Chapter 135
No.1
It was utterly bewildering then, that Isabella Montgomery could dismantle his composure so completely. She evoked a fervent, desperate wanting he had not felt since that night.
A wave of cold dread washed over her. Panic, sharp and sudden, seized her. Her teeth sank into his lower lip with brutal force.
A sharp hiss of pain escaped him. His grip on her loosened instinctively.
She shoved him away, scrambling upright. Her eyes blazed with a defensive fury. "What is the meaning of this, Mr. Blackwood? My past does not grant you the right to assault me."
He frowned, his thumb brushing the bead of blood at the corner of his mouth. "That was not my intention—"
"I don't care about your intentions. I expect you to behave. I do not welcome being touched." She moved to stride past him, wanting only to put distance between them. His actions had unearthed a ghost she desperately tried to forget.
His hand shot out, encircling her wrist, halting her retreat. "My apologies," he said, his voice low and solemn. "I lost control."
Her steps faltered. Before she could form a response, he continued. "I merely wished to make something clear, Ms. Montgomery. Your past is of no consequence to me. Furthermore, the proposal I extended upon our first meeting remains open."
The proposal still stands.
No.2
The implication hung heavy in the air. He would still marry her. Take a woman like her, soiled and unchaste, as his wife.
A strange, foreign sensation bloomed in her chest. He turned her to face him, his gaze piercing. "If that is the reason for your continued rejection, discard it. The one who should bear the shame is the monster who harmed you, not you. You have done nothing wrong. Why should you deny yourself the happiness you deserve?"
His words, deep and resonant, were a balm and a challenge. They chipped away at the fortress around her heart.
This was the twenty-first century, yet the stain of violation remained a global taboo. A mark of otherness. Even Alexander Whitmore had told her, five years ago, that she had forfeited the right to be choosy. That she was lucky to have any offer at all.
For five years, her mentors had pushed William Kensington toward her. They praised his willingness to accept her. They called it a blessing. Their underlying message was clear: no respectable man would truly want her. Her accomplishments were secondary to the charity of a husband.
Over time, she had internalized it. She stopped believing she deserved love. She stopped chasing it.
And now, out of nowhere, Nathaniel Blackwood was telling her she had done nothing wrong. That she should not abandon her pursuit of happiness.
Confusion swirled within her. Had she wasted years punishing herself for a crime committed against her? Even if he was willing to accept her, did she truly have the right to stand beside him?
"Apologies," she murmured, pulling her wrist from his grasp. "I need to be alone." She pushed the door open and left. The urge to say yes was a tangible ache, but cooler heads were needed. For both of them.
No.3
Nathaniel’s eyes turned to ice as he watched Isabella walk away. The moment she disappeared from view, he pulled out his phone. He dialed Dominic’s number. “I want the entire Blackthorn Syndicate eliminated,” he commanded. “You have ten days.”
They dared to lay a hand on his woman? He would erase every last trace of them from the earth.
Meanwhile…
Vivienne stepped out of the grand Blackwood Estate. She paused on the gravel driveway. She turned back to look at the imposing mansion.
A cold smirk twisted her lips. Did Nathaniel truly believe she was oblivious? She was a master in every field. Her hearing was far superior to any ordinary person’s. She had distinctly heard faint footsteps from the attic. She had caught the murmur of a child’s voice. And a woman’s.
There was no doubt about it. A woman was hidden inside Nathaniel’s home.
He was keeping a woman secret from her. Who was she? Who could possibly capture Nathaniel’s heart besides Vivienne herself?
She turned sharply to the maid holding the umbrella for her. “Who is the woman living in this mansion?” she demanded.
The maid, Lillian, lowered her head nervously. “I… I don’t know what you’re referring to, Ms. Vivienne.”
No.4
Vivienne let out a derisive laugh. “Do not take me for a fool. Remember your place. I am the woman respected by the Old Master and Madam. I am the future mistress of this house. Choose your next words very carefully.”
Lillian felt a chill run down her spine. She knew Vivienne had the favor of the elders. But her loyalty was to Boss Blackwood. Betraying him would be a fatal mistake.
