Chapter 301 - So Slow

Andrea received news from Hanxi that Isabella was coming for a visit. Over the year Andres Islands had performed well in the Italian Market. Hanxi even flew to Italy a few times to help promote the islands. Both he and Isabella had become very good friends. 

Her only regret was that the two did not seem to have developed any romantic feelings for each other or at least she thought. 

Hanxi has changed in little ways. Seldom had he lost himself in alcohol as of recently. Although there was this one time, a month before she gave birth, he drank a lot and locked himself inside his room. He only came out the next day. Andrea never learned the reason, but he was back to his usual self immediately. She did not push her interrogation any further.  

Andrea wanted to have a little chat with Isabella, not having seen her since their honeymoon, she wanted to catch up. Sadly, Lu Fang never allowed her to travel internationally while she was carrying Angela. It was Arti who flew to the Maldives for the most part. 

Getting inside their Audi, Andrea grinned. It was Juan behind the wheels, one of Gao Rou's men. She recalled him to be the Mexican race car driver. 

"Hey Juan! How are you? I've been Juandering how you were?" Andrea said, enunciating well his name. "I bet you've been having a Juanderful time in Gabriel's Den. Have you?"

Juan was confused. He swore he heard his name with the words, but it all sounded the same so he simply replied, "I'm doing good Ms. Li - Oh, sorry. It has been a while. Mrs. Lu rather."

Hanxi was already inside sitting next to her sister. He turned to Andrea and said, " Andy, I think your lines work best when you type them as a text."

"Yeah, you are right. Hey, Juan. What's your number?" Andrea asked. 

She ended up texting Juan the same words she gave him earlier, and they all ended up in laughter at her attempt to make a joke. 

Jaun was thankful they had a nice second lady boss. Not only was she capable of keeping up with the dark world the Lus kept hidden from the public eye, but she was also comfortable to be with. 

When Gao Rou had told him that Andrea specifically requested for him to be her personal driver, he was pleased. He was tired of driving criminals in and out of Gabriel's Den. 

They were parked at the VIP exit of Beijing Capital International Airport, waiting for Isabella and her company to arrive. 

Isabella wanted to bring along bodyguards with her but Hanxi assured her it was unnecessary since he was strong enough to protect her. 

"Hey, sis. They are coming out. Let's go," said Hanxi as he hurriedly stepped outside the car. 

"Hanxi!" Isabella screamed and ran to him while dragging along a four-year-old boy. "Look, Matteo! It's uncle Hanxi!"

Andrea saw them hug each other warmly. Her brother then greeted the boy, giving him a fist bump. She smiled thinking that Hanxi was really such a good man and he would have been perfect for Isabella and a wonderful father to her son. 

It was after Hanxi's second visit to Italy that she learned of Isabella's son. Andrea was so occupied of her pregnancy, she never got to investigate Isabella further. She just relied on her instincts. Her heart told her she was a person who could be trusted fully. 

Her brother confessed that he felt incredibly sorry for Isabella. The fact that she bore a child after her trauma, he was sure she was not accepting of the child. In fact, Isabella only told her before he was about to leave for Beijing. Hanxi ended up extending his stay in Italy for another two weeks. 

Hanxi convinced Isabella to introduce him to the boy. He was worried about how he would feel but when Isabella brought him to another home, far from the city. He realized she had isolated him. It was her mother who took care of the child, far from their actual home. 

Andrea could never forget how Hanxi narrated everything, and it made her even more proud to have a brother like him, blood-related or not. For her, Hanxi was her brother.

Hanxi never showed hesitation. Upon seeing the boy, he immediately praised him for his good looks. He looked more like Isabella. He spent a lot of time with the boy, Matteo. In fact, he spent more time with him than with Isabella after that. 

It puzzled Isabella completely how Hanxi showed more attention to Matteo than her. When she asked him why he was giving so much affection to the child, he said, "Because every child needs love, Isabella. I understand you are not ready to give it, but when you are ready, I hope you can let him know it was not his fault."

Hanxi and Isabella did not speak after that, but he continued to visit the boy up until their last stay. He even taught him a thing or two about martial arts. 

It was only Isabella's mother and Matteo who appreciated Hanxi's effort. 

A month after his return to Beijing, Isabella had reached out to Hanxi. They became very good friends since. Matteo had also lived with them and slowly, Isabella began to accept him. 

The truth was, Hanxi's words hurt her, but seeing that someone else had shown love to Matteo, she realized her fault. As his mother, she should have given him that love and not a stranger. 

Andrea joined in on some video calls Hanxi made with Isabella. She also made sure not to make Isabella feel that Matteo was a mistake. She praised him and invited him to meet the twins. The invitation was one reason why they have arrived today. 

"Ms. Andrea! Long time no see!" Isabella called out to her. 

Andrea walked towards her, smiling. She first leaned down to greet Matteo and said, "Hello buddy. How are you? I have something for you. Here you go."

Matteo's eyes grew wide at the sight of a Thomas train toy, "Wow! Thomas! I love him."

"I bet you do and I heard you want all of Thomas' friends as well!"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Matteo screamed in excitement. 

"How about we do some shopping some time?" Andrea suggested. 

They were happily chatting with each other when a man coughed behind them carrying two luggage. Andrea saw a man seemingly in this early thirties. He was bearded with short hair and looked very handsome. 

"Oh, Ms. Andrea. I'm sorry," Isabella said while laughing. "This is Ricardo, my boyfriend."

Andrea's smile disappeared instantly. She turned to Hanxi, but he merely grinned and extended his hand to Ricardo. 

She glared at him while screaming in silence, 'Seriously, bro? You are soooo slowwww!!!'