Chapter 326
No.1
“Heavens! And she put on that whole show! Smashing her head! That horrible vow! Unbelievable!”
“This is terrifying! I always thought she was so kind. But look at her in these photos… She’s a monster!”
The room erupted into chaos. Eleanor, who had been holding Victoria, slowly pulled her hand away. Her voice shook. “Victoria… What is this?”
Victoria’s face drained of all color.
She never imagined Isabella would obtain the backstage CCTV footage.
Those printed photos were her complete undoing.
She knew everything would collapse once her family saw this evidence.
Panic set in immediately.
“Mother, you must believe me!” she pleaded frantically.
“Please, trust me! I was only practicing poses for the upcoming show!
The exhibition required dramatic angles and expressions—I was just getting into character!
“As for the transaction record… Isadora told me she needed financial help.
I transferred the money without knowing what it was for!”
Her excuses sounded ludicrous.
No reasonable person would believe such a flimsy story.
Even if Isadora had wanted to borrow money, she would’ve asked for a round number—like 20,000.
Not the suspiciously exact sum of 19,500, which matched the price of the halophilic bacteria.
Eleanor’s mind spun into disarray.
For the first time, she felt genuine doubt toward Victoria.
Was the daughter she thought she knew hiding a sinister side?
No.2
Did she truly understand the woman standing before her?
William’s gaze hardened as he stared at the photos.
“Guards!” he commanded. “Take Victoria to the prayer hall.
She will kneel in reflection for three days and three nights.
No food. No water. No visitors.”
Three days of kneeling? No sustenance?
Victoria’s legs gave out beneath her.
Without Eleanor’s support, she crumpled to the floor.
She had never faced punishment like this before.
If word got out that she was confined to the prayer hall, she would become a social pariah.
Her reputation would be ruined forever.
Terror seized her. She clutched Eleanor’s arm desperately.
“Mother, please! Help me! You know this isn’t me!
You raised me—you know I would never harm my sister!
“This is Isabella’s doing! She’s jealous of the attention you give me!
She manipulated these images to destroy me!”
Eleanor’s frown deepened.
She studied the photos again, and a cold dread settled in her chest.
These weren’t trick angles.
The malice in Victoria’s expression was real.
No.3
It was terrifying.
She had always believed Victoria was gentle and kind.
How could she possess such darkness?
Heart heavy, Eleanor sighed. “Perhaps some time alone will do you good, Victoria.
I need time to think as well.”
Victoria’s grip slackened.
She collapsed fully onto the ground, defeated.
It was over. Even her mother had turned against her.
Maids approached to escort her away.
No one spoke in her defense.
Not even William, who usually doted on her—his face was stern and contemplative.
Victoria knew she had lost.
There would be no mercy this time.
“If I must go, then I will accept my punishment.
Grandfather, Father, Mother… please take care these next few days.
Don’t worry about me. This is my fault.”
She knelt and knocked her forehead hard against the floor.
A red mark immediately bloomed on her skin.
She didn’t flinch.
Tears streamed silently as the maids led her away.
No.4
Her slight frame trembled with each step.
Eleanor’s heart broke watching her leave.
Victoria had always been her favorite.
She had never disciplined her so harshly before.
But maybe it wasn’t too late to correct her.
As a mother, she had to try.
William released a heavy sigh.
“Everyone is dismissed. What happened today does not leave this room.”
The crowd had come hoping to reclaim the ten percent shares.
Now it was clear that wouldn’t happen.
They left in quiet disappointment.
As Eleanor passed Isabella near the doorway, she remembered Isabella’s words from the day before:
‘You always defend Victoria. You always take her side. But when have you ever listened to me?’
Isabella remembered Eleanor's words from yesterday.
She recalled the loneliness in Eleanor's eyes.
It made her pause and reconsider.
She turned back to face Isabella directly.
"Would you like to stay for lunch today?"
Stay for lunch...
This was the first gentle invitation since Africa.
No.5
Isabella considered her own plans.
She nodded. "I'd like that."
Eleanor called out immediately.
"Aunt Judy, prepare lunch for us."
Aunt Judy hurried off to the kitchen.
The entire household staff suddenly became active.
It was Isabella's first meal here in five years.
But not everyone seemed pleased.
People like Frederick remained distant.
Tiffany's mistake didn't erase their suspicions.
To them, Isabella was still the outsider.
The one who took twenty-five percent of the family shares.
They dispersed without acknowledging her.
Isabella didn't seem to care either.
She spent time talking with Theodore.
They spoke for quite a while before he left for business.
Then Isabella headed toward the prayer hall.
She wouldn't miss seeing Victoria's punishment.
As she walked down the hallway, a figure appeared.
It was Alexander.
No.6
Dressed in his usual black suit.
The successful, handsome businessman.
Isabella frowned.
Why was he here at the manor?
Surprise flickered in Alexander's eyes.
He thought her reputation was ruined.
But she had proven her innocence.
The netizens were now apologizing and praising her.
Her fame had only grown stronger.
This woman was nothing like the one he knew five years ago.
She was stunning.
Captivating.
Isabella didn't even look at him.
She turned to leave.
Alexander moved quickly to block her path.
"Why are you avoiding me, Isabella? You weren't like this before!"
Isabella laughed coldly.
"You weren't like this either five years ago. Need a reminder?"
She kicked a pebble at her feet.
It flew through the air.
No.7
Bam!
The pebble shattered a plant vase perfectly.
"Think about it. No one knows what happened. You're not as pure as Victoria, but having a child would ruin you completely."
"Wow. Should I thank you for that?" Isabella's laugh was sharp.
"You don't need to thank me. But consider getting back with me. Nathaniel is just playing with you."
"You act like you care, but you only want my assets," she sneered. "Besides, being with a man like Nathaniel is fine. What do you have to compete with him?"
She flipped her hair and walked away.
Furious, Alexander grabbed her wrist.
"You're testing my patience, Isabella!"
Alexander’s voice carried a clear, sharp edge of menace.
Isabella remained completely unfazed. “Testing my patience? You’re the one pushing it. I’ve held back from hitting you for a full minute. Do you really want to keep talking?” She shoved his hand away and flexed her fingers, knuckles cracking softly.
She added coldly, “Instead of wasting my time here, why don’t you go check on your precious Victoria? She’s kneeling in the prayer hall right now. Do you honestly think someone that fragile can handle it?”
Alexander narrowed his eyes. He had come because Victoria texted him. Her messages were full of pain and sorrow, so he showed up to defend her. He thought the family adored her too much to punish her harshly. He was wrong.
“I’ll visit her soon enough,” he said darkly. “But you should think twice about being with Nathaniel. It won’t end well for you.” He turned and walked away.
Isabella let out a soft, mocking laugh. A glint of calculation flashed in her eyes as she watched him leave. She had already pushed Victoria to her breaking point. Why not push a little harder? Make her suffer even more.
As Alexander strode off, he pulled out his phone and texted Victoria, concerned.
[What’s going on? Why did they make you kneel in the prayer hall? Was it because of Isadora? Tell me everything. I need to know how to help you.]
Victoria replied instantly.