Chapter 6
No.1
The child she saved was this wealthy man's son?
Why let his son wander somewhere so dangerous?
And now this sudden proposal?
What an irresponsible man!
"Are you insane? You changed my clothes and now want to marry me?" She scoffed.
"I'm a man of principles," he deadpanned.
"By your principles, men who go to beaches would bring home thousands of wives. Thousands saw me at the beach once. Should I marry them all?"
Thousands of men? Nathaniel didn't like that.
Isabella slid off the bed.
No.2
She patted his shoulder gently.
"Mr. Blackwood, we're adults. I don't need your care. Focus on your son. Don't just make money. He has no mother. Neglect could damage his development."
She walked out wearing the oversized shirt.
It showcased her long, slim legs.
She blended masculinity with elegant femininity perfectly.
Nathaniel stiffened in awe.
Did she just reject his proposal?
Any woman would kill to marry him.
Yet she dismissed him without a second thought?
No.3
He turned suddenly, his tone slightly raised.
"Is there someone else?"
"Ah?" Isabella looked confused.
Nathaniel locked eyes with her.
He pronounced each syllable carefully.
"I sucked the toxin out myself."
Wait.
Wasn't the snakebite on her thigh?
Nathaniel moved swiftly, positioning himself directly in Isabella’s path.
No.4
He blocked her exit completely.
Once again, he produced the small velvet box.
“Miss Montgomery,” he stated, his tone deceptively lazy yet layered with unmistakable resolve. “Please reconsider.”
Isabella felt a surge of pure frustration. Was this man serious? Who actually imposed such an absurd condition?
She reached out and plucked the ring from its cushioned nest.
It was, without question, a masterpiece. A flawless heart-shaped diamond, its cut perfection itself, each facet catching the light with brilliant fire. The craftsmanship was exquisite, undeniable. It was a ring of rare, world-class quality.
And yet…
A cool, dismissive smile touched her lips. With a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed the ring. It sailed through the air, a sparkling arc of immense value, before landing with a faint, insignificant clatter against the far wall. Discarded. Worthless.
Nathaniel froze. So did Dominic, his assistant.
No.5
Dominic’s mind reeled. She had just refused his boss. She had literally thrown a priceless diamond ring away like common trash.
Isabella remained utterly unbothered. “I am grateful you saved me, Mr. Blackwood. That you ensured my recovery.” Her voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “But I will not marry you. Marriage is not a transaction. A victim is not obligated to wed her assailant. Your logic is profoundly naive.”
She walked around him without another glance.
A dark, speculative thought crossed his mind. Would she still be so dismissive if he had his way with her? The urge to find out was unexpectedly strong.
But the primary objective remained. She had survived. She was alive.
“Dominic,” he commanded, his voice sharp. “Send her the evidence we compiled.”
“Sir?” Dominic was utterly bewildered. She had been monumentally rude. Yet his boss wasn’t ordering her ruin? He was helping her? The ruthless, calculating man Dominic knew seemed to have vanished.
“Forget it.” Nathaniel strode toward his office, impatience evident in his every step. “I’ll handle it myself.”
He powered up his laptop, his focus absolute.
No.6
…
Isabella arrived at her penthouse. She changed into soft, comfortable clothes, tossing the borrowed white shirt into the wastebin without a second thought.
The sharp ring of her private phone sliced through the silence.
She answered. Harrison Winslow’s voice, usually so composed, was ragged with panic. “My lady! Are you unharmed? Why did you return there? It was secure here! And why dismiss Maxwell and his team? My heart stopped when I received the report of the… incident! That vile woman paid those men… I will make her suffer for this immediately!”
Few knew the truth. The past five years had forged Isabella into a force. Her accomplishments were her own, earning her a formidable reputation and powerful, loyal allies across the globe. She never asked for aid, yet it was perpetually offered.
She held the phone with her shoulder. “Stand down, Harrison. Relay this message: I am handling a personal matter. I am not to be disturbed.”
“But… are you certain?” His worry was palpable.
A cold, confident laugh escaped her. “If I doubted my ability to settle this, I would never have come back.”
She ended the call.
No.7
Harrison could only sigh in resignation and do as he was told.
Isabella opened her secure laptop, accessing a private server. A new, unread email flagged her attention. She clicked it.
The contents made her breath catch. Screenshots. Detailed conversations between Victoria and the driver. The entire murder plot, laid bare in text. Financial records showing a transfer from a discreet offshore account directly to the driver. And finally, a video file—clear footage of the orchestrated “accident.” It was a prosecutor’s dream. Enough to bury Victoria forever.
Who? Who could have assembled this damning dossier so quickly? And sent it to her, anonymously?
Her first assumption was an ally, a powerful contact seeking to curry favor. She checked the sender’s information.
Nathaniel Blackwood.
Her brow furrowed. Why? After her blatant, humiliating rejection, why would he provide this? The man’s resources were staggering. His motives, utterly perplexing.
But she was no fool. A gift horse required no dental exam. She saved every file, a dangerous, calculating glint igniting in her dark eyes. The game had just changed.
…