Chapter 982
No.1
Eleanor's grip tightened on the phone. A cold fury began to simmer within her. "Alright," she said, her voice clipped. "I understand. I'll handle it."
She ended the call, her breath coming out in an angry huff. How had Isabella become so monstrous? Poisoning Benjamin wasn't enough? Now she threatened her own grandparents? The sheer audacity was breathtaking.
Just then, Richard approached the hospital room. "Eleanor? I need to meet with Father to finalize the specialist for Benjamin."
"Wait," she commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Come with me to the manor first. We need to force a withdrawal of Isabella's twenty-five percent shares. Before Father finds out."
As the family patriarch, Theodore Montgomery held the corporate seal. Combined with the other shareholders' approval, they could legally revoke her stake.
Richard hesitated. "That's... drastic. You know how Father will react."
"A scolding from Father is preferable to Isabella's schemes!" Eleanor's voice rose. "Do you know what she did? She threatened my parents! She said she would steal everything they own! I am furious, but Father refuses to see the truth! We return her shares to Theodore and cut her from the family. We can explain it to him afterward."
Richard glanced back at Benjamin, lying motionless in the hospital bed. The image solidified his resolve. He gave a grim nod. "Okay."
They returned to Montgomery Manor swiftly. A clandestine family meeting was convened, Theodore deliberately kept in the dark. The vote was unanimous. Isabella Montgomery was to be disowned.
No.2
An attorney was summoned. The paperwork for the forced share withdrawal was drafted and signed with swift, brutal efficiency.
Richard then accessed the official Montgomery Group Twitter account. His fingers flew across the keyboard, publishing a statement that would ignite a firestorm.
[Official Statement: Due to Isabella Montgomery's reprehensible actions and conduct endangering lives, the Montgomery family has unanimously voted to disown her and reclaim all family shares. Effective immediately, Isabella Montgomery is no longer the adopted daughter of the Montgomery family. We sever all ties.]
The post exploded across the internet within seconds.
Reprehensible actions? Endangering lives? What did she do?
Insider leak: the Montgomery's only son is in a vegetative state. Unlikely to ever wake up.
What? Isabella did that? I never thought she was capable.
Is this another one of Victoria's setups?
This came from her own parents. They disowned her. This has to be serious.
No.3
The argument escalated rapidly.
Eleanor accessed her private account and posted a bold statement.
"Our investigations are conclusive and error-free. To seize the Montgomery family assets, Isabella orchestrated schemes against Victoria and Benjamin. This is utterly reprehensible! She knows exactly what she has done!"
Her tweet instantly swayed public opinion.
Even Isabella's staunchest defenders began to doubt her.
"Eleanor wouldn't be this furious without solid evidence."
"But Isabella is incredibly wealthy. Why would she covet others' money?"
"The richest always crave more. The Montgomery fortune is nearly twenty billion."
"Consider this: an outsider adopted into the family, plotting against the true heirs to steal their inheritance..."
No.4
"An outsider betraying the family? That sounds entirely plausible."
At Rosewood Manor.
Isabella and Nathaniel had just stepped inside when Oliver came rushing toward them.
"Mommy! Mommy! Check Twitter right now! Someone is setting you up!"
His chubby hands held out the phone urgently.
Isabella took it and scanned the tweets from Montgomery Group and Eleanor.
The online discussions were vicious.
She frowned deeply.
She knew Eleanor and the others disliked her, but Theodore had intervened.
No.5
Yet they still expelled her from the family and forced the withdrawal of her shares.
Clearly, they were using social media to destroy her reputation.
Did they truly despise her this much?
Nathaniel's hand settled gently on her shoulder.
His voice was low and reassuring. "I'll have Dominic handle this immediately."
"Unnecessary." Isabella's expression turned icy again.
She was accustomed to their cruelty. There was no point in sadness.
Undoubtedly, Victoria had orchestrated this mess before her departure.
Victoria was leaving tonight anyway.
No.6
Isabella wanted to see how the Montgomerys would react.
Yes, they had disowned her.
But they would come crawling back to her within a day!
Oliver looked puzzled. "But why not, Mommy? Uncle Dominic can fix anything! He's amazing!"
Isabella kept the phone and comforted him. "It's alright, Oliver. We don't need to stoop to their level. Remember, if a dog bites you, you don't bite it back."
"Hmm... But we can kick them! Kick them all!" Oliver retorted angrily, his voice still filled with childish innocence.
Isabella nearly choked. Why were children so difficult to teach these days...
Nathaniel intervened. "Oliver, let Mommy rest now. I will handle everything else."
"Oh, right! Mommy, you need sleep–remember the little baby. I'll walk you."
No.7
Oliver carefully supported her back toward the bedroom.
Isabella was speechless. Perhaps he would never let go of this imaginary baby.
She was exhausted from last night's lack of sleep and the day's events.
Just as they walked down the hallway...
CRASH. CRASH. SMASH.
The glass windows shattered violently.
Shards flew everywhere, assaulting the trio.
Attack!
Nathaniel immediately shielded Isabella and Oliver.