Chapter 720

No.1

Just as Theodore prepared to speak, the dining room door swung open.

Click!

All eyes turned toward the entrance. Victoria stood framed in the doorway.

Victoria had returned to the mansion earlier but lingered outside the dining room upon hearing their heated discussion. She knew they all despised her, yet hearing their words still turned her stomach.

The Montgomerys were never her true family. They even doubted her ability to lead the Montgomery Group. The thought of her carefully laid plans and her imminent departure from this wretched family brought a dark satisfaction. These people would soon face utter ruin and destitution! Ha! That was the price for crossing her! Her next move was to ensure every detail fell perfectly into place. She smoothed her features into a mask of placid determination and stepped into the room with a faint, practiced smile. “Grandfather, Father, Mother, Aunt Penelope, Uncle Gregory. The loan negotiation is successful. The funds will be transferred within two days.”

“Is that true?” Eleanor’s eyes widened in disbelief. Victoria secured a 50-billion loan? What bank would agree to such a massive amount? Of course, Victoria would never reveal she had mortgaged every single asset of the Montgomery Group, including the corporate headquarters. She replied with feigned calm, “Mhm. I presented our entire project proposal and offered them the highest possible interest rate. They’re willing to take the calculated risk on the Montgomery Group. I understand the concerns regarding this venture, but please trust my resolve and my capabilities. No one wants this project to succeed more than I do. I aim to prove my worth and compensate the company for any past… setbacks. In two years, our profits will soar, and our market valuation will increase by at least fifty percent.” Her ambitious declaration made Penelope and Gregory look at her with newfound interest. A fifty percent increase? Their shares would be worth a fortune! Penelope beamed with sudden approval. “Oh, Victoria, please disregard my earlier comments—I was merely anxious. If the bank has approved the loan, we have faith in your project’s success. We can simply tighten our belts for these next two years.” “Do not worry. You are my closest family. I would never hold it against you.” Victoria smiled sweetly, maintaining her impeccable facade. Though most still harbored resentment, her performance offered a sliver of reassurance. Eleanor, now calmer, recalled her earlier harshness and felt a pang of guilt. If she had wanted to meet Alexander instead of Harrison, it wasn't Victoria's fault, yet she had scorned her. Eleanor sighed inwardly; Victoria was such a diligent and forgiving daughter… She fetched a clean set of cutlery for her. “Sit, Victoria. You look thinner. You should rest at home these next few days and focus on your health.” “Thank you, Mother. Keeping busy is the only thing that makes me feel better. Actually, there is one more matter. I… Never mind. Let’s eat.” Victoria pretended to hesitate, then picked up her spoon. As anticipated, this only piqued their curiosity further.

Eleanor pressed, “What is it? You can tell us. We will help you.” “I… well, actually…” Victoria feigned reluctance, drawing out the pause. “I know my past actions were… disappointing. But many circumstances were beyond my control. Things would not have escalated so badly if someone hadn’t deliberately worked to sabotage my public image. I wasn’t sure if this person was targeting me specifically or the entire Montgomery family, so I launched a private investigation. We managed to interrogate an assistant, and she… She claimed…” Victoria trailed off, her expression growing troubled, as if she couldn’t bear to continue.

Penelope, ever the meddler, urged her on. “Victoria, who was it? Just tell us! We’ll deal with them!” “Yes. To be fair, this person is clearly malicious, constantly leaking those damaging clips. Just say the name,” Eleanor encouraged, her tone supportive. Victoria bit her lip, appearing genuinely conflicted and anxious before slowly uttering the name, her voice laced with feigned uncertainty…

“The assistant swore…it was Isabella…”

Isabella Montgomery? The atmosphere instantly chilled. Theodore Montgomery’s eyes narrowed, his displeasure directed at Victoria. “Victoria, you know how I despise liars. I will not tolerate baseless accusations within this family!”

No.2

“I understand your skepticism, Grandfather. I, too, was reluctant to believe it initially. But her assistant was adamant. If we analyze the pattern, the first photo leak coincided with the Chanel show, where Isabella ultimately replaced me. The second incident occurred during her wedding to Alexander Whitmore. She never intended to marry him; her heart belongs to another. The third leak happened at my wedding. She clearly opposed my union with Alexander.”

“Victoria, do you possess any concrete evidence regarding Isabella’s involvement with another man?” Eleanor Kensington inquired.

Victoria nodded. “Yes, I’ve witnessed it myself. Alexander Whitmore and Seraphina Delacroix are also aware. His identity remains a mystery to us. You are welcome to verify this independently.” She dared not mention Nathaniel Blackwood; the consequences of involving him would be catastrophic.

The room fell into a heavy silence, Theodore’s expression particularly grim.

Isabella’s refusal to return to the family estate… Was that indicative of another relationship?

Adam Montgomery interjected, a thought striking him. “If she had no desire to marry Alexander, why sabotage your wedding? She was the one who encouraged it…”

They had monitored Isabella closely. She had always comported herself with maturity regarding the past, showing no lingering attachment to Alexander. While her demeanor toward Victoria was cold, orchestrating such a public ruin seemed out of character.

