw a black car following directly behind us. I recognized the two muscled men in the front seat. Isabella’s guards.

"I can never go anywhere alone," Isabella continued, and met my gaze. "There are always guards following me. And the worst part is, I didn’t choose this life. I didn’t ask for any of this. The bodyguards or the reporters that are always sniffing around me just because of who my father is." She sighed and looked out the window again. "It all gets to be a little too much sometimes."

"Of course it does." I laid a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.

"Since I was spending time with you, I thought Dad wouldn’t be as overprotective today," she said after a moment.

My head tilted to the side. "Why?"

Since I was with Isabella, Gareth was probably being even more protective since he believed I had ulterior motives when it came to her.

Isabella chuckled and gently hit my arm like I said the most hilarious joke. Then, her expression grew introspective. "I’m glad that I invited you out today. I really need someone to talk to."

Intrigued, I leaned forward. "About what?"

"Let’s talk after dinner. I just want to enjoy your company for now." Isabella smiled. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

My stomach stiffened as I considered what she would want to talk about.

Could it be Elliot? Or maybe even Gareth?

The parking lot of the mall was busy, and when Beta Kevin stopped the car near the entrance, Isabella threw open her door before he could open it for her.

I followed her lead and said a quick goodbye to Beta Kevin over my shoulder.

As we entered the mall, I noticed that Isabella’s bodyguards were at least trying their best to seem discreet as they followed us.

Isabella was determined to act like they weren’t there as she walked with her head held high.

We navigated through the crowded mall, Isabella earning a few stares.

Compassion for her made my heart ache. I’d never considered what she brought up in the car before. But it was true. She didn’t ask to be in the public eye. It wasn’t her choice to be Gareth Laken’s daughter.

"Ooo, this is my favorite store," Isabella gushed, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward a high-end boutique.

We walked into the store, and I stared around in trepidation. I’d never even step foot into a store as expensive as this. I could never afford to buy anything here.

"Please, pick out anything you’d like," Isabella told me kindly. "It’s my treat."

Then, she adjusted her grip on her white purse and made a beeline for a rack of designer clothes.

I swallowed nervously, feeling as out of place as a bull in a china shop. I ended up wandering around the store, my eyes widening at the ridiculously high price tags.

Nothing caught my eye until I passed by a jewelry display. My breath caught when I saw a gorgeous sapphire necklace showcased in an open jewelry box. The sparkling piece of jewelry had a silver chain and was surrounded by diamonds.

Without even thinking, I raised my hand toward it, entranced by its beauty. I wasn’t planning on touching the piece, just merely admiring it. But before I could get a closer look, the velvet jewelry box slammed closed. I only just managed to pull my hand away before the box could shut on my fingers.

Shocked, I looked at the woman in front of me, who was sneering in anger.

"How dare you try to touch this necklace with your bare hands?" she shrieked.

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