Chapter 438
No.1
The last leak was Charmine's fault. Isabella's doing. This was different. Takashi just wanted a private collection. A personal trophy. And he had sworn such a severe oath…
Another message arrived. [I will be frank with you, Ms. Kensington. I possess a collection. Photos of other female celebrities. If any of it were ever exposed, my own reputation would be utterly destroyed.]
[It is merely a hobby. I enjoy collecting images of beautiful women. Send me the photos, and I will speak to Benjamin. I will teach him my finest techniques. He may even come to study with me in Westhaven.]
Study with me in Westhaven.
The words captured her complete attention. If Benjamin left… her plan would proceed flawlessly. She had already begun to win back a sliver of Alexander's affection. Securing more shares would be the ultimate victory.
Her eyes darkened as they lingered on the screen. A decision solidified within her.
[Very well,] she typed. [I will send them now.]
Approximately ten minutes later, Victoria emerged from the washroom.
Alexander had already settled the bill. "Let's go," he said, his tone flat. "I will take you home."
No.2
"Of course. Thank you, my dear Alexander." Her voice was sugar and submission.
He looked at her, this picture of meek devotion. "Do not trouble yourself with the online rumors," he reassured her. "I have taken care of everything. Your only task is to prepare to be my beautiful bride."
Victoria nodded, a shy, demure gesture. With Alexander handling the scandal, her scheme was safe. Once those photos of Isabella and Nathaniel were revealed, McKenzie and Nathaniel's parents would make Isabella's life a living hell.
At Rosewood Manor…
Isabella Montgomery was sketching a new design when her phone vibrated. She answered promptly. "Hello?"
"Ms. Montgomery? This is the Westhaven Memorial Gardens. Due to recent restructuring within the cemetery, we are required to relocate the remains of Ms. Genevieve Beaumont. May I inquire as to when you might be available to come and oversee the process?"
Isabella's brow furrowed. When she first returned to Westchester, she had visited Genevieve's grave. But her work had consumed her since. She had not found the time to return.
Genevieve was the only one who had shown her genuine kindness during her years with the Montgomerys. She needed to see this for herself.
"Understood," Isabella replied, her voice firm. "I will be there shortly."
No.3
Outside, the sun beat down relentlessly. A single cloud drifted across its face, offering a moment of reprieve. In that temporary shadow, the plot continued its inexorable unraveling.
When Victoria returned to Montgomery Manor...
Eleanor hurried to meet her, concern etched on her face. "Victoria, how was it? Did you find a gown you love? Is everything alright?"
"Mmm... yes..." Victoria's lips trembled slightly. She looked dejected but managed a weak smile. "Don't worry, Mother. I'm fine... Just exhausted. I need to rest."
"Alright." Eleanor studied her daughter closely, sensing something was wrong.
After Victoria retreated to her room, Eleanor summoned Penelope. "What happened? She seems upset."
"Oh, it's n-nothing, Madam! Really, nothing at all..." Penelope shook her head vigorously, but her expression betrayed her words.
"Tell me everything immediately," Eleanor demanded, "or I'll find Victoria a more competent assistant."
"Madam, no! I want to serve Ms. Victoria! I'll tell you... I'll tell you now!" With a frightened look, Penelope lowered her head and stammered, "W-We went to choose the wedding gown today. They only had ready-made designs, nothing custom. Ms. Victoria found one she adored, but it cost a million dollars. Mr. Whitmore said she shouldn't pick such an expensive gown and told her to choose another...
No.4
"Also, Madam Whitmore has repeatedly told Ms. Victoria that marrying Alexander is a blessing. She warned her not to demand too much and to be more accommodating...!"
"Penelope! Stop lying!" A sharp voice interrupted from above.
Victoria rushed down the stairs and sat beside Eleanor. "Mother, please don't listen to Penelope... None of that happened! The Whitmores treat me wonderfully, and Alexander is very good to me. Penelope invented all of that... S-She made it up..."
Despite her reassurances, Victoria's voice grew hoarse, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Eleanor's heart ached at her daughter's distress. "Nonsense! How dare they treat you like that? You're our precious daughter, not someone for them to belittle! Stop defending them, Victoria. We're going to have a serious conversation with them right now!"
