Chapter 243

"Miss Isabella, are you seriously going easy on that Ms. Evelyn? This has got to be the most lenient I've ever seen you."

Nathaniel watched as Isabella kicked off her stilettos carelessly, revealing a helpless yet affectionate smile. He neatly arranged them under the table for her.

At the moment, Isabella was furiously playing a video game, wreaking havoc in the digital world.

In this gaming universe, the female warrior queen Cifer had become a goddess adored by players. Every time she live-streamed, hundreds of thousands tuned in—her popularity was staggering.

"What are you thinking, going easy? I'm a businesswoman, not a saint overflowing with mercy. I haven't dealt with Evelyn yet because I lack concrete evidence. She made Genevieve her scapegoat—all the suspicions are circumstantial. There's nothing I can do to her."

"It seems there's deep animosity between you and Ms. Evelyn."

Nathaniel grumbled, "She didn't show an ounce of remorse. When she left, she even glared at you. That look was downright murderous!"

"She'd better be capable of following through, or else she'll be the one humiliated when her schemes backfire."

Her phone buzzed—Alexander was calling.

"Alexander!" Isabella answered immediately, her voice sweet and warm.

"Isabella, are you at the hotel?" Alexander asked.

"Yes, in the office."

"So, is Nathaniel with you?" Alexander lowered his voice.

Isabella, sharp as ever, caught on instantly. She stood and walked toward the door, pretending to head to the restroom.

If she asked Nathaniel to leave now, the perceptive Dominic would surely suspect she was avoiding him.

Once inside the private restroom, she closed the door.

"Alexander, what's going on? Is this about Nathaniel?"

"It doesn’t concern him directly, but there are connections. Since he's with you, I can't speak freely."

Alexander paused, his tone steady. "Mr. Harrison, desperate to free his daughter, sought help from Nathaniel’s lawyer brother, Cedric Lockwood. Cedric has already gone to the police station to get Miss Vanderbilt."

Isabella’s eyes darkened. "With Dominic guarding her, the chances of Genevieve getting out are high."

"Cedric is cunning and experienced—undefeated in his decade-long legal career. He won’t allow failure, even if it means resorting to underhanded tactics to clear Miss Vanderbilt’s name."

Alexander gently reminded her, "Isabella, if I were Cedric, I’d start with Ms. Charlotte. She’s the primary witness against Genevieve."

"Alexander, I understand. But Charlotte isn’t in my hands—she’s under Sebastian’s control."

Isabella took a deep breath, her expression calm. "I’ll handle this. You and Sebastian shouldn’t get involved. Especially Sebastian—he’s a public servant. He can’t break the law for my sake. If someone with ill intentions catches him, it won’t end well."

After hanging up, the weight on her shoulders grew heavier.

As for Genevieve, she had never considered her a real threat. Elspeth was the true queen she needed to dethrone.

But she worried this situation would upset Nathaniel again. That sensitive young man carried too much responsibility—would he end up crying in her arms once more?

With a heavy heart, Isabella walked back toward the office.

"Isabella."

Hearing the deep voice, she froze. Her pulse quickened as she turned sharply.

No one was behind her.

She shook her head, rubbing her temples. Lack of sleep must be playing tricks on her.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a strong hand gripped her arm, pulling her into the shadows like a vortex.

The next second, she collided with a firm chest. The man’s slightly ragged breath brushed her hair, sending warmth through her body.

The embrace was deep, heavy—both familiar and foreign.

It was Sebastian.

Perhaps because she wore towering heels, he feared she’d twist an ankle. His arms tightened around her waist, the grip firm yet conflicted—protective yet afraid she’d bolt like a startled deer.

"Sebastian! How did you get in here?" Isabella was furious, her cheeks flushed as she struggled.

"Dominic said your security was tight. I knew it’d take effort to reach you." Sebastian’s voice was rough yet casual.

A military academy graduate, evading hotel security was child’s play.

But as CEO, he rarely needed such skills—until he wanted to see Isabella.

"Sneaky! You’re acting like a thief!"

She clenched her teeth, lifting her foot to stomp on his. But Sebastian spun her around, pinning her against the wall.

Their gazes locked, intense and heated.

Sebastian knew seeing her wasn’t easy. His greedy eyes traced her face repeatedly.

"What are you staring at? Haven’t you seen enough?" Isabella snapped, her ears turning red.

"You’ve gained some weight." Sebastian stared without blinking.

Her usually sharp features had softened slightly. He couldn’t help but smirk.

Gained weight?

Gained weight?!

"Are you angry? A little weight isn’t bad. You were too thin before—your waist was all bones. It hurt my hands. You should eat more." Sebastian spoke seriously, as if delivering sage advice.

Isabella’s cheeks burned like the rising sun. She slapped him across the face!

