Chapter 237
Sebastian stood frozen, his mind racing as he tried to devise a way to recover the corrupted footage.
Yet, with Alexander’s command echoing in his ears, he knew he had no choice but to comply.
Retrieving the internal surveillance from the Kingsley estate would take time.
Maybe I should focus on restoring this clip first? Ethan’s confidence wavered under the weight of Alexander and his assistant’s certainty.
If the evidence turned out to be falsified, his credibility would be shattered.
As Alexander entered the room, murmurs swelled around them—especially since he was openly defending Isabella.
Then, someone pulled out their phone, playing a clip of Alexander speaking to the press outside Charisma Company.
“I’m pursuing Ms. Sinclair, but she hasn’t accepted me yet.”
Gasps and whispers erupted.
“What’s the connection between Mr. Kingsley and Ms. Sinclair?”
“Why is he defending her so fiercely?”
“Haven’t you heard? The victim from that livestream scandal was Ms. Sinclair.”
“Their relationship must be deeper than we thought.”
Ethan had a formidable opponent now.
It was common knowledge that Alexander had a volatile temper and little interest in romance.
Yet now, whispers of a love affair swirled around Isabella—who stood composed amidst the chaos.
“There’s no need to restore the video,” Isabella said calmly. “Ethan can investigate the intruder himself. As long as we verify its authenticity, I’m not concerned about exposing the culprit.”
She met Alexander’s intense gaze and subtly shook her head.
William had only just stabilized with medication.
If he discovered his daughter-in-law had conspired with another man for money, it could trigger another health crisis.
Sometimes, ignorance was bliss.
Eleanor paled at the mention of restoring the footage.
She wanted this matter buried and quickly approached Isabella, reaching for her hand.
“I’m sorry. We misunderstood you. Since Mr. Kingsley has spoken, it couldn’t possibly be you.”
But Isabella gently withdrew her hand, causing Eleanor’s smile to falter.
“This was clearly a misunderstanding. Mr. Kingsley has no reason to lie—I trust his judgment.”
“I’ll have Ethan apologize to you later, Isabella.”
Eleanor was desperate to sweep this under the rug, so she shot a sharp glance at Sophia, ready to pin the blame on her.
“Some people act out of jealousy, trying to drive a wedge between us. You’re like a daughter to me, Isabella. Don’t let today’s events upset you.”
Her tone was sickly sweet, but laced with urgency.
Nearby, Jonathan’s secretary interjected, “Since Mr. Kingsley is willing to help, why not uncover the truth? Otherwise, who knows what’s real?”
Eleanor’s face darkened.
That schemer had spoken deliberately!
But Isabella’s frown deepened—her priority was still William’s well-being.
Just then, William slowly rose to his feet.
His aged eyes cut through the tension, settling on Isabella with quiet regret.
He sighed softly and patted her shoulder.
“I’m sorry for putting you through this.”
The birthday celebration had already been ruined by scandal.
Now, regaining his composure, William knew restoring the family’s honor came first.
“I’ve long heard Mr. Kingsley surrounds himself with exceptional talent. I didn’t expect even an assistant to possess such skills.”
“If that’s the case, please help me uncover the truth. I promise a generous reward in return.”
His words were polite, but the implication was clear—the restored footage would be delivered privately.
“It’s getting late, and everyone must be tired. Let’s all head home. I apologize for today’s spectacle.”
As soon as William stood, others rushed to support him.
“Not at all, Mr. Blackwood! Today is your birthday—no need for apologies.”
“This wasn’t your fault. Please rest, sir. We’ll visit another time.”
The guests quickly took the hint and discreetly departed.
Whatever happened next was no longer their concern.
Isabella’s frown deepened.
“William, there’s really no need to pursue this. As long as you believe me, that’s enough.”
But William shook his head firmly.
“I must get to the truth!”
Alexander realized William was resolute—even Isabella couldn’t stop this now.
He exhaled and turned to Sebastian.
“Do as Mr. Blackwood requested. Restore the footage and send it to him.”
“Understood.”
Sebastian breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Alexander was playing a dangerous game.
If he had to restore the video publicly now, Sebastian wouldn’t have known how to handle it.
But this way, he could discreetly consult the tech team.
Eleanor’s face paled again.
“That’s unnecessary, Mr. Kingsley. I’ve already said it was a misunderstanding. With your testimony, Isabella’s innocence is clear.”