Eleanor grabbed Victoria's hand, ready to leave.
Victoria resisted, clutching her mother's hand tightly. "Mother, no, please don't! My reputation is ruined. Marrying Alexander truly is my greatest blessing. I'm genuinely happy. Besides, you know how profit-driven people like the Whitmores are. Now that I've left modeling, I earn nothing and only have a small share of family stocks. What more can someone like me possibly ask for?
"Alexander is willing to accept me, willing to marry me. That's already more than I deserve. I don't need anything else. Please, Mother, don't make things difficult for them."
Her tone was soft, weak, understanding, and humble.
No.5
Eleanor felt a pang of pity and gradually calmed down. She had noticed the Whitmores' condescending attitude during wedding preparations but had restrained herself from confronting them.
She never imagined they would still mistreat Victoria!
After all, Victoria was her own daughter—the apple of her eye since childhood. How could the Whitmores treat her so poorly? At that moment, Eleanor made a decision. Gently, she said, "Victoria, I'm glad you're so understanding. Go rest now. I have some matters to attend to."
"Alright, don't overwork yourself," Victoria said caringly before leaving with Penelope. "Don't speak behind my back again!" Victoria scolded Penelope sternly.
"Okay..."
Victoria watched Eleanor and Ronnie ascend the staircase.
She rose from her seat immediately.
Her footsteps carried her toward the first-floor study.
Richard was inside, organizing a stack of documents.
No.6
She entered without knocking. “Richard. We need to talk. I want to give Victoria our twenty-five percent shares.”
They originally held twenty percent. After the wedding incident, they had seized an additional five percent from Victoria.
That left Victoria with a mere five percent.
Richard’s face darkened instantly. “Have you lost your mind? Give her all our shares? I might have agreed before, but consider her recent actions!”
“I know she’s made mistakes,” Eleanor sighed. “But she’s apologized. She’s been punished. Her only desire now is to marry Alexander and find happiness. She’s carrying a child. She won’t act recklessly anymore.”
She continued, her voice tightening. “Do you know how the Whitmores are treating her? They’re treating this wedding like a joke. She’s still the daughter we raised, despite everything. She’s always supported you with the business. She was the most considerate of our children. Now the Whitmores are bullying her because of her past and her tiny five percent share! If this is how they treat her before the marriage, what happens after?”
Tears streamed down Eleanor’s cheeks. As a woman, she understood the pain of being undervalued. She had endured her own hardships when she married into the Montgomery family. She refused to let her daughter suffer the same fate.
Richard’s expression remained grim. “You’re not entirely wrong. I’ve considered that too… But every time I remember her plotting against those models, how she lied to us with those pitiful acts, it sends a chill down my spine. You were there when she claimed she was happy for Isabella. Look what she did behind her back. She slept with Alexander. She conspired to steal Isabella’s assets. Now I can’t distinguish her truths from her lies.”
Outside the door, Victoria listened, her fists clenched. Were they really going to deny her everything because of past errors?
No.7
She had been obedient lately. She had followed all their rules. She had even helped Richard resolve several company crises. Wasn’t that enough to atone for her mistakes?
Were her own parents refusing to help her when she was being mistreated?
Back in the study, Eleanor felt a sharp pang in her heart. After a long silence, she spoke. “She’s pregnant now. I believe, for the baby’s sake, she will mature and learn from her errors. Regardless, I won’t let the Whitmores destroy her!”
“Don’t worry. I am her father. The wedding is in two days. We still have time to discuss this,” Richard said, his tone placating.
Victoria’s face contorted with fury. Discuss? What was there to discuss? They simply didn’t want to give her the shares!
They were this critical of her without knowing she was adopted. What would they do if they found out?
Knowing Isabella, the truth would eventually surface. Victoria needed those shares now. Her eyes turned dangerously dark.
Richard Montgomery stood organizing files in his study. He rose to pour himself a drink. His cigarette accidentally dropped onto the expensive carpet. It immediately began smoldering.
He tried stamping out the small flame. But it spread rapidly instead. The fire quickly consumed everything flammable around it. Wooden furniture. Bookshelves. Piles of documents. Even the heavy drapes.