Chapter 1528
No.1
William's expression tightened. Speak for Isabella? Say what?
This was a massive discovery, yet she had never mentioned it. All these years, he had worried about her solitary life in Africa. He had instructed Reginald Thornton to monitor her wellbeing. He reserved those fifteen percent shares for her, protecting her interests against family pressure.
And Isabella...
Victoria noticed his hesitation. A flicker of triumph crossed her eyes, quickly masked by feigned concern. "Grandfather? Don't tell me she kept you in the dark as well?"
Before William could respond, Eleanor Kensington cut in sharply. "The audacity! Everyone knows how well you treated her. How could she hide something so important from you? This is unbelievable!"
"She's spread her wings now," Gregory sneered. "She wants to fly far away from us. Why would she share her wealth or her diamond mine?"
Emboldened by the family's outrage, Sophia looked at William with wounded eyes. "Grandfather, she doesn't value you. Why do you still defend her?"
"I may be impulsive, but I am your true granddaughter. Your blood flows in my veins. I've always used my allowance to buy you gifts."
"And Isabella? What has she ever done for you? Will you really punish me for someone who doesn't consider you family?"
No.2
William's mind drifted to memories of Sophia. Arrogant, yes, but she always showed him respect. Isabella, on the other hand...
In his advanced years, material wealth meant little. He craved genuine affection from his grandchildren. For five years, Isabella had sent no word. He had always treated his adopted granddaughter as his own. But did she ever see him as her grandfather?
"Who claims I don't consider Grandfather family?"
A clear, resonant voice echoed from the doorway. All heads turned. Isabella Montgomery stood there, her posture regal. She wore a crimson high-waisted dress that accentuated her slender figure and endless legs. She was, as always, breathtakingly stunning.
Jealousy coiled in Victoria's gut. Why did Isabella have to be so flawlessly beautiful? Victoria would give anything to shatter that perfect face and break those elegant legs.
She suppressed her venom and approached Isabella with false warmth. "Isabella, you've arrived just in time. Please, explain everything to Grandfather. I'm sure you had your reasons for cutting contact. I believe you had reasons for not telling him about the diamond mine. Grandfather always favored you. If you explain, he will understand."
Her words were crafted to seem supportive, but they only fueled the family's anger. Even William looked at Isabella with profound disappointment and hurt.
Isabella positioned herself at the room's center, facing their accusatory glares. Her sharp gaze swept over the assembly before settling on Victoria and Sophia. "Are you both certain I made no contact with Grandfather these past five years?" Her voice was laced with icy mockery.
Her intense stare made Sophia shift uncomfortably. A flash of guilt appeared in Sophia's eyes before she defiantly lifted her chin. "Are we mistaken? Grandfather knows the truth! Tell them, Grandfather! Did Isabella ever call? Did she ever send a gift? You worried constantly. You sent her money regularly. And she shows nothing but ingratitude!"
No.3
As anticipated, William's eyes clouded with deeper disappointment. His disillusionment with Isabella was now painfully visible.
Victoria watched with satisfaction as her grandfather’s expression darkened.
She maintained her innocent facade. “Sophia, please don’t say that. I’m sure Isabella didn’t mean it. She must have been overwhelmed with her diamond ventures and simply forgot to call Grandpa. Grandpa, please don’t be upset.”
Her words only deepened the gloomy atmosphere.
Busy? More like deliberately neglectful! William’s disappointment was palpable.
Isabella observed the performance between Sophia and Victoria with detached amusement. She looked like a queen being entertained by court jesters. “Are you two finished?”
She lifted her chin, a faint smirk playing on her lips. “Over the past five years, I attempted to contact Grandpa one hundred and ten times. Every call was blocked. I sent ten gifts. None reached him. I even tried emailing. Each message was intercepted by a hacker. How dare you question why I didn’t reach out?”
Her words were sharp and deliberate, each one landing with precision. She produced a thick stack of documents and flung them toward Sophia and Victoria.
The papers scattered in the air, evidence fluttering down for all to see. Purchase records. Mailing receipts. Call logs. All meticulously documented. Proof of deliberate interference. Photos of Sophia and her assistant Lillian collecting the gifts and discarding them.
No.4
The room froze, captivated by the damning evidence mid-air. Sophia’s face drained of all color.
How was this possible? How did Isabella uncover everything? And with such concrete proof?
William examined the falling documents. Understanding dawned. His face flushed crimson, his mustache quivering with rage. “Good. Very well! Sophia Kensington, you dared to do this behind my back? Reginald, fetch the whip. Make it sting!”
Not wishing to delay, Reginald produced a long, thorn-studded whip. It gleamed under the light, dried bloodstains still visible on its cruel barbs.
Terror seized Sophia. Her legs turned to jelly. “Grandpa, it wasn’t me!” she whimpered weakly. “She fabricated all of this! It’s lies!”
“Whip her. Now! Use all your strength!” William turned away, refusing to listen.
Seeing her beloved daughter facing such a brutal punishment, Penelope rushed forward. “Father, please! Forgive her! Just this once! She didn’t mean any harm!”
“Anyone who pleads for her will share her punishment,” William declared coldly.
Penelope fell silent. A desperate idea sparked in her eyes. She turned to Victoria. “Victoria, my dear niece, please! Speak for her! She’s never been beaten! She treasures her appearance! There will be scars!”
No.5
“I…” Victoria glanced around, feigning helplessness. “Auntie, I have no influence here. Isabella is the victim. If she forgives Sophia, Grandpa will surely relent.”
Hearing this, Penelope scrambled toward Isabella. “Isabella, I beg you! Sophia was wrong! She didn’t intend for this to happen…!”
“Mother, don’t beg her! She’s a witch! She made it all up! It wasn’t me!” Sophia screamed.
Her denial only fueled William’s fury. “Whip her! Now!” he snapped.
“As you wish.” Reginald bowed slightly.
Two bodyguards stepped forward, forcing Sophia onto a bench. Reginald raised the vicious whip high.
He brought it down with full force onto Sophia’s back.
A piercing scream echoed through the hall.
The first lash tore through Isabella’s dress instantly.
No.6
Blood seeped from her delicate skin, staining the fabric crimson.
Her face twisted in agony, but she refused to cry out. “It wasn’t me! Victoria set me up!”
Reginald sighed with resignation. She was too stubborn to admit defeat.
He had no choice but to continue.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Each strike sliced deeper into her flesh.
Her back became a mess of torn skin and blood.
She finally collapsed, barely conscious.
With her last strength, she whispered, “I’m… innocent.”
No.7
Then everything went black.
William’s voice thundered across the room. “Get this liar out of my sight! She’s confined to the estate for three months. No exceptions.”
Three months of house arrest?
Sophia’s career would be ruined.
“Father, she’s a model! Her career will be over if she disappears now!” Penelope protested as she helped carry her daughter away.
“After this disgrace, does she even deserve to be a model?” William scoffed. “She will quit modeling and find a normal job. If she disobeys, she is no longer a Kensington.”
His tone left no room for argument.
Penelope fell silent, her eyes burning with hatred toward Isabella.
This was all her fault.