Chapter 40
Isabella didn’t opt for a lavish gown. Instead, she stunned in a sleek pantsuit of her own design, accentuated by a rare yellow diamond brooch crafted by renowned jeweler Henri Delacroix.
Her entrance was nothing short of regal. Amidst the sea of aristocratic debutantes draped in finery, her understated yet striking elegance commanded attention.
They were the princesses society adored.
But Isabella? She was born to rule.
Victoria, witnessing her rival steal the spotlight, seethed with quiet fury.
To her irritation, whispers erupted around her as guests openly admired Isabella.
“Good heavens, who is she? That aura is magnetic!”
“If she weren’t so young, I’d swear she was a Fortune 500 CEO. She outshines every man here!”
“That brooch—isn’t that Henri’s legendary ‘Twilight’? Someone offered ten million for it years ago, and he refused without hesitation!”
Twilight?
Anyone with even a passing interest in jewelry knew Henri Delacroix and his infamous masterpiece.
Victoria’s nails dug into her palms. She hadn’t noticed the brooch earlier, but now, envy burned through her like acid.
“Seems the country mouse has charmed her way into Alexander Kingsley’s favor,” Una muttered, shooting her daughter a scathing look. “After all my training, you still can’t outmaneuver some provincial nobody? Without my scheming to push you toward Thaddeus, do you think he’d spare you a second glance?”
“Mother!” Victoria’s voice trembled with indignation. “I’ve already won him over! Why must you undermine me?” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “So what if Isabella has Cassius? The Abernathys are no match for us! She’s just a discarded ex-wife—Thaddeus would never return to her. He’s mine!”
“Until those divorce papers are signed, stay vigilant,” Una hissed. “Thaddeus has been distant lately. Even Hamilton hesitates to accept you. If you think this battle is won just because she left the Abernathy estate, you’re a fool.”
Victoria knew Thaddeus’s ardor had cooled. But how could she reignite his passion when he’d been avoiding her?
Isabella glided past the Stirling family, leaving a whisper of delicate perfume in her wake.
“Mother, where is that peasant sitting?” Glynnis whispered, anxiety lacing her voice.
Elspeth’s smile froze. She’d hoped Isabella would be relegated to some obscure corner—not the coveted front row!
Thaddeus’s pulse quickened as Isabella approached, but she didn’t spare him a glance, settling gracefully into Cassius’s reserved seat.
“Cassius sent Isabella as his proxy? Since when?” Jareth gaped, equal parts shocked and intrigued.
Thaddeus exhaled sharply, his gaze locked on the woman mere meters away.
Isabella’s smile was radiant, yet her demeanor was ice—an unspoken warning to keep their distance.
She acted as though Thaddeus were invisible.
“Holy hell—that’s the Twilight brooch!” Jareth blurted. “Three years ago, I begged Henri for it, offered ten mil, called in every favor I had—nothing. And now it’s on Isabella’s lapel? Cassius must be head over heels. Respect.”
Thaddeus stiffened.
No one understood sacrificing for love better than he did.
He’d once flown to Paris for two weeks, enduring countless rejections, just to secure the Ruby Enigma for Victoria’s birthday.
Yet in three years of marriage, he’d never gifted Isabella anything.
Now Cassius showered her with treasures, each more dazzling than the last.
The realization settled like a lead weight in his chest.
He hated how it made him feel—inadequate.
As the auction commenced, Jareth took the stage with polished charm, delivering the opening address.
Glynnis watched, starry-eyed, already mentally naming their future children.
The applause was thunderous. Before stepping down, Jareth flashed Isabella a roguish grin and a suggestive wink.
Her response? A glacial stare followed by an unapologetic eye roll.
Thaddeus’s jaw clenched.
“So, how’d I do?” Jareth nudged him, grinning.
“Do it again,” Thaddeus said flatly. “And I’ll break your nose.”
Jareth sighed. “You’re more high-maintenance than all my exes combined.”
The first item—a Renaissance oil painting—was unveiled. Though exquisite, it was a replica, the original housed in Thaddeus’s grandfather’s collection.
Bids climbed steadily.
Then Isabella’s voice cut through the murmur.
“Five hundred thousand.”
Thaddeus frowned. She knew this was a copy. Why overpay?
“Six hundred thousand!” Victoria shouted, paddle raised high.
Isabella didn’t flinch. “Seven.”
“Eight!” Victoria’s voice rang with defiance.
Una paled. This wasn’t part of their budget.
“Nine hundred thousand,” Isabella countered coolly.
Una’s grip on her daughter’s arm tightened. “Victoria, stop. This is reckless!”
“One million!” Victoria’s eyes blazed with triumph.
The crowd gasped.
Jareth chuckled. “First item, and already at a mil? Should I thank your ex or your fiancée for this windfall?”
Thaddeus said nothing, his knuckles white.
Isabella’s lips curved. She lowered her paddle.
“Sold! Congratulations to Ms. Victoria Stirling!”
Victoria beamed, victorious.
Una looked ready to faint.
Outside, Jason watched the scene unfold via livestream, grinning.
Isabella had played Victoria perfectly—luring her into squandering a fortune on a fake.
The woman was a mastermind.