Chapter 266
“I didn’t mean it like that,” James stammered.
Despite the tension, the unspoken hierarchy was undeniable.
Damian might be an illegitimate heir, but he was still a Kingsley, while James, a mere butler, held no such standing.
A poised woman in an elegant, traditional gown stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on James’s shoulder.
“Don’t take it to heart, James,” Victoria murmured, her voice smooth as silk. “Damian has a tendency to let his emotions rule him—especially when it comes to Amelia.”
With flawless makeup and an air of serenity, Victoria exuded grace. She dabbed delicately at the corners of her eyes with a tissue, her gaze shimmering with unshed tears.
“Why must Amelia suffer so? Have the kidnappers been caught yet? Was it for ransom, or do they hold a grudge against us?”
From the moment Victoria entered, she hadn’t so much as glanced at Isabella, as if she were invisible. Her questions lingered in the air, met with uneasy silence.
Most of the Kingsleys still regarded Isabella with disdain, seeing her as nothing more than an interloper.
“Why is no one answering?” Damian snapped, impatience sharpening his tone. “My mother is genuinely worried about Amelia! Why is everyone just standing here like statues? And where the hell is Alexander?”
Only then did his gaze finally land on Isabella. His eyes raked over her, a slow, mocking smirk curling his lips.
“You must be Ms. Sinclair—the one Alexander’s been chasing after lately.”
Damian narrowed his eyes, studying her as if she were a rare specimen under a microscope. Isabella’s striking beauty and composed demeanor gave her an untouchable aura, as if she existed beyond the reach of ordinary men.
He’d already dug into her past and knew she was a divorcee. Yet despite that, she’d somehow ensnared both Alexander’s and Ethan’s attention—proof enough of her allure.
“I’m Damian,” he drawled. “If you ever need anything, Ms. Sinclair, don’t hesitate to come to me. Anytime.” His gaze lingered boldly on her face before he added, “After all, compared to Alexander—who we all know is a cripple—I’m far more… capable.”
Victoria’s expression darkened instantly. Her eyes, moments ago brimming with concern, turned glacial at her son’s reckless words. While others might not have fully grasped the weight of his insinuation, she did. She knew exactly what he was implying.
Idiot, she seethed inwardly, barely restraining the urge to slap him. Instead, she tightened her grip on his wrist in silent warning, her smile never faltering.
She turned to Isabella. “Ms. Sinclair has indeed been a great help to both Amelia and Alexander. I heard that if not for your quick thinking, the kidnapper would have detonated the explosives. You must let us know if there’s anything we can do in return.”
There was a subtle challenge in her tone. “I never imagined you’d be so… resourceful.”
During the racing competition, Victoria had orchestrated a flawless plan to incapacitate Alexander. But when he hadn’t shown, she’d redirected her efforts toward Isabella, knowing he wouldn’t stay away for long. It should have gone perfectly—the distraction allowing them to abduct Amelia from the VIP room without suspicion.
Yet who could have predicted that Isabella would be the one to hack the bomb’s remote control and disarm it?
Unfazed, Isabella met Victoria’s gaze with a serene smile. “As capable as I may seem, I’m nowhere near your level. After all, the incident was kept under such tight wraps. Very few even knew I was the one who cracked the remote.”
Her smile deepened, her eyes locking onto Victoria’s with razor-sharp precision. “But tell me—what were you and Damian doing that day?”
Though her lips curved politely, her gaze was cold, calculating—like a predator poised to strike.
