Chapter 33
Both Molly and Ivana looked up. Molly placed her phone aside and raised her hands in a gesture of helplessness as she explained, “Bella, if I hadn’t lied, you wouldn’t have come back.”
Ivana glanced at Isabella, a cold smirk flashing in her eyes. Finally, they had managed to trick Bella into coming back.
Isabella’s expression went icy in an instant. She had sensed something was off but had been too caught up in her concerns to see through it. Now seeing that the two women were sitting there so relaxed, she’d be a fool if she still didn’t realize what was going on.
With a frigid stare, Isabella shot a glare at Molly as anger ignited within her, asking, “You must think that’s a great idea, don’t you?” “They didn’t even bother to pretend anymore, are they that eager to lay their cards on the table now? thought Isabella
Ivana’s eyes gleamed with cold laughter, but she quickly stood up and approached Bella. With a feigned sense of helplessness. she said, “Mom’s doing this for your own good. How could this possibly be a scheme? We’re family!”
Isabella couldn’t help but laugh in anger, thinking, Family? The word makes my stomach churn!‘ She vividly remembered that right after her mother had died and was still unburied, Molly had moved in with Ivana and warned her. From now on, I’m the mistress of this house. If you don’t listen to me, I’ll throw you into the river.”
With a steely gaze, Isabella retorted, “I don’t see a homewrecker as family”
Molly’s face turned livid at her words. No matter how long she’d been Mrs. Stout, she could still feel the judgment from the socialites around her. The term “homewrecker felt like a brand burned into her soul. ‘How dare this ungrateful girl say such a thing to me?! Who does Isabella think she is?!‘ she thought,
Ivana was clearly enraged too. She furrowed her brow as she shot an incredulous look at Isabella. “Bella, how can you say that about my mom? She’s just trying to help you!” “How dare you call my mother a homewrecker?! I’ll make sure you marry Cameron she thought.
Ivana drew in a deep breath, trying to control her emotions. With feigned warmth, she linked her arm with Isabella’s and sincerely urged, “And she secured you such a good marriage with Cameron. How can you not be grateful?”
Suddenly, the sound of a fall and Ivana’s yell echoed through the room
“Ivana!” Molly exclaimed, rushing over with concern etched on her face.
Isabella looked down at Ivana, who had just been knocked to the floor. “A good marriage? If it’s such a great opportunity, why don’t you take it?” Her words dripped with contempt.
She knew exactly what game they were playing. ‘How can they be so shameless, hiding their true intentions behind such polished words?‘ she thought.
Ivana lay on the floor, the impact having caused her body to spasm in pain.
“Ivana, are you okay?” Molly quickly grabbed Ivana’s arm, her voice filled with worry. Ivana gritted her teeth, shaking her head,
“I’m fine.”
Molly finally let out a sigh of relief, but her expression quickly turned to anger as she glared at Isabella, her tone dripping with grievance, “Bella, no matter what you think, you shouldn’t push Ivana away like that
To Isabella, the scene was painfully disgusting. What a deep mother–daughter bond they share!‘ she thought. But before she could respond, a chilling voice echoed from upstairs, “Isabella! Do you have any decency left? She’s your own sister!”
The man’s powerful voice surged with authority. Isabella looked up and saw Hudson, who had previously claimed to be unwell, now-standing there with a flushed face, glaring at her and looking perfectly healthy.
An icy chill washed over Isabella. She had initially believed she was tricked into coming back by Molly and Ivana, but it seemed that Hudson was in on it too.
Unable to hold back a cold laugh, Isabella shot back, “You only saw me pushing her. What about everything Molly and Ivana have done to me all these years? Why did you ignore it!”
“Isn’t that because you’ve been insufferable all these years? If it weren’t for Molly always trying to stop me, I would have broken your legs a long time ago! And now you still hate them? You’re actually biting the hand that feeds you!” Hudson’s face darkened
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Chapter 33
further as he stepped closer, while Molly helped Ivana up from the floor and they both settled on the couch.
Isabella couldn’t help but smile bitterly. In his eyes, it’s me who’s ungrateful, and I’ll always be the rebellious daughter, she thought.
Hudson cast her a cold glance, saying. “Since you’re back, you’ll stay at home and join the Lane family for dinner tomorrow.” His tone left no room for negotiation, making it clear it was set in stone.
A flicker of satisfaction passed between Molly and Ivana’s eyes. As long as Hudson gives the order, it doesn’t matter whether Isabella wants to meet the Lane family or not; she has to go, they thought.
Ivana rubbed her sore back, gritting her teeth and thinking. You bitch! I only treat you civilly now because I need your cooperation, but once you marry into the Lane family, things will be different!”
Isabella gazed at Hudson with disappointment, thinking, ‘How can he make this decision? And he’s talking about Cameron from the Lane family!
Her hands clenched into fists, desperately fighting back her anger. She met Hudson’s eyes, asking with a touch of defiance, “You know what kind of person Cameron is. Am I your daughter or not?”
She held her gaze on Hudson, hoping to catch even a glimpse of sympathy or regret in his eyes, but there was nothing. It was all wishful thinking. At that moment, Isabella felt as if she had plunged into a freezing abyss..
Hudson’s gaze darkened, his irritation directed squarely at Isabella. “Stop messing around! As long as you marry Cameron, he promised me he would treat you well,” he said, his tone firm.
Isabella let out a mocking laugh. It was unbelievable that Hudson was pushing her into a burning pit without a care in the
world.
Slowly, she lowered her eyes to hide the pain in them. In a subdued voice, she asked, “Did you ever love me?”
As a child, she had always seen how considerate her neighbor was to his daughter, taking his daughter’s hand to go out for picnics and fun. But her own father was always cold and full of disdain.
Isabella thought that if she worked hard and got good grades, her father would have no choice but to show her some kindness and take her out for a day of fun. Yet, no matter how high her scores were–first in class, first in the whole grade–Hudson never gave her a second glance.
After her mother passed away, Molly and Ivana moved in. Hudson became even more indifferent. All the hopes she had were easily snatched away by Ivana, the real princess of the house. As for Isabella, everything just proved that Hudson truly didn’t care for her at all.
Now, instead of regret, there was only anger contorting Hudson’s face. He slammed his palm down on the table. The impact rattled the cups.
Hudson glared at Isabella, his voice low and cold. “Are you done yet? If I didn’t love you, would I go to the trouble of arranging a marriage with the Lane family for you?”
This daughter has always been a headache. Even now, she’s going against me! The Lane family agreed to collaborate; if she refused to marry into their family, all those plans would go down the drain, he thought.
Hudson pointed at Isabella, attempting to reason with a softer tone. “The Lane family is loaded. If you marry into them, you’ll be Mrs. Lane, living a life of luxury, Isn’t that a good thing?”
Isabella felt her body go rigid as her disbelief at Hudson’s words washed over her.
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