Chapter 1991
No.1
The speaker was Lillian Montgomery, Theodore’s brother’s granddaughter.
A twenty-year-old music student, she lowered her head and fell silent under Sophia’s wrath.
From the crowd, Adrian scoffed.
“No one knows if Isabella actually harmed Benjamin.”
“Don’t be too surprised when the truth emerges.”
“Who else could it be? She benefits the most if something happens to Benjamin!”
“She wants the Montgomery assets! You work for her—get out of this room!”
“Don’t upset Benjamin!” Sophia shouted.
The ward descended into noisy arguments.
Theodore stared at Benjamin’s still form, his heart aching with panic and grief.
“Oh, Benjamin, what happened? Wake up and tell us the truth.”
No.2
“Everyone is condemning Isabella. If she’s innocent, do you want her blamed?”
Seeing Theodore’s silence, the family grew louder.
Some took out their phones to tweet:
[You’re too young to leave us! Wake up! We’ve avenged you—wake up and confront her!]
Nearly every Montgomery retweeted the post, further destroying Isabella’s reputation.
#MontgomerysHarmed trended as the hottest topic online.
The entire family despised their ungrateful adopted daughter.
Amid the chaos, Lillian asked again, “By the way, where’s Victoria? Why hasn’t she come today?”
Eleanor’s voice dripped with admiration. “Victoria is working tirelessly. She’s determined to find the finest doctor in the world for Benjamin.”
After all, Victoria was her true daughter. Her real flesh and blood.
Everyone in the hospital room sighed in agreement.
No.3
“They were both raised in the Montgomery family, yet Victoria is flawless while Isabella is lower than dirt.”
“Even when Victoria made mistakes, she never dragged the entire family down like Isabella did.”
“We must devote more attention to Victoria from now on. She’s our only hope.”
“Exactly. Richard nearly died in that fire, and Victoria saved him. Isabella only ever brings destruction.”
The family attorney burst into the room, his face pale.
“Mr. Montgomery, it’s terrible! Something awful has happened!”
Richard glared at him, annoyed. “What could possibly be worse than our current situation?”
The attorney struggled to speak, gasping for air. “It’s Ms. Victoria… She…”
Eleanor leaped up and grabbed his arm. “What about Victoria? Did Isabella harm her?”
“I’ll find Isabella right now! This time, I’ll end her!” Richard stormed toward the door.
The attorney quickly seized his arm. “No! It’s not about Ms. Isabella. Ms. Victoria has disappeared with all the money!”
No.4
The room fell into stunned silence.
Victoria ran off with the money?
The news was too shocking to process.
Eleanor tightened her grip on the attorney’s sleeve. “What are you saying? Explain yourself! How could Victoria do such a thing?”
“Madam, I didn’t want to believe it either. When I reviewed the company’s finances, I discovered a massive transfer of shares. Victoria sold her sixty percent stake to an unknown buyer. And the fifty billion for the Garden Project—plus the fifty billion bank loan—is gone. She took everything.”
Eleanor stumbled backward, nearly collapsing.
Theodore jolted upright in his bed.
Everyone felt as if they’d been struck by lightning.
Victoria sold her shares. She emptied the company accounts. She vanished with the bank’s money.
Just moments ago, they were singing her praises. Now she had robbed them blind.
“No… It can’t be… Victoria would never do this…” Eleanor muttered in disbelief.
No.5
The family butler, Reginald, rushed into the room. “Sir, Madam, it’s a disaster! Ms. Victoria took all the valuable items from the estate and sold them. Her phone is disconnected.”
Was she trying to ruin the entire family?
Pam, sitting in the corner, suddenly remembered something. Her hands trembled as she pulled out her phone and called her lawyer. “Check if all our properties are still under Victoria Kensington’s name…”
“Madam, I was about to call you. All your properties have been sold. New owners are moving into your mansion tonight. Mr. Kensington’s antique collection has been taken…”
Pam’s hand shook violently.
Her phone crashed to the floor and shattered.
Zachary’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted from the shock.
“Darling! Darling! Somebody call a doctor!”
Medical staff hurried into the room. They immediately transported Zachary to the adjacent ward for emergency resuscitation.
He regained consciousness briefly. The devastating realization of his entire collection vanishing made him faint again. Chaos erupted among the Jordans. Everyone was completely blindsided by this shocking turn of events. Tiffany had fled. She disappeared with all their liquid assets. Every valuable item inside the mansion was gone. What remained for them now?
Amelia suddenly remembered her own stake. She rushed toward the family attorney and grabbed his arm desperately. "My five percent! What happens to my shares now?"
No.6
"You and your mother still legally hold the shares. However... the company is currently fifty billion in debt. All remaining assets will be liquidated to repay creditors. Shareholders are now personally liable for the remaining debt..." the attorney explained calmly. Amelia's eyes widened in sheer horror. Fifty billion? She was responsible for repaying that? "No! That's impossible! Why would Tiffany do this? How did this happen? Find her! We need to find her right now!"
Adam finally snapped out of his dazed state. His first coherent words were a roared command. "Bring her back! We must find her!"
They had given Tiffany everything. They treated her with immense kindness and privilege. Yet she betrayed them utterly. She stole everything and vanished. The Jordans were bankrupt. They had to locate her. They needed answers, no matter the cost.
"The issue is timing," the attorney interjected. "It's month-end. The security staff haven't received their wages. They are growing restless. News about Tiffany's actions has already leaked. Company employees have looted the offices and fled with anything of value..." The Jordans couldn't even afford to fund a search party. Being penniless and buried under crippling debt was horrific enough. Losing their company and primary residence was catastrophic.
Senior Jordan had remained silent through the entire ordeal. He suddenly coughed violently, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the floor.
"Father!" Adam, Lily, and Felix rushed to support his faltering body. "Senior Jordan, we are navigating a severe crisis. Your health is paramount!" the attorney urged with genuine concern. The family was in total disarray. Bank representatives would arrive tomorrow. If Senior Jordan fell ill now, the Jordan family would be completely finished.
Senior Jordan clutched his chest, breathing laboriously. With a trembling hand, he slowly removed the ancient jade ring from his thumb. He pressed it into Adam's palm. "Take this... Pawn it. Use the money to... to pay the staff. Report this theft to the police... Regarding the debts... plead for an extended grace period... as long as they will allow..."
He took another shaky breath. "Also... discover the truth. Why did she run? We must understand..." She was the designated heiress. Her actions made no sense. There had to be a hidden reason, a secret she kept from them all.
"Understood, Father. Please, remain calm. Preserve your strength. I will handle everything," Adam vowed, closing his fingers around the precious heirloom.
The jade ring was a centuries-old family artifact. Passed down through countless generations. Now they were forced to sell it for survival. The situation could not possibly be worse.
Joey returned from the other ward and witnessed the scene. Tears streamed down her face silently. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the cold floor. "How... how could this happen?" she sobbed, her voice breaking. "Why would Tiffany do this to us? We raised her with love! We gave her everything! Why...?" Her desperate cries echoed in the room.
No.7
No one moved to comfort her. Lily shot her a look of pure contempt. "What good are tears now? Your parenting is the real disaster. The daughter you brought home destroyed our family. Your real daughter robbed us blind and vanished."
The Montgomery family now faces complete financial ruin.
You two are the primary culprits behind this disaster!
You must take full responsibility for all outstanding debts!
Absolutely! You bear the greatest liability in this situation!
You need to locate Victoria immediately, or the entire Montgomery legacy will collapse!
Even if you find her, the damage to our stock value is already catastrophic!
This will drain our resources beyond recovery!