Chapter 48

Isabella had long grown accustomed to Eleanor's venomous glare over the years. This woman was completely bewitched by Victoria. Even if she discovered Victoria was adopted, she would still take her side.

Speaking to them felt utterly exhausting. Isabella issued a cold command. "Security. Escort them out immediately."

The guards originally meant to remove Isabella now approached Sophia and her group instead.

Sophia cradled her dislocated arm, the white-hot pain still searing. She snarled through clenched teeth. "Don't you dare act so superior, Isabella! I refuse to spend another second in this pathetic store. It's beneath me! Just you wait. This afternoon, I'll expose your true hideous face to the world. Your reputation will be utterly destroyed!"

Sophia refused to let the guards touch her. She struggled to walk out on her own. Alexander and Julian supported Victoria. They shot Isabella looks of pure, unadulterated hatred. Victoria held herself like a regal white swan, the cherished princess. Though she secretly threw a filthy glance at Isabella.

So what if she owned a diamond store? Isabella still lost to her! Alexander was hers. Eleanor was hers. Even the Montgomery family was hers!

Suddenly... "Wait." Isabella's clear voice cut through the tension.

Alexander and the others instinctively halted, turning to look at her. They were visibly startled.

"Please settle the bill for the shattered gold-plated display case. The total is three hundred thousand dollars."

Isabella casually took a card machine, shaking it before them nonchalantly.

Sophia, Eleanor, Alexander, and Victoria were completely dumbfounded.

Their eyes burned crimson with rage. Eleanor, harboring the deepest grudge, snapped. "How utterly shameless, Isabella! After all these years leaching off the Montgomery family's resources, you have the audacity to demand money? And three hundred thousand at that?!"

"Fine. Here's your three hundred thousand! But tonight, you will return to the Montgomery estate and repay every cent you've ever used!"

Eleanor produced a card and flung it at Isabella.

Isabella picked up the card and threw it directly back at Eleanor. "Unfortunately, the display case was broken by Victoria. I will only accept payment from her."

Victoria's face flushed red with fury. Her hand was already injured. Now she had to pay Isabella 300,000? Isabella wasn't giving her a moment's respite!

She desperately wanted to kill Isabella on the spot. But she quickly composed herself, remembering the paparazzi outside and her plans. She swallowed her rage, adopting a soothing tone.

"Mother, Sister is right," she murmured. "I broke it, so I should pay for it." She pulled out a card, though her eyes still blazed with anger. She would make Isabella pay dearly for this arrogance and this ridiculous 300,000 'damage'.

After swiping the card, Isabella tossed it back to her. "You may leave now."

The four of them stormed out of the store, fumes practically visible above their heads.

As they exited, Sophia yelled back. "Just you wait, Isabella! Tune in to the press conference at three o'clock today. I want to see you beg for mercy!"

Isabella's lips curved into a smirk. Cry? Oh, someone would definitely be crying.

She then scanned the store. "Why is everyone just standing around? Clean this place up. Now."

"Yes, Miss Montgomery," the staff replied in unison, immediately starting the cleanup.

Isabella was shameless, but they were still employees. They needed these jobs.

The general manager feigned innocence, pretending to join the cleanup effort.

"You're fired!" Isabella snapped.

In less than an hour, Twitter was flooded with trending hashtags.

#IsabellaMontgomery-owner#Isabella-attacks-Victoria#Isabella-pushes-Victoria#Isabella-abuses-foster-mother

These were the hottest discussion topics. It was blatantly obvious they were orchestrated to attack Isabella. Netizens happily joined the fray, eager for the drama.

[OMG! She's been fully exposed! How can she still be so arrogant?!]

[If it weren't for Eleanor Kensington, she would have died years ago! How dare she treat her mother like that?]