Chapter 1827

No.1

“Of course not! Never think that,” Isabella reassured him softly.

Isabella worried Oliver might fall sick again. She gently tousled his hair. "Mommy needs to handle some family matters. I'll come straight home to you after, okay?"

"Pinky swear! You have to keep your promise!" Oliver held out his tiny pinky, watching her with serious eyes.

She linked her pinky with his. "Mommy will be back soon."

"Yay! I'll walk you to the door!" Oliver beamed, leading her downstairs by the hand.

In the living room, Nathaniel was lounging on the sofa. He held a document, looking effortlessly poised like a magazine cover model.

Isabella's gaze lingered a moment too long. She quickly shook herself out of it. "I need to go to the family manor for a bit. Please watch Christopher for me."

"I'll drive you." Nathaniel immediately set the document aside and grabbed his car keys.

Before she could refuse, Oliver chimed in, "Me too!"

No.2

Isabella had no choice. She got into the car, cradling the sleepy Christopher. A maid handed her a breakfast bag. "Mr. Blackwood asked us to prepare this for you."

"Thank you," Isabella murmured, accepting the warm milk and ham sandwich. The simple gesture thawed a small part of her frozen heart. It had been so long since anyone made her breakfast.

Nathaniel could be surprisingly thoughtful.

She handed a sandwich to Oliver. "Let's eat together."

"Yay!" Oliver cheered, taking the food with both hands.

They chatted happily during the short drive. Soon, the grand gates of the Montgomery Manor came into view.

"Just stop here," Isabella said. "I'll walk the rest of the way."

Nathaniel understood she wanted to keep his involvement private. He didn't argue, pulling the car over.

Oliver's cheerful mood vanished. He clung to her arm. "Mommy, you have to come back! Don't forget me!"

No.3

"Don't worry. We pinky swore, remember? I'll find you as soon as I'm done." She gave his hair one last ruffle and stepped out.

As she passed the driver's side, Nathaniel rolled down the window. His voice was a deep, steady reassurance. "Call me if you need anything."

Lately, her heart did a strange, heavy thump whenever she looked at him. She pushed the feeling aside. "Don't worry. I can handle the small problems, at least." She turned and walked toward the manor with confident strides.

Nathaniel watched her go, a slight frown forming. Sometimes, he wished she was just an ordinary woman...

Inside the Montgomery Manor's grand hall, the entire family was gathered.

Eleanor was wailing dramatically. "Dad, this truly wasn't Victoria's fault! Gabriella was the one sentenced to jail! How could you give ten percent of Victoria's shares to an outsider like Isabella?"

"I object as well!" Frederick protested. "Isabella now holds twenty-five percent! That's more than my wife and me combined. It's completely unfair!"

The room erupted in noisy agreement. They didn't care about Victoria's guilt. They only cared that valuable shares were in the hands of an outsider.

William sat with his eyes closed, listening to the chaos. After a moment, he opened them. "Are you all finished? Are you attempting to rebel against me now?" Though his voice was soft, his age and authority made it ring with undeniable power. The room fell silent.

No.4

Victoria’s sudden move caught everyone by surprise. She tried to backtrack quickly. “Father, why would we ever fight you? All we want is what’s best for the family. Handing over most of our family shares to an outsider… it just doesn’t make sense.”

“That’s right,” Gregory chimed in, frustration clear in his tone. “Even if Victoria was somehow involved… taking her shares is one thing. But why give them to Isabella? She isn’t one of us.”

William’s eyes hardened. “How many times must I say it? Isabella grew up in this house. She lost her parents—we are her family. She is not an outsider!

“Since she returned from Africa, has she brought any disgrace to this family? Look at what Victoria has done! Anyone with half a brain can see the truth!”

Victoria’s face went pale. The old man clearly didn’t trust her at all. She quickly put on a pitiful expression and weakly stepped toward him. “Grandfather, I know you suspect me, but I am innocent. I would never hurt my sister. Gabriella did everything, I swear to heaven. I would never—”

“Enough.” William’s voice cut like ice. “You might fool a child with that act, but not me. I am neither a fool nor an idiot!” He struck his cane hard against the floor, silencing her.