Victoria lowered her head, feigning profound guilt. “There is something I have concealed for five years… The burden has weighed heavily on me. Now, I must confess.”

She bit her lip. “The truth is… I was present when Isabella fell down the stairs five years ago.”

What? She was there?

No.3

Eleanor frowned. Hadn’t Victoria been late to the ceremony that day?

Victoria continued her performance, voice trembling with manufactured remorse. “I came upon them arguing on the staircase. Alexander was accusing her, claiming the child she carried wasn’t his. Their fight escalated. I moved to intervene, to protect Isabella, but Alexander accidentally pushed her. She has always believed I pushed her intentionally. You can call her and ask if you doubt me.” Victoria was confident. If Theodore called Isabella, his question would be direct: ‘Did Victoria push you down the stairs?’ Isabella’s likely response, ‘Grandfather, you knew?’ would confirm her narrative.

She maintained her facade of fear and shame. “Because of this, Isabella has harbored an intense hatred for me. She believes I stole Alexander from her these past five years. Since returning from Africa, her sole focus has been revenge…” She looked pleadingly at Eleanor and Richard Montgomery. “Mother, Father, recall her first day back? Before she left, she whispered in my ear that she would utterly destroy me. That she would take everything from me until we were ‘even.’

“I’ve tried to explain, to reason with her, but she refuses to listen. She systematically strips me of everything I hold dear, meticulously planning my downfall. I never imagined my own sister could be so cruel…” Victoria’s voice broke into a weak sob, tears tracing paths down her cheeks.

The family was stunned. According to Victoria, Alexander accidentally caused the fall five years ago, and Isabella had been ruthlessly exacting vengeance ever since? All the negative press targeting Victoria was part of Isabella’s elaborate scheme? Merely over an accident Victoria claimed Alexander caused?

Richard Montgomery slammed his hand on the table with a roar. “This is monstrous! She is your sister! How could she do this? I’m calling her this instant! She will return here and answer for this!” He pulled out his phone.

Victoria did nothing to stop Richard as she wept softly into her hands.

Her sobs were perfectly timed, delicate and heart-wrenching.

She had secretly installed a blocking application on both Richard and Eleanor's phones.

The program automatically rejected all calls from Isabella Montgomery.

No.4

Just as she predicted, Richard heard the automated message.

"The number you have dialed is not in service."

She blocked him!

Victoria cried harder, her voice trembling with manufactured pain. "Dad, Mom, please stop calling her... She told me she resents you both for loving me more. She'll never come back. I'm not saying this to gain sympathy—I just want you to accept me. Everything I did... I was forced into it. I wouldn't be like this if Isabella hadn't destroyed me first. I can't even stand myself anymore..."

Her delicate features contorted in genuine-looking agony.

Eleanor moved to sit beside her, taking her hand gently. "Victoria, why did you hide this from us? We could have protected you! We could have watched her more closely!"

"I thought if I tried harder, she would eventually accept me!" Victoria's voice broke. "I believed that even if she hated me, she wouldn't sabotage our family's reputation... But I was wrong... I never imagined..."

"Don't worry, Victoria," Eleanor said firmly, turning to Theodore. "Father, you need to speak with Isabella. We must confront her about this. Yes, we favored Victoria, but that was our choice. If she plotted against our family because of jealousy, she must be held accountable! She must face consequences!"

"Exactly!" Penelope chimed in angrily. "She can't just tear this family apart because she's jealous! She's adopted! And yet she holds twenty-five percent of the company shares! How dare she act this way!"

Gregory shook his head with a dramatic sigh. "What a waste, what a shame. If it weren't for Isabella, Victoria would still be the top supermodel. She used to give us lavish gifts every month! Now we have nothing! It's disgraceful!"

No.5

"Our family is a laughingstock now," he continued. "We're humiliated everywhere we go. An adopted daughter like her never should have been allowed into this family!"

The room erupted in agreement, each voice layering on another complaint.

Richard's expression was cold, his voice cutting through the noise. "We need to reclaim her shares. Immediately. It doesn't matter who holds them—you or Father. They cannot remain in her hands."

Theodore remained silent, his face stern, brows deeply furrowed.

He didn't fully believe Victoria's story.

But she had encouraged them to call Isabella, seemingly without fear.

And she was desperately trying to win back their favor.

It didn't seem like she was lying.

Had Isabella truly done all this?

Had she sought revenge without any regard for the family's honor?

No.6

It appeared he would have to speak with her directly.

"Let's eat," Theodore finally said, rising slowly. "I will handle this."

He leaned heavily on his walker as he left the dining room.

Victoria watched him go, a spark of triumph in her eyes.

She might be leaving soon, but she would make sure Isabella's return was hell.

She would ensure Isabella was despised by everyone.

Once Theodore returned to his study, he took out his phone and dialed Isabella's number.

The same automated message greeted him.

"The number you have dialed is not in service."

His expression darkened.

No.7

Was she really with another man?

Was that why she refused to come home?

Who was he? Nathaniel Blackwood?

Theodore recalled how Nathaniel had publicly supported Isabella.