Chapter 233
Isabella narrowed her eyes as she examined the document before her.
The seal was undeniable—it belonged to a subsidiary of the Blackwood Group.
Before she could respond, Sophia stepped forward, her fingers lightly brushing Ethan’s arm, her expression dripping with false concern.
“Ethan, didn’t we agree to leave right after presenting William with his gift?” Her voice was honeyed, sickeningly sweet.
“You can’t do this… You’re embarrassing Isabella in front of everyone.”
“Sophia,” Ethan cut in coldly, his gaze locked onto Isabella as if challenging her to react. “You don’t need to defend her. You’re too kind—unlike her. She schemes and manipulates, desperate to claw her way into William’s good graces.”
He expected her to flinch, to show even a flicker of distress.
But Isabella remained unshaken.
A faint, almost amused smile curved her lips, as if she were watching a particularly dull performance. His words didn’t even seem to register—or worse, she simply didn’t care.
“Enough!” William’s voice cracked through the room like a whip, his cane striking the marble floor with a sharp thud. His fury was palpable.
“If it weren’t for Isabella, would you even dare stand here, flaunting your arrogance like this?” His voice trembled with rage. “If she hadn’t saved the Blackwood Group from collapse, you’d be nothing—absolutely nothing!”
Isabella’s expression softened slightly as she reached for William, steadying him with a gentle hand on his back.
“William, don’t upset yourself. Here, drink some water.” She pressed a glass into his hands, her voice low and soothing.
She knew exactly what Ethan was trying to do.
He wanted a spectacle. A scene.
But even she hadn’t anticipated he’d stoop so low as to humiliate her at William’s birthday banquet, surrounded by the city’s elite.
Her mind flashed to the intel Julian had gathered.
If she stayed silent, she’d look weak—guilty, even.
But if she retaliated too fiercely, the truth might shatter William in front of everyone.
She turned to Ethan, her gaze glacial.
“Ethan, today is William’s birthday. I’m warning you—don’t start trouble with baseless accusations. The consequences will be far worse than you can handle.”
His lips twisted into a sneer.
“Baseless? You’re just afraid the truth will come out.”
Ever since their divorce, Isabella had systematically dismantled his pride. Humiliated him. Cast him aside.
Now, he wanted her on her knees.
“Grandfather, you’ve been deceived!” Ethan’s voice rose, sharp with frustration. “Isabella married into our family with an agenda. She embezzled millions from the Blackwood Group during our marriage—and even after the divorce, she kept stealing!”
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Whispers erupted.
“No way… Ms. Sinclair couldn’t possibly…”
“Mr. Blackwood must have proof to make such a claim…”
“If it’s true, this is criminal…”
William’s face flushed red, his hand clutching his chest.
“You—you want to kill me, don’t you?” His voice shook with fury and disbelief. “Even if someone did steal, it would never be Isabella!”
“William, please, sit down—” Isabella’s tone turned urgent as she guided him into a chair. “Breathe. Just breathe.”
At his age, this kind of stress was dangerous.
But Ethan was blind to it.
“I’m telling the truth!” he snapped. “Isabella conspired with Donovan Sinclair from our subsidiary! She manipulated him into funneling ten million dollars out of the company! The evidence is right here!”
Eleanor, who had been standing silently nearby, suddenly went pale.
Her hands trembled as she stared between Ethan and the document in horror.
Donovan?
That was her secret lover…
