Chapter 831
No.1
She gasped, each breath a performance of suffering. “Mother, please… don’t blame Isabella. This is my fault. I understand if she can’t accept my apology. If she hates me. I don’t blame her.”
Slow, calculated tears traced paths down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Isabella. I came to apologize sincerely. If it’s not enough, do what you must. Push me in again. I just want your forgiveness.” Her voice was a masterpiece of remorse.
Isabella’s hands clenched the railing, her knuckles white. She forced herself to stay still, to not give them the reaction they wanted.
She saw the entire scheme clearly—the pollen, the fall, the drowning act.
She knew defending herself now was pointless. No one would listen.
Isabella’s silence only fueled Eleanor’s rage. “You promised me yesterday you would be kind! Look what you’ve done! I know she was wrong, but she knelt all night for you! She fainted! Her first thought was to apologize again! How can you be so cruel to your own sister!” she shouted, her words lashing out.
The fragile bond formed yesterday shattered into a million pieces.
Isabella felt the last thread of connection snap.
Eleanor’s trust was gone.
“You won’t even let me explain? You’ve already decided it was me?” Her voice trembled with raw hurt.
The memory of their recent understanding hung between them, fragile and already broken.
No.2
“Explain what, Isabella? I saw everything. What could you possibly say?” Eleanor’s words were sharp, laced with disappointment.
“You think I’d be that stupid? If I wanted revenge, I have enough evidence to ruin her forever. Pushing her into a pool? That’s beneath me.” Isabella’s laugh was cold and hollow.
Her gaze swept over Victoria, icy and furious.
She turned away without another word.
She walked back to the shaded bench, alone once more.
Whispers started among the crew.
“Isabella wouldn’t do that. It doesn’t make sense.”
“What would she gain? It’s too messy. Too public.”
“Don’t be naive. People hide their true selves well.”
“Remember how Victoria defended her before? It feels like an act now.”
Opinions were shifting. Victoria’s innocent image was cracking.
No.3
People were seeing the calculated moves behind her tears.
Yesterday’s conversation had changed everything for Eleanor.
Isabella had shown mercy. She held power but didn’t use it to destroy Victoria.
That act of restraint now made Eleanor doubt her own eyes.
Seeing Isabella walk away, alone and accused, twisted something in Eleanor’s chest.
She had chosen to believe the spectacle over the person.
Guilt began to prickle at her.
She turned to Victoria. “Let’s go. You need dry clothes.”
“You believe her, don’t you? Mommy, I can’t even swim! Why would I do this to myself?” Victoria’s voice was a desperate, pitiful whine.
“I know you wouldn’t, darling. But I don’t think she meant to push you. If she truly wanted to hurt you, she had far worse options.” Eleanor’s tone was firm, final.
She took Victoria’s arm and led her away quickly, avoiding the growing crowd.
No.4
Victoria seethed internally.
Eleanor’s faith in her was crumbling.
Isabella was winning too easily.
Rage burned hot and vicious under her skin.
At home, Penelope helped her change.
“The video! Show me the video now!” Victoria demanded the moment Eleanor was out of sight.
Penelope flinched, handing over the phone with shaking hands.
The footage showed Isabella brushing cake off Victoria’s dress.
The crucial moment—the push—was completely missing from the angle.
Her perfect plan was ruined.
She needed that clip for social media. For Eleanor.
No.5
Nothing.
“You useless idiot!” she screamed. “These angles are worthless! Get out! Get out of my sight!”
Blind fury took over.
She hurled a vase against the wall. It shattered into a thousand pieces.
She grabbed a lamp and threw it next.
The room became a target for her uncontrollable rage.
Penelope shrank into the corner, terrified and small.
Shards of glass sliced deep into her palms.
Crimson blood immediately welled from the lacerations.
A searing, fiery pain shot up her arm, forcing tears to her eyes.
Victoria watched the whimpering with pure annoyance.
No.6
Every bit of her planning had been utterly wasted.
If Gabriella were here, this disaster would never have happened.
She could no longer depend on Gabriella.
Her assistant was nothing but a liability now.
‘I’ll handle this myself.’
A cruel, calculating smile twisted her lips as she considered Isabella’s vulnerabilities.
[Proceed with the plan at The Ritz-Carlton.]
She sent the text, abandoning the sobbing Gabriella without a second glance, and strode toward her wardrobe.
Across the room, Gabriella trembled, cradling her injured hand.
She tried to hide the bleeding wound, wincing from the throbbing agony.
Hobbling away, she nearly collided with Isabella, who had just returned home.
No.7
‘Isn’t that Victoria’s assistant? Why is she crying?’
Isabella’s curiosity was piqued, but she asked no questions.
She simply minded her own business and continued on her way.
After Eleanor had finally left Rosewood Manor, Isabella allowed the mask of lonely vulnerability to drop from her face.
‘Hmph. You think you’re the only one who can act?’ she thought, a smirk playing on her lips. ‘I might not be as disgustingly theatrical as you, but a little performance is hardly a challenge.’
She had walked away and remained silent entirely on purpose.
It was a calculated move to garner sympathy from Eleanor.
And it had worked perfectly.
With this, Victoria would find it much harder to manipulate her in the future.