Chapter 1974
No.1
Even to save herself, she could have found another buyer. Sixty percent of shares at half price was a discount of billions! Many would marry her for that! Many! If no one would, she could sell the shares, leave Westchester, and start over abroad!
Victoria held his gaze. “Even if you don’t love me, you’re still the man I love. Besides, if I sold to someone else, Isabella might just buy them back. What’s the point in that?”
She wanted the entire Montgomery family to collapse. She wanted it beyond saving, even with Isabella’s money!
The Montgomerys looked down on her? Soon, they would understand true despair!
Instead of running, she would become Mrs. Whitmore. She would watch Isabella return to a ruined family…a family under Alexander’s control! Alexander studied her. After a moment’s pause, he said, “I agre—”
Before he could finish…BANG!
The door burst open. A cool-looking boy with blond hair stood in the doorway. “Brother, don’t believe her! She’s lying! I heard her on the phone in the stairwell! She said she has no cash and needs to use someone! She said once the share price rises, her stocks will be worth more! She talked about the Montgomerys buying back her shares, Isabella wanting them—even you would want them! Then she could sell high and watch you all fight! She plans to use the shares to force you to stay married! She wants to get pregnant with your child to trap you with sympathy!”
What?
Alexander’s face darkened. His gaze turned icy as he glared at Victoria. How calculating could she be?!
Victoria shook her head frantically. “Alexander, don’t listen to him! I’m not like that! Why would I do that? Someone must have sent him to ruin our deal! You can’t trust a child!” She jumped up and moved toward the boy.
Victoria Kensington snarled at the cleverly disguised Oliver Blackwood. “Who gave you permission to enter? You—”
“Ahh! I didn’t make any of this up! Don’t hurt me! Please! Big brother, save me!” Oliver cried out, scrambling to hide behind Alexander Whitmore.
Alexander’s gaze shifted from Victoria’s furious expression to the trembling child behind him. “Get out, Victoria Kensington,” he hissed.
He never wished to lay eyes on that deceitful woman again.
Victoria’s eyes reddened as a cold dread washed over her. “Alexander, you would trust the words of some random child over mine?”
Before Alexander could respond, Oliver quickly piped up, peeking out from behind him. “You sounded so wicked on that phone call! Who would ever believe you? Doesn’t your tongue ache from all the lies? Can you swear to God everything you said was true? If anything you said was a lie, may you die?”
Victoria’s face lost all color. Her offer regarding the shares was genuine; she truly intended to sell them to Alexander at half their market value. As for the marriage, she had hoped to gradually win his sympathy… “I never imagined you could be this malicious, Victoria,” Alexander noted her hesitation, his expression darkening. “Security! Remove her at once!”
Immediately, the security team entered and began dragging Victoria out of Alexander’s office.
She screamed, “Alexander…! Alexander! Please, you have to believe me! I never planned to inflate the share price or force you into anything! I just wanted you to eventually develop feelings for me…!”
Why would Alexander believe her now?
He waited until the guards had hauled her away before slamming the door shut with a loud bang. He never wanted to see her face again.
The security team dumped Victoria in a deserted corridor. She collapsed onto the cold floor—seething with anger, consumed by fury, and wracked with pain. It was over. Completely over! She had hoped to use Alexander’s name and influence to salvage her ruined reputation. If he had forgiven her and publicly acknowledged their marital status, she could have reclaimed her social standing. She longed to witness the Montgomery family’s bankruptcy, see Isabella fail to repurchase the shares, and watch the entire Montgomery dynasty crumble to dust. But now, that was nothing but a distant, shattered dream. It was truly over for Victoria! Alexander’s trust was irrevocably broken. No matter who she sold her shares to now, Isabella would find a way to buy them back!
Was her only option now to flee with the money and helplessly watch Isabella rescue the Montgomery family?
Victoria remained on the floor for a long time. After confirming there was no path back to Alexander, she had no choice but to leave the plaza.