Sebastian’s cheek stung as he gripped her wrist. The slap’s imprint stood out like a brand of shame. "Isabella, is this how you repay someone who helped you?"

"I don’t expect gratitude, but must you greet me with hostility every time?"

"Gratitude? For what? For manipulating Charlotte to testify against Genevieve?"

Isabella’s chest heaved, her eyes blazing. Even her scornful laugh was breathtaking. "Sebastian, you’re shameless. If anyone owes thanks, it’s you—not me. You used Charlotte to trap Genevieve. Admit it—without my unwitting help, would your plan have worked?"

"Isabella!"

Sebastian’s anger flared, his chest tight. His starry eyes burned red. "I just wanted to see you."

"Well, I don’t want to see you!"

Her left hand was trapped in his iron grip. She couldn’t break free—fighting him was futile. She reached for her phone with her free hand, but Sebastian anticipated it, capturing that wrist too.

Cornered, Isabella screamed for help—but her cry was cut off as Sebastian’s lips crashed onto hers.

His warm breath enveloped her trembling lips. His grip was slick with sweat, beads of perspiration trickling down his forehead.

The first time he’d kissed her like this, he’d been drunk.

This time, he had no excuse.

"Sebastian, you’re divorced. This is wrong."

But desire didn’t care about right or wrong.

His heart pounded wildly. His usually unshakable self-control teetered on the edge.

His kiss grew fiercer, as if he wanted to consume her.

Isabella resisted with all her might. But under his control, her lips tangled with his, her breath stolen. Gradually, her strength waned, her body yielding.

Frustration. Anger.

A single tear rolled down her cheek.

She was just a woman who’d loved this man for thirteen years—only to be left unrequited. What sin had she committed to deserve such humiliation?

"Sebastian! You’re a monster!"

A furious roar echoed through the corridor. Nathaniel, eyes blazing, charged forward, yanking Sebastian off Isabella and swinging a punch at his face!

But Sebastian dodged effortlessly.

"Nathaniel!"

Isabella’s hoarse cry went unheard. Nathaniel’s mind was filled with the image of Isabella being forced into that kiss—Sebastian’s lips smeared with her red lipstick.

"Sebastian. I’ll kill you!"

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Nathaniel was a taekwondo black belt, famed for his swift kicks. He spun, his leg shooting toward Sebastian’s chest.

But even his best was too slow.

In a flash, Sebastian moved behind him, gripping his shoulder. With a swift motion, Nathaniel was brought down.

"What kind of move was that?!"

Nathaniel had thought such techniques existed only in martial arts novels.

But Isabella recognized it instantly—a close-combat maneuver from military training.

"Nathaniel, stop! Sebastian!"

She caught the weakened Nathaniel. Without her support, he might’ve knelt before Sebastian.

"Miss Isabella, I’m fine," Nathaniel gasped, but he couldn’t even stand.

"You can’t stand, and you say you’re fine?"

Isabella glared at Sebastian, her eyes red with fury. "How dare you hurt my people in front of me? Sebastian, are you even human? Is that handsome face just a mask for a heart of stone?"

Guilt flashed in Sebastian’s dark eyes. He looked defeated.

"He attacked first. Besides, I didn’t hurt him. The pressure point will release by tonight—he’ll be fine."

"Save your excuses. The more you talk, the more despicable you sound!"

The tears in Isabella’s eyes pierced Sebastian’s heart. She wiped her lips roughly with the back of her hand, as if erasing his touch.

"Sebastian, admit it. You regret the divorce, don’t you?"

His heart clenched. He couldn’t even muster a simple "No."

All he had left was pride.

"If you won’t answer, I’ll take that as a yes."

Isabella’s voice trembled, but she laughed brilliantly. "But let me tell you—even if you do regret it, keep those illicit feelings to yourself. Your affection is the greatest insult to my dignity."

"I’ve had enough, Isabella. A loveless marriage was torture for me."

"Arabella’s coming back. You need to step down as Mrs. Vanderbilt."

The cruel words he’d thrown at her during their divorce rushed back, biting at him like a rabid beast, leaving him in tatters.

Dazed, Sebastian stumbled to the underground parking garage.

He didn’t know how he got there. His head throbbed, his limbs stiff—like a mortally wounded man on death’s doorstep.

When he saw Gordon, his last ounce of strength drained away.

"Mr. Vanderbilt!"

Gordon rushed to support him, alarmed by his pallor. "Is your headache acting up? Get in the car—I’ll get your medicine."

Headaches could be medicated.

But what cured heartache?

"Gordon, I don’t understand."

Sebastian clutched his head, panting. "When she was my wife, I never cared. I treated her horribly, yet she stayed. Now that I’m kind to her, why is she so cruel?"

Gordon’s heart ached for the tormented man. After a pause, he sighed softly.

"Mr. Vanderbilt, it’s because Mrs. Vanderbilt loved you deeply back then."

But now, she didn’t.