Chapter 225

No.1

She bit her lip. “The truth is… I was present when Isabella fell down the stairs five years ago.”

What? She was there?

Eleanor frowned. Hadn’t Victoria been late to the ceremony that day?

Victoria continued her performance, voice trembling with manufactured remorse. “I came upon them arguing on the staircase. Alexander was accusing her, claiming the child she carried wasn’t his. Their fight escalated. I moved to intervene, to protect Isabella, but Alexander accidentally pushed her. She has always believed I pushed her intentionally. You can call her and ask if you doubt me.” Victoria was confident. If Theodore called Isabella, his question would be direct: ‘Did Victoria push you down the stairs?’ Isabella’s likely response, ‘Grandfather, you knew?’ would confirm her narrative.

She maintained her facade of fear and shame. “Because of this, Isabella has harbored an intense hatred for me. She believes I stole Alexander from her these past five years. Since returning from Africa, her sole focus has been revenge…” She looked pleadingly at Eleanor and Richard Montgomery. “Mother, Father, recall her first day back? Before she left, she whispered in my ear that she would utterly destroy me. That she would take everything from me until we were ‘even.’

“I’ve tried to explain, to reason with her, but she refuses to listen. She systematically strips me of everything I hold dear, meticulously planning my downfall. I never imagined my own sister could be so cruel…” Victoria’s voice broke into a weak sob, tears tracing paths down her cheeks.

The family was stunned. According to Victoria, Alexander accidentally caused the fall five years ago, and Isabella had been ruthlessly exacting vengeance ever since? All the negative press targeting Victoria was part of Isabella’s elaborate scheme? Merely over an accident Victoria claimed Alexander caused?

Richard Montgomery slammed his hand on the table with a roar. “This is monstrous! She is your sister! How could she do this? I’m calling her this instant! She will return here and answer for this!” He pulled out his phone.

Victoria did nothing to stop Richard as she wept softly into her hands.

Her sobs were perfectly timed, delicate and heart-wrenching.

No.2

She had secretly installed a blocking application on both Richard and Eleanor's phones.

The program automatically rejected all calls from Isabella Montgomery.

Just as she predicted, Richard heard the automated message.

"The number you have dialed is not in service."

She blocked him!

Victoria cried harder, her voice trembling with manufactured pain. "Dad, Mom, please stop calling her... She told me she resents you both for loving me more. She'll never come back. I'm not saying this to gain sympathy—I just want you to accept me. Everything I did... I was forced into it. I wouldn't be like this if Isabella hadn't destroyed me first. I can't even stand myself anymore..."

Her delicate features contorted in genuine-looking agony.

Eleanor moved to sit beside her, taking her hand gently. "Victoria, why did you hide this from us? We could have protected you! We could have watched her more closely!"

"I thought if I tried harder, she would eventually accept me!" Victoria's voice broke. "I believed that even if she hated me, she wouldn't sabotage our family's reputation... But I was wrong... I never imagined..."

"Don't worry, Victoria," Eleanor said firmly, turning to Theodore. "Father, you need to speak with Isabella. We must confront her about this. Yes, we favored Victoria, but that was our choice. If she plotted against our family because of jealousy, she must be held accountable! She must face consequences!"

No.3

"Exactly!" Penelope chimed in angrily. "She can't just tear this family apart because she's jealous! She's adopted! And yet she holds twenty-five percent of the company shares! How dare she act this way!"

Gregory shook his head with a dramatic sigh. "What a waste, what a shame. If it weren't for Isabella, Victoria would still be the top supermodel. She used to give us lavish gifts every month! Now we have nothing! It's disgraceful!"

"Our family is a laughingstock now," he continued. "We're humiliated everywhere we go. An adopted daughter like her never should have been allowed into this family!"

The room erupted in agreement, each voice layering on another complaint.

Richard's expression was cold, his voice cutting through the noise. "We need to reclaim her shares. Immediately. It doesn't matter who holds them—you or Father. They cannot remain in her hands."

Theodore remained silent, his face stern, brows deeply furrowed.

He didn't fully believe Victoria's story.

But she had encouraged them to call Isabella, seemingly without fear.

And she was desperately trying to win back their favor.

It didn't seem like she was lying.

No.4

Had Isabella truly done all this?

Had she sought revenge without any regard for the family's honor?

It appeared he would have to speak with her directly.

"Let's eat," Theodore finally said, rising slowly. "I will handle this."

He leaned heavily on his walker as he left the dining room.

Victoria watched him go, a spark of triumph in her eyes.

She might be leaving soon, but she would make sure Isabella's return was hell.

She would ensure Isabella was despised by everyone.

Once Theodore returned to his study, he took out his phone and dialed Isabella's number.

The same automated message greeted him.

No.5

"The number you have dialed is not in service."

His expression darkened.

Was she really with another man?

Was that why she refused to come home?

Who was he? Nathaniel Blackwood?

Theodore recalled how Nathaniel had publicly supported Isabella.

But would the prestigious Blackwood family ever accept someone like her?

Impossible!

His lawyer approached quietly. "Mr. Montgomery, do you still wish to transfer all your assets to Isabella?"

Theodore had made that decision days ago.

No.6

Victoria had taken his shares.

Benjamin was useless.

He feared all his property would eventually fall into Victoria's hands.

He worried Isabella would be bullied and left with nothing.

He wanted her to have something to rely on.

Something that would ensure her security and independence.

Theodore Montgomery never expected such complications. Transferring his assets to Isabella would spark family-wide opposition. He dismissed the idea with a weary wave. "Not now."

At Rosewood Manor.

Isabella plugged in her silenced phone while preparing for her Westhaven flight. She cradled Oliver, reading until his eyelids grew heavy. By eleven, the child slept peacefully in his bed. "I have to go out," she whispered to Nathaniel. "Watch Christopher for me."

He glanced up from his documents. "At this hour?"

No.7

She gave a firm nod. "Benjamin's in serious trouble. This requires my personal intervention."

"I could arrange—"

"Your men can't handle this situation," she interrupted. "It demands specific expertise. Stay with our son."

Isabella retrieved her tactical gear from the dressing room. Nathaniel didn't argue when she resolved like this. Yet after her departure, he immediately contacted Dominic. "Deploy a hundred men to shadow her."