Chapter 7
Nathaniel moved swiftly, positioning himself directly in Isabella’s path.
He blocked her exit completely.
Once again, he produced the small velvet box.
“Miss Montgomery,” he stated, his tone deceptively lazy yet layered with unmistakable resolve. “Please reconsider.”
Isabella felt a surge of pure frustration. Was this man serious? Who actually imposed such an absurd condition?
She reached out and plucked the ring from its cushioned nest.
It was, without question, a masterpiece. A flawless heart-shaped diamond, its cut perfection itself, each facet catching the light with brilliant fire. The craftsmanship was exquisite, undeniable. It was a ring of rare, world-class quality.
And yet…
A cool, dismissive smile touched her lips. With a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed the ring. It sailed through the air, a sparkling arc of immense value, before landing with a faint, insignificant clatter against the far wall. Discarded. Worthless.
Nathaniel froze. So did Dominic, his assistant.
Dominic’s mind reeled. She had just refused his boss. She had literally thrown a priceless diamond ring away like common trash.
Isabella remained utterly unbothered. “I am grateful you saved me, Mr. Blackwood. That you ensured my recovery.” Her voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “But I will not marry you. Marriage is not a transaction. A victim is not obligated to wed her assailant. Your logic is profoundly naive.”
She walked around him without another glance.
A muscle twitched in Nathaniel’s jaw. Did she just compare him to a… rapist? The audacity. The sheer, deplorable insolence. This woman was infuriating. And fascinating.
A dark, speculative thought crossed his mind. Would she still be so dismissive if he had his way with her? The urge to find out was unexpectedly strong.
But the primary objective remained. She had survived. She was alive.
“Dominic,” he commanded, his voice sharp. “Send her the evidence we compiled.”
“Sir?” Dominic was utterly bewildered. She had been monumentally rude. Yet his boss wasn’t ordering her ruin? He was helping her? The ruthless, calculating man Dominic knew seemed to have vanished.
“Forget it.” Nathaniel strode toward his office, impatience evident in his every step. “I’ll handle it myself.”
He powered up his laptop, his focus absolute.
…
Isabella arrived at her penthouse. She changed into soft, comfortable clothes, tossing the borrowed white shirt into the wastebin without a second thought.
The sharp ring of her private phone sliced through the silence.
She answered. Harrison Winslow’s voice, usually so composed, was ragged with panic. “My lady! Are you unharmed? Why did you return there? It was secure here! And why dismiss Maxwell and his team? My heart stopped when I received the report of the… incident! That vile woman paid those men… I will make her suffer for this immediately!”
Few knew the truth. The past five years had forged Isabella into a force. Her accomplishments were her own, earning her a formidable reputation and powerful, loyal allies across the globe. She never asked for aid, yet it was perpetually offered.
She held the phone with her shoulder. “Stand down, Harrison. Relay this message: I am handling a personal matter. I am not to be disturbed.”
“But… are you certain?” His worry was palpable.
A cold, confident laugh escaped her. “If I doubted my ability to settle this, I would never have come back.”
She ended the call.
Harrison could only sigh in resignation and do as he was told.
Isabella opened her secure laptop, accessing a private server. A new, unread email flagged her attention. She clicked it.
The contents made her breath catch. Screenshots. Detailed conversations between Victoria and the driver. The entire murder plot, laid bare in text. Financial records showing a transfer from a discreet offshore account directly to the driver. And finally, a video file—clear footage of the orchestrated “accident.” It was a prosecutor’s dream. Enough to bury Victoria forever.
Who? Who could have assembled this damning dossier so quickly? And sent it to her, anonymously?
Her first assumption was an ally, a powerful contact seeking to curry favor. She checked the sender’s information.
Nathaniel Blackwood.
Her brow furrowed. Why? After her blatant, humiliating rejection, why would he provide this? The man’s resources were staggering. His motives, utterly perplexing.
But she was no fool. A gift horse required no dental exam. She saved every file, a dangerous, calculating glint igniting in her dark eyes. The game had just changed.
…
Meanwhile, in a lavishly over-decorated bedroom within the Montgomery manor…
Victoria Kensington sat at her vanity, idly brushing the hair of an expensive porcelain doll. A smug, victorious smile played on her lips. There was no way Isabella survived that cliff unscathed. At best, she was permanently maimed. Once she was vulnerable in a hospital bed, finishing the job and claiming her 15% stake would be simple.
With a sudden, vicious motion, Victoria ripped the doll’s head clean off.
Ding.
A notification chimed on her encrypted phone.
Annoyed, she picked it up. An anonymous email. She opened it.
All color drained from her face. Her features contorted into a mask of pure, unadulterated terror.
The email contained her entire conversation with the driver.
How? How was this possible? She’d used a burner phone! The payment was routed through an untraceable shell account! It was a perfect, foolproof plan!
Trembling uncontrollably, she forced her fingers to type a reply, trying to project a facade of calm.
[Who is this? State your price. Name any amount.]
[I have no interest in your money. You have two choices. One: Hold a press conference. Apologize to your sister publicly. Two: Send me a nude photograph. You have ten minutes to decide. If you fail to comply, these files are released to every major media outlet.]
A nude? This person was insane! A deranged lunatic!
Rage and fear twisted Victoria’s beautiful features into something ugly.
Who could it be?
She typed furiously. [Impossible. I will pay you whatever you want. Remember, I am the Montgomery heiress. You do not want me as an enemy. Cooperate, and your reward will be substantial.]
The reply was instant and merciless. [Nine minutes.]
Victoria’s blood ran cold. She was trapped.