It was a pitiful, exhausted smile. "I'm fine. I just heard a lot of commotion downstairs, and... *cough, cough*..."
"You stubborn child!" Edward frowned. "You've been sick for days. Why aren't you taking care of yourself? Go back to bed right now."
It was an obvious scolding born of worry.
But to Isabella's paranoid mind, it sounded like blatant disgust.
Tears immediately sprang to her eyes, thick with feigned grievance. "I-I'm sorry. Did I interrupt you all..."
"Isabella."
Suddenly, Old Mr. Lancaster's booming, authoritative voice cut through the air, silencing her.
Isabella's heart skipped a beat. She whipped her head toward him. "Grandpa..."
Old Mr. Lancaster's gaze was dark, his tone heavy. "You saw the live broadcast, didn't you?"
"I..." Isabella gripped her fingers tightly. Under her grandfather's piercing stare, it felt as if all her dark, manipulative thoughts were entirely transparent.
"That designer, Hailey, was someone you personally signed." Old Mr. Lancaster narrowed his eyes. "And the Wynn family being allowed to attend Brianna's coming- of-age ceremony... that was your doing as well, wasn't it?"
Isabella's face drained of all color, and her hands began to tremble violently.
Her grandfather actually suspected her!
"Isabella, come sit down." Seeing the girl practically swaying on her feet, Catherine gestured for her to join them. "Tell us, what exactly happened? How did you get tangled up with the Wynns? What is the story with this Hailey girl?"
Isabella clenched her fists. Looking at the slight frown on Catherine's face, a chill ran down her spine.
Now... even her own mother was interrogating her?
Her eyes grew redder, adopting the ultimate picture of victimhood. "Grandpa, how could you think so poorly of me..."
She walked over, choking back sobs with every step. "I admired her talent... I was genuinely moved by her portfolio. The first time I saw her designs, I thought she was exceptionally gifted. I thought she was a prodigy. I thought had struck gold..."
"Especially the jewelry set she designed for Brianna. I took one look at it and knew it was tailor-made for her! I-I just wanted her to be able to personally deliver the jewelry she designed to Brianna. That's the only reason I gave her the invitation! Of course, I was a little selfish. I wanted to mentor her... I wanted to make her the face of Aurevion Jewelers because her designs were so incredible..."
She sniffled, her face the very image of innocent heartbreak, tears pooling in her eyes. "But... but I had no idea her talent was entirely stolen! Everything she drafted was copied! She fed to all of us. And now
1.n
thanks to her, Aurevion Jewelers'
reputation has been dragged
through the mud..."
She desperately needed to sever ties with Hailey, while emphasizing that she would
never sabotage her own brand as a joke.
Aurevion Jewelers was her blood, sweat, and tears.
It was the career she took absolute pride in.
How could she possibly gamble away her entire empire just to make Serena miserable?
Lowering her head, Isabella let her shoulders tremble, making sure they viewed her as a tragic victim in this entire mess.
Watching her adopted daughter sob so miserably, especially while visibly suffering from a fever, Catherine finally sighed. "You're just far too trusting of others."
Her eyes rimmed with red, Isabella's gaze fell on the live broadcast playing on the
screen.
Serena's dazzlingly beautiful face was absolutely flawless on camera.
Boiling with envy, she instead plastered a look of absolute awe across her face. "I never would have guessed... my little sister is actually the great Master Queen."