No.2
Once inside her car, her new assistant, Penelope, was there, offering her a cup of coffee. “Madam, please, rest for a moment.”
The moment Victoria took the coffee, the scalding heat burned her hand. “Couldn’t you let it cool down first?” she snapped at Penelope. “How am I supposed to drink this?”
“I’m sorry! I’m so terribly sorry!” Nearly crying from fear, Penelope bowed her head and apologized profusely. The sight of her only infuriated Victoria more. Ever since her loyal agent, Isadora, had been imprisoned, nothing seemed to go right for her. Argh! She felt she would lose her mind if she stayed in Westchester a moment longer!
Unable to bear the pressure any longer, Victoria pulled out her phone and sent a text to a contact named Rex: [Contact potential buyers. Sell my shares off in separate lots. No need to rush. Aim to drive the price up, but ensure absolute discretion. No one must know.]
Victoria was desperate to cut ties with the Montgomery family quickly, but their shares weren’t worth a fortune. Waiting a few more days could net her a few extra million. Besides, leaving the Montgomerys too soon would be a gift to Isabella. She had to leave a parting gift for Isabella before she made her exit!
Isabella Montgomery stood composed and aloof within Whitmore Plaza. A cold, arrogant smirk touched her lips as she watched Victoria’s car speed away from the building. Did Victoria really think she could play games with her? She should take a long, hard look in the mirror first! Still, Isabella was curious to see what other tricks Victoria had hidden up her sleeve.
Back in Alexander’s office…
Alexander studied Oliver after Victoria left them.
“You did me a favor. What would you like in return?”
“Nothing, thank you! I don’t need anything. I enjoy helping others. But if you insist on rewarding me…”
Oliver pointed at the ring on Alexander’s thumb.
“You could give me that jade ring.”
It was a white jade ring with intricate carvings.
Emerald green patterns swirled through the pale stone like a dragon soaring through clouds.
Alexander smiled faintly at the boy’s boldness.
“You want nothing else but this ring? Do you know its value?”
Of course Oliver knew.
He had seen it at an auction with Nathaniel last year.
An antique piece that sold for ninety million.
He had loved it instantly, but his father refused, calling jade too feminine for a man.
Now was his chance.
Oliver kept his expression innocent.
“I don’t know the price, but it’s beautiful. Just like you!
I didn’t want to interfere—I was afraid that woman might retaliate.
No.3
But when I passed by, I saw how handsome you looked!
You even match well with… Isabella Montgomery.
That’s why I stepped in to help.
You and this ring share the same elegance.
I’d like to keep it as a keepsake.”
Oliver’s tone was soft and charming, nothing like his usual voice.
Lately, Alexander had been in a foul mood, but the boy’s words eased his tension.
“You think Isabella and I look good together?” he mused.
“Absolutely! They say children have a good eye for these things.
I’ve seen the news about you two.
You make an exceptional pair.
If you stay sincere and persistent, I believe she’ll return to you!”
Oliver declared with earnest conviction.
It was the first time anyone had spoken to Alexander with such encouraging honesty.
Without the boy’s intervention, he would have fallen into Victoria’s trap.
Buying 15% of the Montgomery shares without securing the promised 60% would have been useless.
Wasting twenty billion would have strained his cash flow and created unnecessary risk.
Moreover, this child had risked his own safety to help.
Victoria was not one to forgive easily.
Alexander’s gaze sharpened as he handed the ring to Oliver.
“Take it. If anyone gives you trouble, show them this ring and mention my name.”
The name ‘Alexander’ was engraved inside the band.
Few in Westchester would dare cross him.
Oliver accepted the ring joyfully.
No.4
“Thank you, Big Brother! You’re so generous!”
He beamed. “I’ll never forget you!”
With that, he clutched the ring and dashed out.
The moment he left the office, he nearly gagged.
