Chapter 494
“That only makes us feel more guilty, Isabella…” Eleanor clutched Isabella’s wrist desperately.
Isabella’s gaze turned icy as she stared at the hand restraining her.
Eleanor immediately released her grip under that frosty glare. She withdrew her hand, eyes reddening. Her voice came out hoarse and broken. “I know forgiveness can’t be earned overnight. We’ll spend our lives making it up to you. We’ll visit whenever we can.”
She took a shaky breath, pressing on. “But we have one request. Please do this for your Grandfather. He misses you terribly. He just wants one family meal together…” Eleanor trailed off, terrified of rejection. She looked up, pleading. “Don’t worry about the cost. I’ve sold all my jewelry. We won’t eat at the hospital. We can go anywhere you want. My treat.”
Her eyes begged for a sliver of hope. “Just one meal. Please?”
She braced for the inevitable refusal. Isabella’s cold demeanor offered no comfort.
Then, unexpectedly, Isabella spoke.
“I’ll come.” Her voice was flat, decisive. “I will also save the Montgomery family. And I will do everything in my power to save Benjamin’s life.”
Eleanor and Richard stared, utterly stunned. Was she serious? She agreed to return? She offered to save them without them even asking?
“Do not mistake this for forgiveness,” Isabella stated coldly, cutting through their shock. “This is solely for Grandfather Theodore and the Montgomery legacy.”
She remembered his unwavering support. When the entire family scorned her, he had insisted on granting her fifteen percent of the Montgomery shares. He treated her as his own. She would not abandon him now.
Eleanor nodded frantically, tears welling. “I understand! Truly, I do! This is more than we dared hope for! Your Grandfather already promised… if you save the family, everything will be yours. The entire Montgomery fortune. And my father… he vowed to give you half of the Kensington assets!”
Isabella frowned. She anticipated Theodore’s offer. The Kensington proposal, however, was unexpected. Her knowledge of the Kensingtons was limited to whispers. Eleanor never brought her along on visits.
Her impression was built from others fawning over Victoria. “She’s so lucky! Heir to the Montgomerys and the Kensingtons!” “The premier ceramics dynasty in the country! A living national treasure!” “Their pieces are commissioned by royalty! We commoners never even see them!” “Ugh! I’d kill to be born into that family!”
A family of such prestige was willing to hand her half their wealth? It made no sense.
After a moment’s consideration, her decision was firm. “I will accept the Montgomery shares. I refuse the Kensington assets.”
Eleanor’s face fell. How could she refuse such an immense fortune?