Victoria’s face lost even more color. She had gathered everyone here today hoping to reclaim her ten percent share, but the old man was being impossibly stubborn.

Why did he favor an adopted child so much? Over the past five years, she had contributed so much to the family. She brought them honor, bought expensive gifts. Ten percent was a fortune… and it was going to Isabella?

No. She would get it back, no matter what it took. Her eyes burned with fierce determination, though she masked it behind a veil of tears.

No.5

“If Grandfather doesn’t believe me, and no one here does either… then fine. Assume I did it. Assume I am guilty of everything. I’ll give my life to make up for it! Mother, Father, thank you for raising me. I’ll repay you in my next life.” With that, she lunged toward the wall, aiming to smash her head against it.

Screams erupted. Eleanor instinctively rushed forward and grabbed her. “Victoria, don’t be foolish! Stop this! I can’t lose you!”

“Let me die, Mother! Everyone suspects me! My fans hate me, my own family turns on me…” Victoria sobbed, tears streaming convincingly down her cheeks. Her voice grew hoarse. “It’s my fault for not guiding Gabriella properly. I deserve this punishment!”

Eleanor’s heart shattered. But just as she opened her mouth to plead—

“Let her hit the wall. Let’s see if she actually does it.”

A cold, clear voice cut through the chaos. Everyone turned.

Isabella strode into the hall. She wore a smoke-gray gradient tube dress with bold crimson floral patterns. A phoenix was embroidered across her chest, radiating elegance and power.

Eleanor was furious. “What did you just say, Isabella?! Victoria is your sister! She always protected you since you were little! How can you be so cruel? Are you even human?”

“What?”

No.6

Care? Protection?

Victoria had encouraged laziness since childhood, ensuring Isabella would never amount to anything. She pushed for outrageous fashion choices, praising cheap and tasteless outfits. Victoria systematically molded her into the family’s black sheep. Was this the care William spoke of?

Isabella remained utterly unfazed. “Who’s the real monster here? Who harmed countless people just to get to me, then played the innocent victim? Victoria Kensington, you should be an actress, not a model.”

“Your performance is Oscar-worthy. Should I record this and post it online? You’d go viral.”

Victoria’s face tightened. Isabella was cornering her! The sheer audacity!

She masked her rage with a wounded expression. “Isabella, what will make you believe me? If Mother hadn’t stopped me, I would have died crashing into that wall. But she was right. What would happen to her if I died? She raised me all these years. I can’t let her suffer that loss.”

“I’ll swear it, okay? I swear to God: If I had any part in this, may my parents disown and despise me. May I die a lonely, abandoned orphan!” Victoria vowed, pouring every ounce of fake sincerity into her trembling voice.

The room fell silent. The oath was brutal. Pity for her apparent anguish filled the air. Even William’s stern gaze softened slightly. Had he misjudged her?

Isabella watched the theatrics with cold amusement. A cruel vow? She was already an orphan her real parents never wanted.

No.7

Victoria continued her lament, playing the misunderstood, unloved daughter.

‘If she loves acting so much, I’ll give her a standing ovation,’ Isabella thought, a sharp smile playing on her lips. “I might have believed you. Sadly, I have proof.” She flung a stack of photos at Victoria.

The images were from the Mercedes Auto Show backstage. One captured a knowing glance between Victoria and Isadora. Another showed Victoria’s venomous stare directed at her agent. A third clearly displayed a money transfer from Victoria to Isadora.

The amount was $19,500. The exact price Silas the dealer quoted for the halophilic bacteria. The transaction date matched Isadora’s court testimony perfectly.

Shocked gasps echoed through the room. Disbelief was etched on every face.

“My God! How could Victoria be so wicked?”

“The evidence is undeniable. She’s clearly involved.”

“What did Isabella ever do to deserve such hatred? She looks murderous!”