Chapter 1742
No.1
“I… I dreamed of Isabella. She was running away…” Her voice shook with terror.
Her mind foggy, she clutched Richard’s arm. “Tell me it was just a dream. The lawyer hasn’t come, right? Victoria is still our real daughter, isn’t she?”
Richard frowned and sighed heavily after a long pause. He said nothing.
The hospital room grew thick with tension.
Eleanor’s grip on his arm slackened, her hand falling away.
His silence confirmed the truth. It was no nightmare. Victoria was not her biological daughter. Her real daughter was Isabella…
Isabella was the same daughter Eleanor had scolded and beaten as a child. She had despised this 'adopted daughter' so much she even removed her from the family registry. She had even brought men to attack her private manor! A tidal wave of guilt and regret crashed over her. She clutched Richard's arm desperately. "Oh, Richard, what do we do now? How can we possibly face Isabella? Will she ever forgive us? I'm too ashamed to even look at her!"
"I'm utterly ashamed as well," Richard sighed heavily.
At least Eleanor had been kind to Isabella when she first brought her home. Everyone else had fought against the decision, assuming Eleanor and Richard were just scheming for a larger share of the family fortune. It had caused a massive scandal back then. Because of that, Richard had never liked Isabella from the start. He had never shown her a single ounce of kindness.
No.2
Just then, Penelope approached Richard. "Brother, Father said no matter how ashamed you both feel, you must go and find Isabella."
"Look at the mess we're in," Gregory added, stepping out from behind Penelope. "We're fifty billion in debt. Bankruptcy is imminent, and there's no way we can find that kind of money. Only Isabella can save us now."
Eleanor was furious hearing this. "What right do you have to say that? When I first brought Isabella home, all of you thought I was just angling for a bigger share of the family assets! You all wanted her gone! For twenty-three years, have any of you ever stopped treating her with hostility? Have you ever stopped condemning her and hurling insults? Now that we're in trouble, you want her to use her own money to bail us out? Have you no shame?"
"Isn't Isabella the true heiress of this family? Saving the family is her duty!" Sophia declared, walking over.
It was true, Sophia did not like Isabella. But Isabella was the only one who could save them now. That was the only reason Sophia was joining in to persuade them to bring Isabella back. At least to save the family first.
Richard scoffed, "That's not what any of you said when she secured her share of the family trust. You're all well aware of how we treated her all these years! We looked down on her during our prosperous days, and now that we're drowning, we expect her to rescue us? I'm too ashamed to even ask! If you feel no shame, then you go find her yourselves!" His voice was firm and laced with fury. Since Theodore was on their side, Sophia and her parents shrank back under Richard's words.
Richard and Eleanor didn't care what the others thought. The moment they discovered Isabella was their biological daughter, their only desire was to see her, to apologize, to beg for her forgiveness. To ask her to come home and save the family's crumbling empire? They were far too ashamed for that.
Sophia pouted, slumping into a chair angrily. "Fine then! Let's all just live in this hospital forever! Let's survive on hospital meal boxes for the rest of our lives! This is our fate now!"
"The Montgomery family is so unlucky," Gregory muttered under his breath. "What's so difficult about keeping track of your own children? One daughter gets swapped and the real one isn't even willing to take responsibility…"
No.3
Richard exploded with rage. He slammed his palms on the table and shot to his feet. "Say that again! Who isn't willing to take responsibility?!"
"What I'm saying… what I mean is…" Gregory hastily hid behind Penelope, peeking out from behind her, "Whether she was the real daughter or the adopted one, they were both your daughters! Especially that Victoria. You raised her! Of course you have to take full responsibility for this mess!"
"That's not what you said when you were accepting gifts from Victoria worth tens of thousands of dollars!" Eleanor retorted angrily.
The scene was devolving into another family brawl.
Suddenly…
"Enough!"
A hoarse, aged voice cut through the chaos. Theodore anchored his walker heavily onto the floor. "A bunch of useless trash. Stop this squabbling immediately! Richard, you will go and apologize to Isabella. Right now. No matter what, you must secure her forgiveness. As for saving the Montgomery family, only ask if she is willing. If she is willing, the entire Montgomery family and all its assets will belong to her. If she is not, do not force it… I only wish for her to come home and share a meal with us."
Theodore desired nothing else—he merely longed to hear her call him 'Grandpa' one more time. All these years, she had addressed him as Grandpa while being the adopted daughter. Theodore yearned to hear it from the family's true heiress.
