Isabella had stayed by Nathaniel’s side for a full day and night before he finally woke up. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw her face streaked with tears, her eyes puffy from crying.
“It’s okay, don’t cry. I’m fine,” he said, struggling to wipe her tears.
But Isabella cried even harder, burying herself against him, sobbing uncontrollably. “You scared me to death. You really scared me to death…”
Nathaniel held her close, his gaze slowly softening.
At the doorway, Isabella’s parents watched the scene unfold with relief and satisfaction.
William laughed heartily. “Look at her! Look at my girl, now that she’s got herself a man, she’s forgotten all about her poor old dad. I passed out for hours and she didn’t even come check on
me.”
Isabella finally snapped out of it, feeling embarrassed.
Her mother shot her husband a reproachful glance. “Our Isabella is the most filial daughter. She stayed with you for two hours before I came–don’t blame her unfairly.”
The family’s love and joy filled the hospital room.
When Alexander staggered into the hospital room, he was almost pierced by the sight.
“Isabella, how cruel you are!”
She froze. “Aren’t you in prison? How did you get out?” Could he have escaped?
Alexander let out a derisive laugh. The tax evasion case was under the jurisdiction of the local court, beyond the reach of Eastbridge authorities.
But he was indeed about to be handed over to the local court.
He had done everything he could to get out, just to confront Isabella.
Isabella, however, felt that her stance was already clear. “You’ve embezzled government–owned assets, falsified accounts, and diverted public funds–this alone is enough to get you in serious
trouble!”
Alexander stared at her, pain etched across his face. “So you’ve been scheming against me all
along…”
Isabella turned coldly, leaving only one sentence behind, “Evil deeds always backfire.‘
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Alexander was sent back to Brighton. Nathaniel had to return briefly for business, and Isabella
went with him.
During a banquet, Isabella felt dizzy and stepped outside for some fresh air, hoping it would sober
her up.
Suddenly, a sack was thrown over her.
She let out a scream, and the next moment, she was struck unconscious from outside, sharp pain shooting through her body.
Trapped in the sack, Isabella was beaten on her arms, waist, and legs by a club. The confined space
nearly suffocated her.
Just when she was on the verge of collapse, she was finally released.
“Miss Thompson, look, could it be her?”
Dazed, Isabella opened her eyes and heard Ivy’s teeth–clenching, venomous voice. “It’s her! I would recognize her even if she turned to ashes! Isabella, finally you’ve fallen into my hands!”
Isabella endured the pain and glared at her. “Ivy, are you insane? This is kidnapping. You’re committing a crime. You’ll go to jail for this!”
Ivy laughed maniacally. Jail? She wasn’t afraid. Her gaze was filled with sorrow and hate. “Alexander and I had a perfect life. We went through so much together. If it weren’t for you interfering and marrying him, the one meant to be with him would have been me!”
Isabella wasn’t swayed by her and said calmly, “You’re the one who actually got the marriage
certificate. I’m the one who was deceived.”
Indeed, Ivy had always thought Isabella was a pitiful victim.
But during Isabella’s one–month disappearance, Ivy had witnessed Alexander losing his mind for her, searching every possible place, even learning to drink alcohol when he never did–all because
of Isabella.
More importantly, Alexander, who used to have eyes and heart only for her, was now completely ignoring her for Isabella.
Alexander had fallen in love with Isabella.
That was what Ivy could not tolerate.
Ivy ordered Isabella to be suspended over the cliff while she tied herself to another rope and called Alexander in panic.
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“Alexander, Alexander, I’ve been kidnapped! Come save me!”
“Y–Yes, the address is…”
Alexander arrived ten minutes later.
“Ivy… Isabella!” His eyes widened in disbelief at the two swaying figures on the cliff. “How are you both here?”
Isabella opened her mouth to speak, but Ivy interrupted with a tearful tone. “Save me! Alexander, Isabella kidnapped me!”
“Alexander, Isabella’s jealous and angry because she found out I’m carrying your child. She brought me here and tied to force you to choose between us!”
Alexander froze. Child? Who was pregnant?
Ivy threw the ultrasound report she had kept in her pocket.
Alexander picked it up, his pupils contracting. Calculating the dates, it really was his child!
His gaze toward Ivy immediately changed.
“I didn’t, Alexander. Ivy planned the kidnapping. I didn’t…” İsabella stammered in fear.
But Alexander looked at her with a hint of disappointment. “Ivy is already pregnant. You mean she’s framing you with her and the child’s lives? What could you possibly have done to deserve
that?”
“Isabella, even if you’re making excuses, can’t you make them believable?”
With that, he strode forward and cut the ropes without hesitation, saving Ivy.
Isabella, still tied to the same rope, stared in horror.
The next second, like a bird with broken wings, she plummeted into the abyss.
In her final moment, she saw Alexander holding Ivy tightly, his voice trembling with relief: “Ivy, thank God you’re safe. Thank God our child is safe. You scared me to death…”
Chapter 12
