Chapter 103
Isabella’s face remained an unreadable mask.
“I can’t help you,” she said, her voice dripping with icy disdain. “Find someone else.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened, the air thickening with tension at her dismissive words.
“My mother is begging you for that medicine, and you treat her like this?” His voice was sharp, laced with fury. “Isabella, have you no shame left?”
She barely glanced at him, her tone heavy with indifference.
“You’re right. I don’t.” A cold smirk curled her lips. “So, Mr. Blackwood, watch your fingers.”
Ethan’s mouth snapped shut, his expression darkening as the memory resurfaced—Isabella’s blade grazing his skin, so close he could still feel its phantom chill. Just last night, he’d seen her toss a grown man into a dumpster like he weighed nothing.
Ruthless. Unyielding.
Isabella Sinclair didn’t make empty threats.
Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “Yes, Mrs. Blackwood, you’ve always been so generous. You once tried to trade a bracelet for an invitation. But surely you don’t think a pair of earrings will buy a life-saving drug?”
Eleanor forced a brittle laugh, her composure cracking. “Oh, Isabella, how clever of you. I’ll pay whatever you ask—down to the last penny.”
In any other room, Eleanor commanded respect with mere presence. But here, Isabella’s razor-sharp words left her seething, temples throbbing with rage.
Eleanor had foolishly hoped Isabella might show something—remorse, pity, even a flicker of the loyalty she once had.
Instead, she got ice.
Ethan couldn’t hold back any longer. His face twisted as he snarled, “Who the hell do you think you are? I don’t need you for this. I’ll get it myself.”
Isabella arched a brow, amusement glinting in her eyes. “Then why do you keep crawling back to me, practically on your knees? Go ahead. Find it.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel, done wasting breath on them.
Eleanor and Ethan stood frozen, fury choking their words as Isabella strode away.
Just as she stepped out, she nearly collided with Sophia, who stood rigid, eyes burning with silent rage.
Isabella’s gaze sharpened. “Move. Smart people know when to step aside.”
Sophia stiffened, the memory of Isabella handling that drunk flashing vividly in her mind. She instinctively retreated, scrambling for a retort that never came.
Isabella didn’t even spare her a glance, brushing past as if she were nothing.
From inside, the shattering of glass pierced the night—Eleanor’s infamous temper in full swing.
Sophia clenched her fists. She’d heard everything.
How dare Eleanor imply she was beneath Isabella?
What stung worse was Ethan’s silence—he hadn’t even defended her.
Sophia’s face smoothed into a placid mask, but beneath it, venom simmered.
Let Eleanor suffer.
After all… the woman didn’t have much time left.
Once she was gone, the Blackwood empire would be hers.
Drawing a steadying breath, Sophia plastered on a sweet smile and stepped inside. “Eleanor, please don’t let Isabella upset you. She’s always been like this.”
Eleanor, still trembling with rage, spat, “I never imagined she’d turn out like this! After all the expensive gifts I gave her—I might as well have thrown them in the trash!”
Conveniently forgetting Isabella had left every single one behind.
Seeing his mother massaging her temples, Ethan stepped forward. “Mom, don’t worry. I’ve done research. Calming Capsules are rare, but there’s another way.”
He hesitated, then continued. “Years ago, a VR game called Hacker’s World was popular. On the dark web, some forums still post rewards—including MDH capsules. I’ll get them for you.”
Sophia tilted her head, feigning innocence. “But Hacker’s World hasn’t been online for years.”
The last thing she wanted was Eleanor getting that medicine.
Ethan’s lips thinned. “Don’t worry. Rumor says the creator’s reviving it. It’s only a matter of time before it’s back.”
