Chapter 235
Ethan Blackwood steadied himself, glaring at Isabella Sinclair with deep disappointment etched across his face.
“If you’re going to make such serious accusations against Donovan, you’d better have solid proof to back it up in front of everyone,” he said, his voice sharp with warning. “Otherwise, even if you’re my grandson, you won’t escape the consequences of framing her.”
Isabella’s jaw clenched, but she didn’t flinch.
“I’m telling the truth,” she insisted. “I’ll show you Donovan’s true colors!”
With that, she pulled out her phone and cast a video onto the screen. The footage displayed a scene from last week—Donovan stepping out of his car, glancing around cautiously before Isabella approached him from behind. The two exchanged what appeared to be an intimate embrace.
The camera zoomed in, capturing snippets of their conversation.
“The headquarters has been auditing the accounts recently. Is something going on? What are you so worried about?” Donovan’s voice was low, almost comforting.
“With me around, do you really think I’d let anything happen to you?” Isabella replied smoothly. “After all these years, handling something like this is child’s play.”
Despite the clear visuals, the audio was slightly muffled, as if it had been altered.
As the video ended, murmurs spread through the room, and all eyes turned to Donovan. But Donovan simply leaned back in his chair, resting her chin on her hand, a faint, amused smile playing on her lips.
She wasn’t fazed.
Her calmness was unsettling.
Isabella’s agitation grew as she watched Donovan’s reaction. She remembered how furious she’d been when Sophia had first shown her this footage. Yet now… why wasn’t Donovan panicking? Why wasn’t she reacting?
“Mr. Blackwood,” Donovan drawled, her voice laced with mockery. “It seems your intelligence isn’t quite as sharp as I thought.” She gestured casually at the screen. “Take a closer look. Notice how the edges of the figures are blurred? And at the twenty-five-second mark—see how the supporting wall in the background distorts for a moment? This video has clearly been edited.”
Donovan wasn’t sure whether she felt more amused or disappointed. She couldn’t believe this was the woman she’d once cared for.
“Ms. Sinclair,” she continued, her tone icy, “when you presented this video, did it even occur to you to verify its authenticity first?”
Isabella scoffed, her voice dripping with derision. “Other than making excuses, what else are you good at? This video is crystal clear, and you’re just grasping at straws! Face it—you’re nothing but a habitual liar.”
She fully trusted the evidence Sophia had given her. She turned to William.
“Grandfather, surely you believe me now?”
“Believe what?” William snapped, his voice sharp and unwavering.
“Grandfather!” Isabella stared at him, incredulous. “You’ve lost your mind. And Donovan—she’s even interfered with the company’s audit!”
Donovan’s expression hardened at the brazen accusation, her gaze steady as she met Isabella’s eyes.
“Whether William has been deceived or not is not for you to decide,” she retorted, her voice like ice. Only now did she fully understand the depths of Isabella’s selfishness.
“Three years of marriage, and I was stationed at the branch office for just three months. If I truly intended to embezzle ten million dollars, do you honestly think Donovan would risk his neck helping me? Besides, he had no authority over the audits. Do you really believe I have the power to manipulate the entire accounting system of the Blackwood Group?”
Her voice grew firmer with each word, cutting through the room like a sharp blade.
Isabella’s silence only intensified Donovan’s disdain. Now she understood why Isabella’s business had never taken off. She had no business acumen. She was too gullible, too easy to fool.
“Or maybe,” Donovan added with a mocking smile, “you’re suggesting I’ve planted a mole in the auditing department?”
Isabella furrowed her brows, clearly confused.
“Who did you—”
Donovan paused, caught off guard. Couldn’t she even comprehend what she meant? She was momentarily speechless, shocked by her foolishness.
Just then, Sophia interjected, her voice smooth and insidious.
“Donovan, even if the video was edited, it still shows your connection to the CEO. Perhaps your marriage to the Blackwood family was just a front. There were rumors that you and Donovan knew each other long before this.”
Of course, it was all a lie that Sophia had spun herself.
Donovan scoffed. “I’ve already told you how ridiculous this is, but you refused to listen. That video was filmed last week. I was tutoring at the time and later had dinner with a friend. There’s surveillance footage to prove it. Or do you think I’ve somehow developed the ability to be in two places at once, Ms. Sinclair?”
This time, Isabella wisely refrained from asking, When did you gain that ability? Instead, she focused on the video, a flicker of suspicion darkening her eyes, though her face remained indifferent.
“Is that so?” she asked slowly, her voice low and cold. “Then why don’t you show us your evidence?”
Donovan opened her mouth, ready to respond—but then faltered. If she mentioned tutoring for the Kingsley family, it would drag Alexander into this mess.
Her hesitation only strengthened Isabella’s doubts.
Her gaze turned disdainful, a sneer forming on her lips. “You have no proof, do you? You’re just making this up.”
Before Donovan could respond, a deep, authoritative voice cut through the tense silence.
“Who said she doesn’t have proof?”
