Chapter 185
She tossed the insult over her shoulder and walked up to the gate.
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“Your Grace,” the guards greeted her with a respectful bow. No one tried to stop her. They simply stepped aside and let her
- in.
Isabelle stood frozen on the steps outside, watching Eliza disappear into the manor like she belonged there.
“What now, my lady?” her maid asked nervously. “Eliza clearly has a close relationship with His Highness. If you plan to go against her, it won’t be easy.”
Isabelle narrowed her eyes. “It’s fine. I have my ways.”
She gave a soft, eerie smile, turned on her heel, and climbed back into her carriage. “Take me home,” she ordered.
Not long after, outside the Henderson estate study. “Father.”
“Come in,” said Fletcher Henderson, not even looking up.
Isabelle pushed the door open and entered quietly. Her father didn’t spare her a glance. His pen scratched against paper as he said flatly, “If you’ve got something to say, say it quickly. Don’t waste my time.”
That was Fletcher Henderson–the head of the Henderson family. A man who saw power and influence as the only things worth his attention. Not even his children mattered.
Isabelle still remembered the winter she was nearly frozen to death in the back courtyard. The main wife and her daughters bullied and neglected her. No one cared–until she saved Eliza, just once.
Everything changed after that.
Suddenly, the same people who mistreated her started to fear her. Even Fletcher, the father she hadn’t seen in over ten years, finally summoned her and praised her as a “good daughter.”
From that moment on, Isabelle understood what she had to do: flatter Eliza, cling to her, serve her if she must.
As long as she stayed close to Eliza, her status in the Henderson family would remain untouchable.
And she did stay close. That one act of kindness earned her a place by Eliza’s side. She became her confidante, her shadow, her “best friend“-because that’s what Eliza used to say. “We’re best friends.”
Back then, their bond was so close, there was simply no room for anyone else–it was just the two of them, inseparable. Of course they were best friends. At least, that’s what Isabelle had always believed. She’d even felt a smug little pride about it more times than she could count.
But everything changed that day. The day their unshakable bond was suddenly torn apart by someone else.
That was right–by that wretched woman named Diana.
That wretched little brat showed up and ruined everything. She even had the audacity to say, “So you’re Isabelle? Thank you for saving my best friend. Without you, Eliza might’ve really been in danger.”
Her voice was so soft, so familiar.
She even thanked Isabelle.
That was the day Isabelle realized what jealousy truly felt like.
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11:07 Thu, 17 Apr
Chapter 185
She hated Diana. Hated her for taking what was hers.
If Diana had never shown up, Eliza would have remained hers alone,
Isabelle had even thought of how to deal with her. But in the end, she smiled and played along. She joined their little trio like it was nothing.
Until half a year ago, when she didn’t push Diana–but shoved Eliza into the water instead.
Even now, the memory of Eliza thrashing in that cold lake–shocked, betrayed–made Isabelle tremble.
But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. She was standing in her father’s study, and she had something to say.
She took a deep breath, buried the emotion, and said calmly, “Father, I want to belong to the Prince Regent
Fletcher finally looked up, sharply. His eyes narrowed. “What did you just say?”
Isabelle stood tall and repeated without flinching, “Exactly what you think I said. I don’t care if it’s as a concubine–I want you to send me to him.”
“You’ve lost your mind,” Fletcher snapped.
