Chapter 637
No.1
GoldenPhoenix staff watched, satisfied, as the vandals suffered beneath them. Red, itchy welts rose wherever the caterpillars crawled. The net ensured no escape.
Isabella stepped out the main entrance, hands on her hips. “How does it feel? Having your skin marked up like that?” Her tone was icy, mocking.
The trapped mob turned on her, shouting:
“Isabella Montgomery! You’re pure evil! Let us out!”
“We did this for justice! For Genevieve! You protect a homewrecker, then attack us?”
“Release us now, or we’ll turn the entire internet against you! Everyone will hate you!”
One man fumbled for his phone, activating a live stream. He aimed the camera at Isabella, yelling, “Look! Everyone, look! Isabella is assaulting us! She trapped us with these disgusting bugs!”
Victoria Kensington watched the chaos unfold with a vicious smile. She had recently discovered Isabella Montgomery was the one who informed Alexander Whitmore about her location at The Ivy that day. While Isabella hadn't intended direct harm, her interference had ruined everything. If not for Isabella calling Nathaniel Blackwood back home, Victoria would have succeeded with Nathaniel instead of ending up with Harrison Caldwell!
This injustice demanded retribution. Victoria would make Isabella pay dearly. She had orchestrated this entire vandalism operation, paying the perpetrators handsomely. She even prepared multiple contingency plans. One key strategy involved live-streaming if Isabella attempted to fight back.
The chosen streamer was a famous influencer known for exposing corruption and advocating for the oppressed. His massive follower base would amplify the scandal instantly. Once he went live, Isabella's reputation would be obliterated.
No.2
The live-stream viewer count skyrocketed to over ten thousand within minutes. Platform promotions pushed the numbers even higher.
The influencer pointed his camera at the writhing mass of caterpillars and then at Isabella. "We came to vandalize GoldenPhoenix for justice! To teach Isabella Montgomery a lesson! Yet she shows no remorse! She's actively torturing us with these poisonous insects!"
"Look at our skin! Covered in painful red welts! These creatures are crawling everywhere! And she just watches, refusing to help!"
"Isabella Montgomery! Say something! You had the audacity to protect a home-wrecker! Now you've lost your voice?"
Isabella met the camera's lens directly, her posture defiant, hands on her hips. Her voice was glacial. "I have nothing to say to you. You destroyed property. Now you experience the consequences. You will understand what it feels like to be violated."
Her tone was wild. Untamable. utterly arrogant.
Even exposed to thousands online, Isabella displayed zero fear. Not a hint of retreat. Her confidence was unshakable.
The streamer's face flushed with fury. "I'm suing you for intentional harm! You will cover all our medical bills!"
"Oh? Is that so?" A dangerous smirk played on Isabella's lips. "I fully intend to pay. Let's get a medical team here immediately to assess the damages. I will cover every cent. However..."
Her smirk widened. "...you will reimburse me for the vehicles you destroyed. The total cost is three hundred thousand dollars. Prepare the payment."
No.3
Three hundred thousand dollars?
The vandals stared, stunned into silence, momentarily forgetting the caterpillars.
The live-streamer recovered first. "Three hundred thousand? Let it be! Righteous citizens will help us raise the funds! We gladly vandalized the cars of a company that protects home-wreckers! A cheap company that signs such immoral artists!"
[Right! Agreed!]
[So satisfying to watch!]
[Send the address! I'm coming to help!]
[Give me your account number! I'll donate ten thousand!]
Rage-filled comments flooded the live stream. Emboldened by the support, the streamer glared at Isabella. "See? You protected a home-wrecker! You deserve this! You're public enemy number one now! Not the idolized Boss Montgomery anymore!"
His companions joined the verbal assault. "The accomplice is worse than the perpetrator! You showed no concern about your artist's disgusting behavior! You even shielded her! Disgusting!"
"You attacked us, the champions of justice, with these insects! Now taste your own medicine!"
No.4
One man scooped a handful of caterpillars and hurled them directly at Isabella.
She didn't flinch. She didn't move.
Ten black-suited bodyguards materialized instantly, forming an impenetrable wall in front of her. The caterpillars smacked harmlessly against their tailored suits. In a synchronized motion, the guards brushed the insects off. The caterpillars fell to the ground, motionless.
The display was swift. Professional. Overwhelming.
Everyone stared, shocked. They never anticipated Isabella having such elite, ever-present protection.
Each bodyguard was formidable. Soldier-like. Exceptionally handsome.
The mob quickly shook off their stunned silence.
The man holding the live-stream camera glared viciously at the guards.
“Why are you all acting like loyal dogs? Why defend a traitor? Move! Get out of our way!”
“Isabella protected that homewrecker, and you’re still shielding her? Has GoldenPhoenix lost all its dignity?”
No.5
“A rotten leader breeds rotten followers! Isabella, you bully ordinary people and use your wealth to crush us even more! This is pure oppression!”
“Let’s charge them! Attack!”
A rallying cry went up. The crowd surged forward like a frenzied beast. The live-streamer joined the rush.
A woman tangled in the net snatched a rock from the ground, aiming it straight at Isabella.
Though trapped, the mob's collective force dragged the heavy net and the writhing caterpillars along with them.
The scene descended into utter chaos.
Isabella’s brow furrowed. If her guards retaliated, it would escalate everything. The backlash would be brutal, especially with women present…
The guards braced, electric batons humming to life. They stood ready, a wall against the oncoming frenzy.
The gap closed. The women took aim. The guards prepared to strike.
“Halt!” Isabella commanded.
No.6
She was no saint, but she wasn’t foolish. Escalating this solved nothing. This could be resolved without violence!
Just as her mind raced for a solution…
“Stop! Please, you have it all wrong!”
A clear, strong voice cut through the noise. Everyone turned. A heavily pregnant woman hurried toward them, waddling with effort.
“I’m Isabella’s personal assistant,” she announced, breathless. “You’re mistaken. Isabella saved Arabella not to protect a homewrecker… but because Arabella is not a homewrecker.”
Shock rippled through the crowd. Not a homewrecker? How could that be?
The mob hesitated, wary of harming a pregnant woman, but their anger didn't subside.
“How is she not? The evidence is everywhere! Why lie?”
“You’re about to be a mother. Have some decency for your child!”
“Even Harrison said she was! Arabella herself is hiding. What’s left to lie about? If she’s not, then who is?”
No.7
“Is GoldenPhoenix using a pregnant woman to spin lies? How despicable! I hope you go bankrupt!”
The pregnant woman stood her ground. “It’s true Arabella was with Harrison. But she was deceived! Before you judge, listen to this!”
She raised a portable speaker and pressed play.
A recording blasted into the air.