Chapter 96
The four men finished serving the meal and quietly exited the room.
Nathaniel's voice broke the silence. "Ms. Montgomery, your breakfast is ready."
"I'm not eating," Isabella stated firmly. "Nothing you say will change my mind. You should give up now." She needed to maintain her resolve, to force Nathaniel to back down.
Suddenly, a sweet, high-pitched voice echoed from the hallway. "Mommy! Mommy!" Little Oliver came running into the room, his small body wobbling with each step. He leaped directly into Isabella's waiting arms.
Isabella frowned slightly. "Ollie, what are you doing here?"
"Ollie woke up and Daddy was gone," the child explained, his voice trembling. "I heard Daddy was coming to see you, so I came too." His chubby fingers tightened around her sleeve.
His lower lip began to quiver. "Wah... Ollie's so hungry. Haven't eaten all day. My tummy's making noises." He rubbed his stomach dramatically. "Grrr, grrr, grrr."
"Oh, sweetheart, why didn't you eat before leaving?" Isabella scooped him up and carried him to the dining table. "Luckily there's breakfast here."
Oliver clung to her hand desperately. "I want Mommy to eat with me!"
"I'm sorry, baby. Mommy isn't hungry right now." She gently stroked his soft hair. "You'll have to eat by yourself."
He tugged insistently on her hand, pulling her toward the chair. He placed a breakfast setting in front of her and looked up with pleading eyes. "Please, Mommy? Ollie's five years old but never had breakfast with Mommy before. I just want to know what it feels like. Please? Just this once?"
His round, sparkling eyes gazed up at her hopefully. How could she possibly refuse such a heartfelt request?
"Alright," she relented.
Just like that, Isabella found herself having breakfast with Oliver. Nathaniel watched the scene unfold, a slow smile spreading across his face. His secret weapon had worked perfectly. Now he could move forward with his real plan.
He pulled out his phone, pretending to scroll through messages. Instead, he opened the camera and began taking photos of Isabella from across the room. Her profile was turned toward him, showcasing her exquisite features and stunning figure. Her hair flowed freely in the morning light, creating an aura of effortless beauty. Every casual shot looked like a professional masterpiece. Her beauty was truly captivating.
He experimented with different angles—close-ups, wide shots, various compositions. Within minutes, he had captured nearly a dozen perfect images. Scrolling through the gallery, his eyes filled with admiration and desire.
He immediately sent the photos to Dominic.
[Absolutely flawless. Found perfection.]
Dominic's reply came instantly. [Indeed.]
Suddenly, a hand snatched the phone from his grasp. Nathaniel scowled. "Isabella..."
How had she moved so quietly? How had he not noticed her approach?
She typed a response to Dominic using his phone.
[No need to return.]
She simultaneously deleted all the photos and cleared the entire gallery.
Nathaniel tried to explain. "Isabella, I'm trying to help you. My company has professional retouchers who can turn this situation around."
"Thank you for your concern," she replied coolly. "But I don't need help turning anything around. You're the esteemed head of the Blackwood family—do you really think I require assistance?"
She handed the phone back to him gently.
Nathaniel's brow furrowed deeply. Her tone suggested she thought him foolish. Given the current internet frenzy surrounding her, how could she not need damage control?