Chapter 1799
No.1
"Enough! You shameless woman! Have you seen what people say online?"
"You're not even half the woman Victoria is!" He grabbed her wrist roughly.
He had never been humiliated like this before.
"You're just a washed-up actress who had an abortion! No one wants you except me!"
Isabella prepared to retaliate when a deep voice interrupted.
"Who said no one wants her?" Nathaniel approached with commanding presence.
Sunlight outlined his powerful physique.
He radiated authority and magnetism.
Four suited bodyguards followed closely behind.
No.2
He moved like royalty inspecting his domain.
Alexander stared in disbelief. "Mr. Blackwood? Why are you here?"
Nathaniel ignored him completely.
His attention focused entirely on Isabella.
She captivated him instantly.
The simple white sundress accentuated her curves perfectly.
Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders as she leaned against the door.
She looked both innocent and dangerously alluring.
How dare she wear something so provocative in front of another man?
No.3
Nathaniel’s eyes darkened with displeasure. He stepped forward, shoving Alexander aside, and shielded Isabella with his own body.
Isabella flushed with embarrassment at his possessive display in front of others.
Before she could speak, Nathaniel pulled her firmly against his chest. He glared at Alexander, his voice cold and threatening. “She belongs to me. If I catch you near her again, your entire family will be exiled from Westchester.”
Alexander stared, stunned. The threat echoed in his mind.
‘Isabella is with Nathaniel Blackwood? He’s willing to go this far to protect her?’
Nathaniel turned sharply to the four men he had brought. “What are you waiting for? Introduce yourselves.”
The command snapped them to attention. They bowed in unison.
“Good morning, Ms. Montgomery. I am Marguerite Dubois, head chef of a three-Michelin-star restaurant in Paris. I will be preparing your breakfast today.”
“A pleasure, Ms. Montgomery. I am Philippe Moreau, executive chef from Le Grand Mariner. I will be assisting as sous chef.”
No.4
“Greetings, Ms. Montgomery. I am…”
Alexander was speechless. These were world-renowned chefs, each commanding six-figure fees. Nathaniel had hired them all just to make Isabella breakfast.
His earlier boast—'no one will treat you better than me’—now seemed pathetic.
Isabella was equally shocked.
‘Did he bring this entire team just to defend me? How much money did he spend?’
While she was still processing it, Nathaniel spoke softly to her. “Tell them whatever you’d like to eat. They will make it for you.”
Then he turned his icy gaze back to Alexander. “Are you leaving on your own, or shall I have you escorted out?”
Alexander paled. He knew better than to test Nathaniel’s patience.
“My apologies. I didn’t realize she was yours. I’ll take my leave immediately.”
No.5
He retreated quickly, his expression grim.
He couldn’t comprehend it. How did a woman as arrogant and damaged as Isabella win Nathaniel’s devotion?
So that was why she rejected him—she was already with Nathaniel Blackwood.
What made her so special?
His assistant walked beside him, voice tense with worry. “What do we do now? If they’re together, we’ll never get the diamond mine or the shares. And with the competition between Isabella and Victoria coming up… if Nathaniel helps her, Victoria doesn’t stand a chance.”
Alexander’s mood soured further.
‘Victoria has the full support of the Montgomery family. But Isabella… she’s clearly using Nathaniel to crush us both. I can’t let her win.’
He looked at his assistant, his eyes cold and decisive. “Send the photos from my e-drive to the media. Now.”
The four chefs began preparing breakfast in the kitchen moments after Alexander departed the estate.
No.6
Nathaniel seized Isabella’s waist, pulling her firmly against him as he swept inside and shut the door.
Isabella was bewildered.
She had assumed he’d overheard their exchange. Yet he behaved as though nothing occurred.
‘Maybe he truly didn’t hear,’ she reasoned, forcing herself to dismiss it.
“Thank you for your assistance earlier. You may dismiss the chefs now.” She stepped out of his embrace, her tone detached.
“Did I say I came to help you?” he replied smoothly.
Isabella stiffened. If not to help, then why was he here?
“I hired these chefs to prepare your breakfast. Helping you humiliate that woman was merely a fortunate coincidence,” Nathaniel stated, a smirk playing on his lips. “If you’re so grateful, I wouldn’t refuse you offering yourself to me.”
She glared, utterly speechless at his arrogance.
No.7
Fury ignited within her.
“Just wait,” she snapped, storming back into the mansion to change.
She reappeared moments later wearing a simple chiffon blouse and fitted jeans.
Nathaniel’s expression darkened.
He hadn’t expected such casual attire to look so provocatively alluring on her. The jeans elongated her legs and accentuated her curves perfectly.
For the first time, a possessive desire to keep her hidden from the world surged through him. It vanished when she thrust his coat back at him.
“I don’t need your favors. Keep your kindness to yourself. I dislike owing people,” she stated, her voice icy and flat.
Nathaniel’s heart clenched. He loved her deeply, yet she only ever pushed him away. “I choose to be good to you. You owe me nothing. If you must, then simply reciprocate my efforts.”
“Nathaniel, how can you say that? I’ve rejected you from the very beginning,” Isabella retorted sharply.