Chapter 246
Ethan Blackwood was seething with rage.
How dare she speak to me like this! He could hardly believe that the once meek and accommodating Isabella Sinclair had transformed into this sharp-tongued woman. The mere thought of William Blackwood favoring her—even entrusting her with the family heirloom—made his blood boil.
“Let me make this clear,” he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. “Return the jade. Grandfather wasn’t in his right mind that day, and you took advantage of that. But that Ruby Jade belongs to the Blackwood heir.”
Every word was laced with barely restrained fury.
“Without his protection, you wouldn’t be enjoying this freedom.”
The truth had finally dawned on Ethan. Despite the divorce, Isabella had never struggled financially. The reason? William still held her in high regard. The realization gnawed at him relentlessly. How had his grandfather shifted his affections from him to her in just three short years?
Beside him, Sophia Kensington clung to his arm, her expression the picture of innocence.
“Exactly, Isabella,” she chimed in sweetly. “Surely you wouldn’t keep something that doesn’t belong to you? And with William getting older, someone as noble as you wouldn’t be so greedy, would you?”
Sophia’s hatred burned beneath her carefully crafted facade. Ever since that disastrous birthday banquet, Eleanor Blackwood had deemed her a rival, and their animosity had only deepened. Worse, William’s disdain for her had become painfully obvious. If she lost Ethan’s favor now, her position in the Blackwood family would be unbearable.
Most of all, she needed Ethan to reclaim that jade—the symbol of his inheritance—before any of his illegitimate siblings could stake a claim.
Isabella barely spared them a glance, her attention fixed on the competitor’s badge pinned to her chest. She slid on her goggles with deliberate nonchalance and began polishing her ice skates, ignoring them completely.
“You two are pathetic,” she said coolly. “Even if you’re scheming to take back William’s belongings, it’s not your decision to make.”
Years of enduring their shamelessness had hardened her. She continued prepping her gear, her composure unshaken.
Ethan’s expression twisted with cold fury. “You really went after Grandfather just to sink your claws into my family!”
Olivia Montgomery, visibly seething, stepped forward, ready to intervene. “Are you two deaf or just stupid?”
Before she could act, a pair of arms restrained her. Olivia turned, frowning, to see Dominic Sterling beside her.
“What’s this, Mr. Sterling? Playing the hero now?”
Dominic flashed her a polished, charming smile, his gaze sliding to Ethan without losing its warmth. “Naturally. I can’t just stand by while my friends are being wronged.” His tone was light, but his eyes were sharp. “Mr. Blackwood, Miss Kensington—I’d advise you not to provoke them. After all, I have… certain mental health issues, and if I accidentally instruct my bodyguards to act, I wouldn’t be held legally responsible.”
On cue, five imposing bodyguards stepped forward, each brandishing steel pipes.
“At your service, Mr. Sterling!”
Ethan and Sophia instinctively retreated. The heavily tattooed men clearly had underworld ties. Dominic’s reputation was well-known—his ruthless methods were as infamous as his refined demeanor.
Sophia tugged at Ethan’s sleeve, whispering urgently, “The competition is about to start. Let’s focus on that.”
They couldn’t afford to antagonize Dominic, not when the top three finishers stood to gain lucrative rewards and invaluable exposure—something their company desperately needed.
Though pride screamed at him to stand his ground, Ethan had no choice but to retreat.
“Let’s go.”
Once they had slunk away, Dominic’s smile returned as he turned to Olivia. “Miss Montgomery, do I qualify as one of your friends now?”
He remembered their first meeting, which had ended disastrously due to their families’ arranged marriage. His anxiety had clouded his judgment then, but since then, he’d been fascinated by Olivia’s fiery spirit. He’d been searching for the right moment to apologize—but the right moment never seemed to come.
Olivia’s lips curved into a playful smirk. “Do you?”
Dominic hesitated, unsure how to respond.
Her smirk didn’t waver, but suddenly, she stomped hard on his foot with the stiletto heel of her shoe.
“Mr. Sterling, you made it very clear you’re not interested in marriage—or me. And, as luck would have it, I have no patience for people who go through life without friends.”
She then looped her arm through Isabella’s. “Come on, let’s get to the competition!”
“Ow!” Dominic winced, watching the two women stride confidently into the venue.
“That was… unnecessary,” he muttered to himself.
A spark of curiosity flickered in his mind. He wondered how Alexander Kingsley managed to deal with women.