If it weren’t for the ninety-million-dollar ring, he would never have said those nauseating things!
He knew Alexander had hurt his mother before.
This was payback.
He wondered how Alexander would react when he realized he’d been tricked by a child.
Haha!
Isabella waited upstairs for Oliver.
She saw him approaching with a wide, mischievous grin.
“What took so long, Momo? Did he harm you?”
“No, no. He thanked me and gave me this jade ring as a reward.”
Oliver handed the ring to Isabella.
She examined the antique piece.
Its craftsmanship and material spoke of immense value.
Why would a man like Alexander part with something so precious?
“Momo,” she pressed, “what exactly did you do?”
“Nothing much! I just told him what he wanted to hear.
He gave it to me willingly.
We can sell it later and invest in a ninety-million-dollar amusement park!”
Oliver chirped happily.
Seeing his delight, Isabella asked no further questions.
They left the mall together, content and satisfied.
No.5
Nathaniel Blackwood sat in his office at the top floor of Blackwood Corporation.
He held a document listing thirty-seven names.
Thirty-six were female staff from The Grand Monarch hotel.
The investigation results were clear.
All thirty-six women had fantasies about touching Nathaniel.
They were obsessed with him, his suite, even his bed.
They had rolled on the sheets where he slept.
That explained why their DNA was found there.
Thirty-six different women had slept in Nathaniel's bed over the years.
Sebastian tried to comfort him.
"Don't worry. I've already ordered their termination."
He flipped to the final page nervously.
"Look at this last person."
Nathaniel's eyes narrowed.
The name on the last page was Sophia Whitmore.
That name hadn't crossed his mind in over a decade.
When Nathaniel was eighteen, he attended Westchester University.
He was the wealthiest heir in the city.
She was a scholarship student from a poor family.
Sophia was delicate, fragile like a flower.
Yet she persevered, working multiple part-time jobs.
It was the first time Nathaniel encountered someone so determined despite poverty.
Out of sympathy, he helped her a few times.
She became one of the few women he allowed close.
No.6
His family assumed they were in a relationship.
They paid her five million to leave the country.
Sophia was forced to abandon her education and dreams.
Nathaniel always felt guilty about what happened.
He tried to find her for years to make amends.
But she had vanished completely.
Over time, he pushed the memory aside.
He never formed any special connections with other women.
Until five years ago.
Sebastian watched his brother's reaction anxiously.
"Bro, what do you think? Sophia must have returned to Westchester."
"We just haven't located her yet."
"If Christopher is really her son..."
Nathaniel's expression darkened.
He had considered many possibilities.
But never that Sophia would reappear after ten years.
If she was the woman from that night five years ago...
Sebastian paced the room nervously.
"Damn it... Even you're speechless!"
"What if it's confirmed? What then?"
"I've invested so much effort helping you win Isabella."
"If your relationship falls apart because of this, I'll suffer the consequences."
Whenever Nathaniel was unhappy, Oliver became upset.
Then Oliver would complain to Uncle Sebastian.
No.7
When Nathaniel was happy, Sebastian felt like a third wheel.
When Nathaniel was upset, Sebastian bore the brunt.
Life was so unfair.
Nathaniel's gaze sharpened on Sophia's name.
"It's not a big deal."
Sebastian stared blankly. "Huh?"
Nathaniel closed the folder decisively.
"Find Sophia. Verify if it's really her."
"I'll handle the rest."
His feelings for Sophia were only pity and sympathy back then.
With a faint admiration for her resilience.
When he learned she was forced away, guilt consumed him.
But he had fought hard to win Isabella's heart.
Why would he abandon Isabella for Sophia now?
Of course...
If Isabella discovered his history with Sophia, would she be angry?
Would she despise him for it?
A dark thought took root in Nathaniel's mind. He turned to Sebastian with grim determination. "Keep this entire matter from Isabella. She must not know."
He couldn't risk anything before making her his wife.