Chapter 14
Phoebe followed Elliot into his study, her voice still choked with tears: “Elliot, if Isabelle really hates me this much, I shouldn’t have come back…”
Elliot rubbed his temples, his tone relatively gentle: “Don’t overthink it. She’s probably just in a bad mood.”
“Why is she in a bad mood? Is it because of my presence?” Phoebe’s tears fell like broken pearls. “I know I shouldn’t have appeared between you two…”
Elliot poured himself a whiskey without responding.
Seeing this, Phoebe cried even harder: “Don’t you love me anymore? No one in this world has ever truly loved me. If even you abandon me, what’s the point of living?”
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly stood up and rushed toward the floor–to–ceiling window.
Elliot reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist as sive whiskey spilled across the floor.
“Stop this nonsense!” His voice carried suppressed anger.
Phoebe threw herself into his arms, sobbing: “Then can you be like before…” She looked up with red, swollen eyes. “At least punish her a little? The way she treated me today really hurt.”
Elliot was silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
Just as they reached Isabelle’s door, the villa’s doorbell suddenly rang sharply.
The butler rushed over, his face pale: “Mr. Sinclair, there are police outside…”
Before he could finish, three uniformed officers had already entered.
Isabelle was somehow already standing in the hallway, wearing a silk robe with her long hair cascading loosely, gleaming softly under the lights.
“I called the police.” Her voice was terrifyingly calm.
Elliot’s face changed dramatically: “Isabelle!”
Isabelle calmly rolled up her sleeve, revealing shocking bruises on her arm: “I’m filing charges against Phoebe Evans for assault.”
She looked at the police. “The evidence is right here.”
“Are you insane?” Elliot grabbed her wrist. “She was just joking with you!”
“Joking?” Isabelle laughed coldly, yanking her hand back. “Mr. Sinclair has a very unique definition of jokes.”
Phoebe’s face went pale as she hurriedly explained: “I didn’t mean to… I just…”
cut her
“Then apologize.” Isabelle cut her off. “Otherwise we’ll proceed through legal channels.”
11:23
Stand–In Bride’s Escape: No More Chains. Only Freedom
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11:24
Chapter 14
Under the police officers‘ watchful eyes, Phoebe could only bite her lip and bow her head in humiliation: “I… I’m sorry…”
After the police left, Isabelle closed her door without looking back.
Elliot stood there, frowning deeply-
Was it his imagination? Why had Isabelle become so unfamiliar?
Late that night, Elliot still knocked on Isabelle’s door.
Isabelle leaned against the doorframe, her robe slightly open at the collar, revealing her delicate collarbone.
She held a glass of red wine, asking lazily: “What is it?”
Elliot’s gaze lingered on her for a moment: “What’s gotten into you lately?”
He softened his tone. “Phoebe is just staying temporarily. You’re already Mrs. Sinclair–what more could you want?”
“Elliot Sinclair.” Isabelle suddenly interrupted him, her red lips curving into a mocking smile as she sipped her wine. “Being with me while letting her move in–is playing with me that entertaining?”
“That’s not what I meant.” Elliot frowned, but “bang!“–the door was slammed shut in his face.
Elliot stood outside, his expression shifting between light and dark.
The Isabelle before him was completely different from before–when had that woman who used to obey his every word become so impossible to control?
“Crash-”
On the other side, a priceless vase was violently smashed to the ground, shards scattering everywhere.
Phoebe trembled with rage, sweeping all the bottles and jars from her vanity table to the floor.
“Isabelle!” She gritted her teeth as she spoke the name, her eyes sinister. “We’ll see about this!”
