Chapter 209
Isabella Sinclair blinked, caught completely off guard.
Pursuing her? Alexander Kingsley’s lie was so effortlessly smooth that he didn’t even flinch.
The crowd around them erupted into hushed murmurs.
“Wait, wasn’t it always said that Isabella was the one chasing Mr. Kingsley?”
“Yeah, but look at this—it’s obvious he’s the one pursuing her!”
The rumors had painted him as indifferent to women, yet here he was, openly declaring his interest in front of the media. He didn’t even seem to care about the gossip surrounding Isabella and her so-called childhood sweetheart.
He must be serious about her.
Most of what they’d heard before had been pure speculation. Now that Alexander’s feelings appeared genuine, the narrative shifted, and the fervent gossip began to unravel.
Sophia Kensington’s smile slipped.
Since when had Alexander become so reckless? Shouldn’t he be focusing on protecting his company’s reputation right now? But he didn’t seem to care. If anything, he looked determined to escalate the situation further.
Was his trust in Isabella that unshakable?
A dozen questions swirled through Sophia’s mind, each one tightening her chest with resentment.
Ethan Blackwood’s face darkened as well.
“Heh. Isabella sure knows how to attract men’s attention,” he muttered, his voice edged with bitterness.
He had wanted to watch her falter, to crumble under the pressure. But instead, it was him who felt that familiar sting—one that never seemed to fade.
Especially now, seeing the unspoken understanding between Alexander and Isabella, as if they shared secrets no one else could touch.
The sight made Ethan’s fists curl in anger and jealousy.
Why?
What made Alexander so special? He was just a man in a wheelchair—useless, at that!
And yet, despite his physical limitations, Alexander’s gaze remained unwaveringly cold, exuding an aura of absolute authority.
“As for you…” Alexander’s sharp eyes locked onto Darren Whitlock, his lips curling into a disdainful sneer.
“Ms. Sinclair doesn’t even spare me a second glance. What makes you think she’d ever be interested in you?” His voice dripped with contempt. “Some people truly have no sense of their own worth.”
He gestured toward the so-called video evidence.
“Besides, your footage is clearly tampered with. The cuts are clumsy, the transitions don’t line up. And yet, you have the audacity to parade this shoddy work to spread rumors?” His tone turned lethal. “I doubt you’ve even heard of the word integrity.”
Alexander’s gaze shifted to the reporters, his voice cool and commanding.
“Since the media is here, why not verify the authenticity of the video right now? With everyone watching, there’s no room for foul play. What do you say?”
For a split second, Darren’s composure cracked—but he quickly regained his footing.
“If I’m up against someone as powerful as you, how can I possibly win?” he sneered. “Even if the video is real, the Kingsley Group could easily make it look fake. That’s what influence does.”
He raised his injured hand, the bandaged fingers on full display.
“Look at this. Isabella did this to me. Does she care about the truth? I won’t back down until I get a proper explanation!”
A smug grin spread across Darren’s face.
Without the full video, what could she possibly do?
Sophia seized the opportunity, her innocent smile returning as she fanned the flames.
“Mr. Kingsley, I know you’re partial to Ms. Sinclair, but if you truly care about her, you shouldn’t let her keep making mistakes. This is clearly her fault. An apology and some compensation—then we can all move on. There’s no need to pick on someone who has no backing.”
Ethan’s icy voice cut through the tension.
“Don’t worry, Darren. Ontdale isn’t solely under the Kingsley family’s control. The Blackwood family has always stood for fairness.” His words were laced with venom. “If you need a witness, I’ll vouch for you.”
Jealousy and rage twisted his tone as he sided with Darren without hesitation—without evidence.
This wasn’t like him.
He knew exactly why he was doing this.
Because what he despised most was Alexander’s power.
Even confined to a wheelchair, Alexander managed to steal the spotlight, casting everyone else into the shadows.
Isabella let out a cold laugh.
“I wasn’t aware Miss Kensington and Mr. Blackwood had such kind hearts. Weren’t you both the ones backing Xavier Delmar—the comic artist accused of plagiarism not long ago?” Her voice dripped with mockery.
“And what happened after? Xavier got blacklisted from the entire industry.” She tilted her head. “It seems your guarantees aren’t worth much, Mr. Blackwood.”
Her words landed like a sharp slap, causing Ethan’s face to contort with barely concealed fury.
