Throughout the week, the Quirks were more anxious than anyone else. The family eagerly anticipated Alexander's pursuit of Isabella, actively rooting for them to be together. Yet, they had all underestimated Isabella's skill in evading his pursuit. There was absolutely no sign of progress; after all, Alexander wasn't someone who could charm girls effortlessly. Isabella, too, was at a loss, feeling overwhelmingly awkward. It's all his fault. Now I'm too embarrassed to face him. Unlike those soap opera CEOs, who spend their days chasing women while their business empires seemingly run themselves, Alexander was a real CEO with a hectic work schedule. This left them little time to meet in person, so they communicated more often through texts. He always knew the perfect times to send Isabella morning greetings and initiate conversation while she was likely still lazing in bed and bid her goodnight before turning in. He would also take advantage of every break from work to text her. It was his way of telling her he missed her without saying it outright. Nothing specific had been done to make Isabella feel nervous about it, but she genuinely sensed a change in their relationship. After all, Alexander would never have done any of this in the past. At first, Isabella could handle these online interactions well as long as she didn't need to meet him, but one time, she couldn't bear it anymore. After finishing dinner, she decided to stay back. It was because she really wanted to know what was going on. Her curiosity to learn about the gossip outweighed whatever embarrassment and discomfort she was experiencing. It's all Alexander's fault. He kept messing with my head so much that I completely forgot to keep up with the gossip. Audrey had everything set up that day, so Dakota should have known Josiah's identity, right? But it looks like they're still together. Maybe the get-together ending early last night meant Dakota missed out on the truth? Meanwhile, Alexander couldn't help but smirk as he held the invitation. He was pleased to see how much he had stirred up Isabella's emotions. The others at the table weren't as adept as Alexander at picking up the details amidst the chaos. They had shifted their attention to the gossip that Isabella had just spilled. In fact, they were somewhat annoyed with Alexander for not sharing Dakota's gossip when he returned. It was only Christopher who shared some bits and pieces of information and eagerly discussed them with the family. They had already analyzed every potential corresponding subject and deduced who the two were still entangled, even after his ex-girlfriend became his sister-in-law. Listening to Isabella's voice in her mind at that moment further confirmed everything. But who on earth is Dakota? Considering the person whom Isabella called Dakota and mentioned her role as a makeup artist, Rosalie immediately thought of someone. Having served as an assistant to Christopher and Isabella for a while, she was quite familiar with the staff she had worked with. Although they were all sitting at the dining table, sipping coffee, everyone except Isabella and Alexander spontaneously picked up their cell phones. Rosalie then eagerly shared all the juicy gossip she had discovered. Based on Isabella's inner thoughts, an absurd conjecture emerged. Soon, Isabella confirmed their suspicions. Did Dakota find out about it? Did she discover that her boyfriend, whom she had supported for two years under the pretense of him starting his own business, was actually the second son of the wealthy Hampton family? Did she realize that he had been concealing his identity and pretending to be poor around her? That day, she noticed how wealthy Josiah presented himself but didn't expose him on the spot. Instead, she fled in panic.Everyone from the Quirk family present at the scene gasped. David: How outrageous. Selena: What's wrong with Josiah? Evian: That's despicable! Christopher: Was he intentionally toying with her feelings? He still has lingering feelings for his sister-in-law, right? Rosalie was the most upset, having developed a close relationship with Dakota. She had often witnessed Dakota responding with nothing more than an awkward grin when her mentor gave her an earful. After one such incident, Rosalie asked Dakota if she was fine with her boyfriend's behavior, but Dakota seemed unbothered, brushing it off as if it were nothing. Despite the hardships, Dakota felt genuinely happy. Somehow, she believed that the man she was with would undoubtedly succeed. To her, he was incredibly intelligent and seemed to know everything. All he needed was a chance to break through. At this point, Rosalie had a clearer picture of the situation. He's smart and knows everything? A young master brought up in a wealthy family would naturally present his intelligent and knowledgeable side to impress ordinary girls. But Dakota values relationships. How will she react if she learns the truth? Realization dawned on Isabella. I see. Josiah had mentioned to Dakota that he had something important to discuss with her on her birthday. He intended to tell her the truth, but this has inevitably given Dakota hope. I guess she waited for Josiah to reveal the truth because she wasn't sure how to express her feelings. After all, she has had feelings for Josiah for two years and is very much emotionally dependent on him. Perhaps she was just in denial. The Quirks: So... she has yet to celebrate her birthday? Now that Dakota was again hired to do makeup... ehm... If they had laid their cards on the table before this, Josiah wouldn't have allowed Dakota to accept the job. Isabella: What the f*ck. I bet even God can't stand it anymore. That's why He decided to throw a wrench in the works, preventing the two from being together. Everyone immediately perked up their ears. What does that mean? What did God do?Isabella: The birthday party was over, yet Josiah didn't say a word that day; he didn't even meet with Dakota. It was all because the day before her birthday, Dakota had suddenly asked him for a loan of half a million. Josiah got so mad that he started giving Dakota the cold shoulder. Everyone: Why? Why the sudden need for a loan of half a million? And what's the big deal about lending her the money? Why did he give her the cold shoulder? Initially, Alexander hadn't been paying much attention to this gossip, as he was preoccupied with how to get Isabella to accompany him to the party and whether he could possibly sneak away with her for a private date. Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but be intrigued by his buddy's peculiar train of thought. What on earth was he thinking? Isabella: I finally understand why Dakota tended to let her freeloading boyfriend have his way. As the family's middle child, with an older sister and a younger brother, she didn't receive much love and attention from her parents. Although her parents weren't biased or mistreated them, it was challenging for them to treat all siblings equally. In families like hers, there's always a unique dynamic at play. The child who receives less attention often grows up to be the more well-behaved one, while the obedient one may find themselves overlooked, perpetuating a cycle of neglect. Parental affection tends to flow towards the child who demands it most. This is why no one in her family paid much attention to her. The lack of love and sense of being needed became deeply rooted, something she could never quite overcome. So when she met Josiah, who relied on her care and presence so intensely, he quickly became an irreplaceable part of her life. Upon learning more about Dakota's life, the Quirks couldn't help but feel sorry for her. They became even more agitated upon realizing how Dakota had misperceived the kind of person Josiah was. The supposed need for her care was merely Josiah's ploy. By insisting she was the sole person in his life, he effectively isolated her from his social circle. This left Dakota believing he had no other friends or connections. Suddenly, the Quirk family seemed to have noticed something was amiss. Hold on. Didn't she just say earlier... Just as confusion was setting in, they were enlightened by a crucial piece of information.