“Your silence is telling,” Vivienne hissed. Her voice was laced with venom. “Do you think you will keep your position if this umbrella ‘accidentally’ injures me? Hmm?”
The threat was clear. Lillian’s job hung by a thread.
Lillian’s hands trembled. This job was everything. Her parents had used all their connections to secure it for her. She couldn’t lose it.
Defeated, she whispered the name. “It’s Isabella Montgomery.”
Isabella Montgomery.
Vivienne’s eyes darkened instantly. So it was her.
She had heard the rumors from Seraphina before. She had dismissed them as lies meant to provoke her. She never imagined they held truth.
No.5
Isabella was truly with Nathaniel. She was living under his roof.
It all made sense now. This was why Nathaniel had been so distant. That home-wrecker Isabella had seduced him. The image of Isabella’s flawless, captivating face filled her mind. Pure malice ignited in Vivienne’s gaze.
They got into the waiting car. Her assistant, Cassandra, spoke up. “This Isabella Montgomery is dangerously skilled. You must be cautious. Look at this.” She handed her phone to Vivienne.
The screen displayed blazing headlines that overshadowed major news: ‘Agent Isabella’. A video clip showed Isabella moving with lethal, expert precision. How could a mere adopted daughter from a minor family possess such abilities?
Vivienne’s expression soured further. This news was connected to Genevieve. Genevieve was an old friend. They had maintained contact over the years.
A sudden idea struck Vivienne as she quickly dialed Genevieve’s number. “Gigi, how are you holding up?”
“I’m… managing,” Genevieve’s voice trembled, heavy with sorrow. “Please, just let me be alone right now.”
Vivienne sighed softly. “I know it hurts, but he isn’t worth your tears. I just saw Harrison visiting Arabella—all because she manipulated him with her victim act. Don’t waste another second on a man like that!”
“He… went to see her?” Genevieve’s voice broke, sounding utterly defeated. The line went dead moments later.
No.6
She had ended the call.
A cold, calculating gleam flashed in Vivienne’s eyes. So Isabella thought she could win public favor by saving Arabella? She would regret that decision soon enough. Crushing her company was only the beginning!
Less than an hour later, a new headline exploded across the internet. Genevieve had slit her wrists in her bathtub. This was no publicity stunt—the tub was filled with blood, a horrifying scene. She would have died if her maids hadn’t found her in time.
Photos of an unconscious Genevieve being rushed to the hospital spread like wildfire. Her three-year-old daughter wept uncontrollably, her tiny face streaked with tears as she cried for her mother.
The images went viral instantly.
[I’m so angry I could scream! Gigi deserves so much better! That poor little girl… my heart breaks for her!]
[Scarlet destroyed a beautiful family! I hope that homewrecker rots in hell!]
[Gigi is an actual angel—gentle and kind. Why would Scarlet do something so cruel to her?!]
[Let’s be real, the real villain here is Isabella Montgomery. She never should have saved Scarlet today. If she hadn’t interfered, Scarlet would be dead and Gigi wouldn’t have tried to take her own life.]
No.7
[Stop with that nonsense. Our sweet Gigi would never wish death on anyone. She’s just heartbroken by how cruel this world can be. If I were her, I wouldn’t understand why a homewrecker gets to be saved either.]
[Isabella saved Scarlet and publicly defended her. She’s basically rubbing salt in Gigi’s wounds!]
[That video of her jumping off a building to save Scarlet is everywhere now. It’s so obviously staged for clout!]
[Disgusting! Isabella and Scarlet should both just disappear!]
Netizens quickly turned their rage toward Isabella for saving Arabella, making her the new target of their fury.
But it didn’t end there.
Vivienne tweeted: [Some women will sell their souls for money and attention. What do you actually gain from being a homewrecker? Have some shame!]
Vivienne was celebrated as the nation’s top socialite, often compared to royalty. She attended elite events, held multiple patents, and had built a global reputation through her genius innovations. Her social media following neared a billion.
She was a self-made icon in high society, admired for her accomplishments without relying on family connections. Her influence was immense. With one tweet, industry leaders flocked to support her message.