Chapter 142
No.1
"Oh? Is that so?" A dangerous smirk played on Isabella's lips. "I fully intend to pay. Let's get a medical team here immediately to assess the damages. I will cover every cent. However..."
Her smirk widened. "...you will reimburse me for the vehicles you destroyed. The total cost is three hundred thousand dollars. Prepare the payment."
Three hundred thousand dollars?
The vandals stared, stunned into silence, momentarily forgetting the caterpillars.
The live-streamer recovered first. "Three hundred thousand? Let it be! Righteous citizens will help us raise the funds! We gladly vandalized the cars of a company that protects home-wreckers! A cheap company that signs such immoral artists!"
[Right! Agreed!]
[So satisfying to watch!]
[Send the address! I'm coming to help!]
[Give me your account number! I'll donate ten thousand!]
Rage-filled comments flooded the live stream. Emboldened by the support, the streamer glared at Isabella. "See? You protected a home-wrecker! You deserve this! You're public enemy number one now! Not the idolized Boss Montgomery anymore!"
His companions joined the verbal assault. "The accomplice is worse than the perpetrator! You showed no concern about your artist's disgusting behavior! You even shielded her! Disgusting!"
"You attacked us, the champions of justice, with these insects! Now taste your own medicine!"
One man scooped a handful of caterpillars and hurled them directly at Isabella.
She didn't flinch. She didn't move.
Ten black-suited bodyguards materialized instantly, forming an impenetrable wall in front of her. The caterpillars smacked harmlessly against their tailored suits. In a synchronized motion, the guards brushed the insects off. The caterpillars fell to the ground, motionless.
No.2
The display was swift. Professional. Overwhelming.
Everyone stared, shocked. They never anticipated Isabella having such elite, ever-present protection.
Each bodyguard was formidable. Soldier-like. Exceptionally handsome.
The mob quickly shook off their stunned silence.
The man holding the live-stream camera glared viciously at the guards.
“Why are you all acting like loyal dogs? Why defend a traitor? Move! Get out of our way!”
“Isabella protected that homewrecker, and you’re still shielding her? Has GoldenPhoenix lost all its dignity?”
“A rotten leader breeds rotten followers! Isabella, you bully ordinary people and use your wealth to crush us even more! This is pure oppression!”
“Let’s charge them! Attack!”
A rallying cry went up. The crowd surged forward like a frenzied beast. The live-streamer joined the rush.
A woman tangled in the net snatched a rock from the ground, aiming it straight at Isabella.
Though trapped, the mob's collective force dragged the heavy net and the writhing caterpillars along with them.
The scene descended into utter chaos.
Isabella’s brow furrowed. If her guards retaliated, it would escalate everything. The backlash would be brutal, especially with women present…
The guards braced, electric batons humming to life. They stood ready, a wall against the oncoming frenzy.
No.3
The gap closed. The women took aim. The guards prepared to strike.
“Halt!” Isabella commanded.
She was no saint, but she wasn’t foolish. Escalating this solved nothing. This could be resolved without violence!
Just as her mind raced for a solution…
“Stop! Please, you have it all wrong!”
A clear, strong voice cut through the noise. Everyone turned. A heavily pregnant woman hurried toward them, waddling with effort.
“I’m Isabella’s personal assistant,” she announced, breathless. “You’re mistaken. Isabella saved Arabella not to protect a homewrecker… but because Arabella is not a homewrecker.”
Shock rippled through the crowd. Not a homewrecker? How could that be?
The mob hesitated, wary of harming a pregnant woman, but their anger didn't subside.
“How is she not? The evidence is everywhere! Why lie?”
“You’re about to be a mother. Have some decency for your child!”
“Even Harrison said she was! Arabella herself is hiding. What’s left to lie about? If she’s not, then who is?”
“Is GoldenPhoenix using a pregnant woman to spin lies? How despicable! I hope you go bankrupt!”
The pregnant woman stood her ground. “It’s true Arabella was with Harrison. But she was deceived! Before you judge, listen to this!”
She raised a portable speaker and pressed play.
No.4
A recording blasted into the air.
(Harrison, let's get married. It’s been six years. I’ll put my career on hold for you.)
[No. You’re at your peak. Marriage now is impossible.]
(Harrison, this is my thirty-ninth proposal. Your thirty-ninth rejection. Be honest. Do you love someone else? Are you already married?)
[How could you think that? I’m not that kind of man! Listen, Arabella, this is for your own good…]
The voices were unmistakable. Arabella’s gentle tone, Harrison’s dismissive replies. The conversation was crystal clear.
But the content… it was completely different from the story everyone knew.
Some of the attackers fell silent at the new evidence.
Others remained skeptical and voiced their doubts.
“Where did this recording come from? Did you pay someone to fabricate it?”
“If this is true, why didn’t Arabella come forward herself?”
“This has to be edited. Don’t think you can trick us with fake proof!”
Their protests grew louder and more aggressive.
The pregnant woman stepped forward confidently.
“Arabella stayed silent because she had no proof. This audio was obtained by Isabella Montgomery.”
No.5
“She contacted Vertex Communications and requested an overnight search of their archives.”
“It’s completely authentic.”
She continued, her voice clear and strong.
“Dozens of technicians worked through years of call records.”
“They located this conversation just an hour ago.”
“Vertex Communications will verify this recording’s legitimacy.”
“If it’s fabricated, they will accept full legal responsibility.”
Though visibly pregnant, she carried undeniable authority.
Isabella recognized her immediately.
Eleanor Kensington, former Vice President of Vertex Communications.
She had resigned recently due to her pregnancy.
Isabella had indeed requested the records search.
But she had never spoken to Eleanor directly.
How did she know so many details?
Meanwhile, the live stream comments exploded.
No.6
[That’s definitely Eleanor Kensington. She’s reputable and doesn’t lie!]
[Hello, I’m the current President of Vertex. I confirm this recording is genuine.]
[I’m Gregory Whitmore, lead investigator on this project. I also verify its authenticity.]
Gregory Whitmore was Vertex’s head of security.
A decorated former soldier and respected professional.
All usernames were officially verified.
These were real people staking their reputations.
The evidence was undeniable.
Viewers were just as stunned as the trapped attackers.
So Arabella was deceived by Harrison?
She never knew he was married?
The mob’s anger began to shift.
“How could this happen? Harrison lied to everyone?”
“So Arabella wasn’t the other woman? She was victimized?”
“Isabella, you protected her because you knew the truth?”
No.7
“All this time, Arabella suffered unjust accusations…”
Isabella responded calmly to their questions.
“You thought her suicide attempt was an act? After I pulled her back, she slit her wrists.”
“She’s still recovering, weak and traumatized.”
“Think about it. If she were truly shameless, why would she try to kill herself?”
“Harrison lied to her from the beginning.”
“He manipulated her emotionally and financially for years.”
“He took everything from her—her trust, her money, her dignity.”
Isabella’s voice grew sharper.
“What happened to Genevieve is tragic, yes.”
“But Arabella is just as much a victim!”
“The only person to blame here is Harrison Winslow.”
“You’ve all attacked Arabella from the beginning, yet none of you held Harrison accountable for his actions. When an affair happens between a woman and a married man, why does the woman bear all the blame while the man gets to return to his family and receive forgiveness without consequences?”