However, Sophia instantly jumped to her feet in protest. "No! The entire Montgomery family cannot go to her!"
No.4
The Montgomery family, if Isabella chose to save them, would be valued at nearly two hundred billion. That figure would skyrocket once their other assets were included. Though the Montgomery Group carried heavy debt, its proprietary technologies and dedicated workforce were irreplaceable. With sufficient capital infusion and retaining their core team, the Montgomery Group could swiftly reclaim its former prestige. If Isabella gained sole ownership, the rest of the family would be entirely dependent on her, stripped of their shares. They would lose all annual dividends.
Theodore Montgomery shot Sophia a cold glare. "If you can produce fifty billion to rescue this family, then you may claim the Montgomery Group."
Sophia fell silent. If she possessed that kind of wealth, she wouldn't be standing here pleading.
Theodore turned to Richard. "Remember, our only objective is to apologize. Whether she agrees to help is secondary."
"Understood, Father. We know our place after everything that's happened," Richard assured him. Eleanor sighed heavily beside them. "I'm still too ashamed to face her..."
Even a simple apology felt impossible while they were destitute. Asking for financial salvation was an even greater humiliation. Given their past mistreatment and the mountain of debt, how could Isabella possibly agree?
"Eleanor, you must go." Beatrice entered from the adjacent ward. She offered comfort, "An apology to Isabella is necessary. The Montgomerys cannot continue like this. We've exhausted every contact; no one will assist us. If Isabella provides the funds, as Theodore stated, all Montgomery assets and shares become hers. Furthermore, she can receive half of the Kensington family's fortune."
The Kensington family?
That was Beatrice's lineage, which included Eleanor's father—Isabella's great-grandfather. The Kensingtons were centuries-old ceramic developers, producing and supplying exquisite pieces. Their work was classified as nationally protected artifacts, with legends stating their ancestors crafted for royalty. However, the market for such cultural art was niche. Mass-produced commercial ceramics had overshadowed them, despite their superior value and heritage.
No.5
Eleanor frowned. "Would Grandfather truly agree to give half his estate to Isabella? That's at least thirty billion!"
"A sigh... You don't understand. Your grandfather only had your uncle and me. Your uncle was meant to inherit, but... he and his wife could never have children. They're in their late sixties now, still childless—too traditional to consider adoption. With no heir, the estate's future troubles him deeply. When I spoke to him today and mentioned Isabella, he expressed confidence in her. He's willing to grant her half," Beatrice explained.
After all, Eleanor was Senior Kensington's granddaughter, making Isabella his great-granddaughter. She was the youngest direct descendant of his bloodline.
A flicker of hope sparked in Eleanor. "With half the Kensington assets... Isabella would only need to provide around twenty billion to save the Montgomerys. Perhaps she'll agree... I'll speak with her."
Sophia seethed with envy. Isabella was so fortunate to have a great-grandfather ready to bequeath his fortune. Why was she so blessed?
Why didn't she have a generous great-grandfather like that?
Outside the ward, an elegant figure halted. Vivienne had come to Grace Memorial Hospital to visit a friend and had coincidentally overheard the entire conversation. Her fists clenched tightly.
Isabella knew the Hahn family's reputation intimately.
They were the sole dynasty in the nation honored as 'Ceramic Royalty' and 'Living National Treasures'.
No.6
Their craftsmanship was legendary.
Each piece was meticulously handcrafted for royal patrons across the globe.
Their output was intentionally scarce, creating years-long waiting lists for their exquisite work.
Nathaniel's grandmother was their most devoted collector.
She dispatched aides annually to secure her place in the queue, adding a new Hahn masterpiece to her private trove.
If Isabella reclaimed her Montgomery birthright and gained control of both the family shares and half the Hahn fortune…
Nathaniel's grandmother would undoubtedly champion her.
She would wholeheartedly support a union between Isabella and Nathaniel.
McKenzie had intended to expose Isabella to the Blackwoods.
No.7
But after overhearing the Montgomerys' discussion…
Isabella's hidden lineage changed everything.
McKenzie couldn't afford any risks.
She had to drive Nathaniel and Isabella apart before the Blackwoods discovered the truth.
McKenzie stormed out of Grace Memorial Hospital.
She slid into her car and immediately dialed Miranda.
"Any progress on locating Annabel?"
"Madam, I was just calling you. You must come to The Grand Mariner at once. I'll be at the service entrance," Miranda's voice buzzed with urgency.
"Drive to The Grand Mariner. Now," McKenzie commanded her driver.