Chapter 240

For three blissful days, Isabella Sinclair had been indulging in the comforts of home, her routine reduced to eating and sleeping. She was practically a pampered piglet, basking in the luxury of being spoiled rotten.

Her stepmothers couldn’t resist doting on her. Sophia Reynolds took charge of the kitchen, whipping up an endless parade of mouthwatering dishes just for Isabella.

Three days later, she stepped onto the scale—only to discover she’d gained six pounds.

“I’ll turn into an actual pig at this rate!” Isabella groaned, clutching her head in despair.

“Oh, hush now, just one more meal won’t hurt!” Sophia and Victoria Sterling coaxed, guiding her back to the dining table.

With Alexander Kingsley and Daniel Carter away for an important event, lunch was just Isabella and her three stepmothers.

“Miss Isabella! You won’t believe this!” Olivia Bennett burst in, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Vanessa Wright’s been caught in a business scandal—she’s in police custody! Victoria Sterling’s running around like a headless chicken, and Nathan Prescott’s scrambling to bail his daughter out!”

“Took them three whole days to handle Vanessa. The Elmsworth police could learn a thing or two from our Skyrim guards.” Isabella wasn’t fazed. She merely dabbed her lips with a napkin.

“Well, Vanessa is the heiress of a wealthy family. The police had to tread carefully.”

Sophia slid another pastry onto Isabella’s plate. “Eat up. Once you’re back in Elmsworth, you won’t get Sophia’s cooking anymore.”

“I—I really can’t!” Isabella shook her head, covering her mouth as a tiny burp escaped. Her stepmothers burst into laughter. Watching her adorable antics, Olivia couldn’t help but smile. He moved closer, gently patting her back.

“Miss Isabella, slow down,” he murmured.

Victoria, sharp as ever, caught the tender gesture. She said nothing, but she noted the affection in Olivia’s eyes.

“Sure, Vanessa’s a troublemaker who’s harassed our Isabella one too many times—she deserves what she got. But honestly, Victoria Sterling’s the real snake here! She needs to be locked up and drained of all that venom!” Victoria Sterling slammed her fist on the table. “That woman’s done nothing but make Isabella’s life hell. I know she’s behind everything! She’s worse than a viper!”

With her husband absent, Victoria had thrown all dining etiquette out the window. Sophia, heart racing, stuffed a pineapple pastry into her mouth to shut her up.

Isabella’s expression darkened. Clearly, there was bad blood between Sophia and Victoria Sterling.

After lunch, instead of confronting Sophia directly, Isabella slipped into Victoria’s room for answers.

“Sophia and Victoria Sterling did work together at NexGen Network before she married Alexander. They were both signed under the same agency. But while Sophia was a top actress, Victoria Sterling was always stuck playing the villain in her shows.”

“Knowing Victoria Sterling’s manipulative nature, she must’ve tried sabotaging Sophia’s career, right?” Isabella guessed.

“Exactly! She—” Victoria caught herself. “Oh no, I promised Sophia I wouldn’t tell.”

“Victoria! If Victoria Sterling bullied Sophia, don’t you want revenge?”

“Victoria hates Victoria Sterling. Why else would she quit acting at the peak of her career?”

A cold voice cut through the air, startling them both.

“Lillian, when did you get here?” Isabella gasped, relieved it wasn’t Sophia who’d overheard.

“The moment you two started whispering—if you can even call it that.” Lillian shut the door behind her. “Victoria, there’s no point hiding things now. Isabella’s grown. She deserves to know.”

Isabella grabbed Lillian’s hand, waiting.

“Out of jealousy, Victoria Sterling sabotaged Sophia constantly—spreading rumors, turning the entire network against her. Then, someone drugged her before a major event, nearly destroying her reputation.”

Lillian took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay composed.

“Drugged?” Isabella’s voice cracked. “Did they—?”

“Not that kind of drug,” Lillian clarified quickly. “A banned substance that affects the nervous system. It’s illegal now, but back then, it was common in the industry. A soft drug, but still dangerous.”

Isabella and Victoria paled, their eyes burning with fury.

Of course, Lillian would know—she was the heiress of the Bright family, a pharmaceutical empire.

“What happened next?” Isabella gripped Lillian’s hand tighter.

“At NexGen’s anniversary gala, she wet herself onstage. In front of everyone.”

Lillian’s voice wavered, her eyes glistening.

Victoria smashed her fist into the vanity mirror, shattering it. “That bitch!”

Isabella’s shoulders trembled, her breath hitching.

Twenty years had passed, yet the humiliation still felt raw—the cruel laughter, the shame that had haunted Sophia ever since. Once Hollywood’s darling, she’d been reduced to a laughingstock on the stage she loved most.

“Lillian, how do you know it was Victoria Sterling?” Isabella asked coldly.

“Alexander and I found evidence, but nothing concrete enough to pin it on her. Victoria Sterling bullied Sophia relentlessly, and she was close with the network head. Sophia was trapped in a long-term contract—she had no choice but to endure.” Lillian sighed. “I even confirmed Victoria Sterling’s agent bought that drug around that time. But back then, plenty of performers were using it. We couldn’t prove it was her.”

“That’s enough.”

Isabella closed her eyes. When they opened again, they burned crimson.

“If I believe she’s guilty, that’s all that matters.”