Chapter 684
No.1
He decided against it. Respecting her privacy mattered. He stood and brought her the phone.
She took it, seeing the message from 'Waste of Space' on the lock screen.
That was her saved contact name for Alexander.
Why was he texting her now, right before his wedding?
Unlocking the phone, her grip tightened. Her brows furrowed deeply.
A memory from five years ago flashed. After turning eighteen, she had lamented to Victoria: "Do you think Alexander even likes me? He never lets me near him."
Victoria's reply had been cunning. "Don't be silly! Alexander is just reserved. You need to take charge. Be bold! I'll get you some special outfits. Surprise him."
Young and foolish, Isabella had believed her. She dressed up like an idiot, hoping to finally capture his attention. Instead, it made him despise her more. The Montgomery family found out, branding her a shameless disgrace.
It shocked her that Alexander still possessed this photo. And now he was using it to threaten her...
No.2
Nathaniel, standing beside her, saw the image. His expression darkened instantly, a storm gathering in his eyes.
He never knew she had that side. That she had shown it to another man.
Isabella felt the air grow thick with tension. She looked up, meeting his intense gaze. "What? Disappointed?" The words escaped, laced with defensive bitterness.
Disappointed she had been that kind of woman. Disappointed in her past shame.
Knowing Nathaniel, he must be disgusted.
His response stunned her. A single, low word. "Furious."
Not disappointed. Furious.
Furious that she had been such a fool. An idiot who poured her heart out trying to please a man like Alexander. Who offered everything and received contempt in return.
And now, that man used her moment of vulnerability to threaten her. He weaponized her naive love.
No.3
His face a mask of cold anger, Nathaniel pulled out his own phone. His fingers flew across the screen. [If this photo is leaked, Whitmore Enterprises will cease to exist.]
He showed her the sent message. "It's handled. Don't worry."
Isabella stared, speechless. Even after seeing such an embarrassing, scandalous photo from her past, he didn't turn away. He didn't leave. He stood by her and fought back against Alexander without a moment's hesitation.
What was Nathaniel thinking?
Oliver noticed the sudden shift in the atmosphere. He quickly stood up and rushed out of the living room.
On the second floor, he bumped into Benjamin who was heading downstairs. He grabbed his arm firmly.
"Don't go down there," Oliver insisted. "My father and Isabella need privacy right now."
He pulled Benjamin back into the room without waiting for a response.
Benjamin looked completely bewildered by his words.
No.4
Privacy? In the middle of the day? How adventurous were Isabella and Nathaniel being?
Back in the living room, Isabella continued her confession. "There were more photos. I wore four different costumes that day."
After Alexander rejected her first rabbit costume, Victoria had suggested, "He didn't like that one? Try more styles—one of them will definitely catch his attention. Don't worry, I'll make sure nobody in the family finds out."
Five years ago, Isabella had been so naive. She had believed every word Victoria told her!
Foolishly, she had tried on various costumes, including some that were nearly transparent.
True to Victoria's promise, the family never found out. However, Alexander refused to see her for over two weeks afterward. He preferred innocent, pure girls like Victoria, not someone who seemed desperate. If not for Isabella's fifteen percent stake in the Montgomery family shares, Alexander would have broken off their engagement immediately!
Isabella pushed the memories aside and met Nathaniel's intense gaze. "Four costumes, each more revealing than the last. You'll regret loving me. It's not too late to walk away now."
Isabella preferred brutal honesty over sugarcoating the truth. She would take responsibility for her past actions. So what if Nathaniel hated her for it? She was accustomed to being alone anyway.
Yet when she saw the fire in Nathaniel's eyes, an unfamiliar fear stirred within her.
No.5
She was terrified he would say goodbye. Terrified he would abandon her.
Strangely, she cared deeply about what he thought of her...
Just as she braced for his disgust, Nathaniel's words shocked her. "It wasn't your fault."
Not her fault?
Isabella stared at him in disbelief. Was she hearing correctly? Were her senses deceiving her?
Nathaniel's voice remained firm and mature as he continued, "Loving someone and fighting for them isn't wrong. The fault lies with him. But..."
He looked deeply into her eyes. "Fortunately, he made a mistake. Fortunately, he didn't appreciate you."
His husky voice carried sincerity and magnetism, incredibly soothing to hear.
Isabella's heart skipped a beat. She understood his meaning perfectly: Nathaniel got his chance because Alexander had thrown her away.
No.6
Anyone else seeing those photos would have mocked her relentlessly. Yet Nathaniel said it wasn't her fault...
She studied the man before her. "Nathaniel, you're too good to me. How can I ever repay you?"
Nathaniel sat down opposite her and began gathering the checkers from the table. "Maybe spend more time with me? Treat me half as well as you treated Alexander."
Half as well?
Nathaniel Blackwood, settling for only half of her affection?
Isabella's red lips curved into a smile. "Sorry, but no."
No?
Nathaniel's expression darkened immediately.
Was Alexander still that important to her? Would she not even give him half of what she gave to Alexander?
No.7
"Isabella, tell me what percentage of your attention you can give me."
If she couldn't give half, couldn't she spare him at least some fraction? Isabella looked at him, her lips slowly curling upward.
The message was sent.
Alexander waited for Isabella to beg him not to release those scandalous photos.
Instead, his phone buzzed with a reply from an entirely different number.
[If these images ever surface, Whitmore Enterprises will cease to exist.]
The number was a chilling sequence of eleven identical digits—66666666666.
A custom account. The kind money couldn't buy.
A cold, severe face flashed in Alexander's mind. Him. It had to be Nathaniel.