Chapter 1854
No.1
Her words were sharp, final. She shoved the engagement ring into Margaret’s palm. Holding her gown, she stormed away. Tears glistened in her eyes, yet her stride was fierce and unyielding. She perfectly embodied the betrayed woman reclaiming her power.
Her team watching—Maxwell, Julian, Harrison—silently applauded her masterful performance.
The guests in the lobby and the live-stream audience erupted in praise and respect.
The elders from the Montgomery and Whitmore families looked ready to collapse from fury and shame.
As Isabella neared the exit, Penelope rushed down the stairs and grabbed her arm. “Ms. Montgomery, wait! Please, come with me!” She urgently pulled Isabella toward the staircase.
Paparazzi trying to follow were immediately blocked by family bodyguards. Behind the screens, Nathaniel stood, Oliver in his arms. They headed for the private VIP elevator.
On the second floor of The Ritz-Carlton…
Victoria knelt on the floor, tears streaming relentlessly down her face. Alexander knelt beside her. His father, Victor Whitmore, raged before them, his anger white-hot.
Eleanor, Richard, and Benjamin Kensington were also present. They stared, hearts broken, expressions复杂. Disbelief was etched on their faces.
No.2
Victoria was their beloved, their favorite. Especially Eleanor. She never imagined Victoria capable of such indecency. During the earlier interview, Eleanor truly believed in Victoria's kindness and generosity. This revelation was a devastating blow. Eleanor had only wanted to help Victoria recover financially, even hoping to introduce her to Sebastian Blackwood!
She never dreamed Victoria would entangle herself with Alexander behind their backs. Let alone sleep with him.
The memory of Victoria’s betrayal burned in Isabella’s mind.
She clutched Victoria’s sleeves, her heart twisting in agony.
She shook her fiercely. “Why, Victoria? Why would you do this? When did you become this kind of person? Do you realize you’re destroying your own life? How could you betray me like this?”
Victoria stood frozen, completely stunned.
She felt helpless and terrified, her mind going blank.
One moment she was lost in passion with Alexander.
The next, a crowd burst into the room.
No.3
Isabella had slapped her without warning.
It wasn’t until she heard the shouting that she understood.
Everything that happened had been live-streamed.
It was over. Victoria was finished.
The whole world now knew she slept with Alexander.
Their private conversations were broadcast for all to hear.
What could she do now? How could she possibly fix this?
Nearby, Penelope was heard sobbing. “Isabella, I’m begging you. Please forgive Victoria. She’s going to be torn apart by the public! You’re the only one who can help her now!”
All eyes turned to Isabella standing calmly by the door.
No.4
She had removed all her wedding accessories.
Her hair fell loose and wild around her shoulders.
She looked beautifully disheveled, like a storm.
Victoria’s eyes widened in realization.
Isabella… Isabella was here!
This had to be her doing. It was all her plan.
She made her the bridesmaid on purpose.
She designed the wedding in Victoria’s favorite theme.
She said those triggering words to push her toward Alexander.
No.5
Victoria never intended to seek him out.
But Isabella’s sharp words broke her control.
Victoria scrambled to her feet, pointing accusingly. “Isabella! How could you do this to me? You’re pure evil!”
“Evil?” Isabella let out a cold laugh. “You’re calling me evil after what you’ve done? Victoria Kensington, if you wanted my diamond mine so badly, you could have just asked. I would have given it to you. Why ruin my wedding day? Do you know how long I’ve planned for this?”
“I canceled all my projects. I lost millions in endorsements. All I wanted was to marry Alexander and live a simple life. Why did you have to destroy everything?”
Isabella’s voice trembled with raw pain and fury.
Victoria shook her head violently. “No! You planned this from the start! It’s all a lie! You never loved Alexander! You set up those cameras! You designed this trap to ruin me! You—”
Before she could finish, Eleanor’s hand struck her cheek again.
Victoria stumbled backward, her face stinging.
No.6
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
She touched her lip, staring at Eleanor in disbelief. “Mother… you hit me? Again?”
Eleanor had never raised a hand to her before today.
Now she had been slapped twice.
“How can you show no remorse after such a shameful act?” Eleanor cried out. “How can you still blame Isabella? What happened to the daughter I raised?”
The woman before her felt like a stranger.
“All of you blame me,” Victoria rasped, her voice breaking. “But I never wanted this to happen!”
“It was Isabella! She set everything up! She planted cameras in this room! She never intended to marry Alexander! This whole wedding was a trap! I’m telling the truth!”
Isabella’s gaze turned icy. “It’s easy to check who installed the cameras. But even if I did, did I force you into bed with Alexander? Did I tell you to plot against me and steal what’s mine?”
No.7
“Y-You…!” Victoria stammered, turning desperately toward Alexander who knelt nearby.
“Alexander, speak! Think carefully. In the past month, did Isabella ever truly love you? Was her intention to marry you even real?”
All eyes focused on Alexander.
Kneeling, Alexander felt utterly humiliated and defeated. The moment he saw Isabella in her wedding dress, an absurd thought crossed his mind—he genuinely wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, to make her his real wife! Then Victoria showed up. He couldn't control his urges. Everything spiraled when Victoria hugged and kissed him. She kept professing her love, her pain.
“Just one more time. You’ll be married for at least a month after this. I won’t disturb you until then,” she had whispered.
He fell for it. He genuinely pitied her, wanted to comfort her. This one mistake ruined everything—his wedding, their reputations. What could he say now? What was left?
Alexander had never knelt before. Yet there he was, on the floor, punched by his father Victor. Publicly shamed in front of everyone. Including Isabella.
Seeing his silence, Margaret rushed forward and slapped him. “What are you doing? Speak! Apologize to Isabella! Beg for her forgiveness!”