Chapter 505

Margaret's face twisted with fury, her gaze drilling into Isabella's delicate yet infuriating features.

"Help me? They're all monsters, but what about you, Isabella? Aren't you one of them? Oh no, you're worse—you're the devil himself! More vicious than any of them!"

Isabella remained unshaken, her smile only widening. "I may not be a saint, but even beasts have moments of tenderness with their young. I can't bring myself to be too cruel to my own sister. So, I thought I'd offer you a hand, sis. Besides, who else would bother visiting you in this wretched place? Do you really think you're still part of the Sinclair family?"

Seeing Margaret's resistance to her so-called "help," Isabella pressed further.

"Margaret, have you ever stopped to wonder who truly brought you and your husband to this miserable state?"

Margaret's rage erupted as she screamed, "The Kingsley family! It's the Kingsleys taking revenge on me! That wretched Evelyn can't escape me!"

Isabella's lips curled into a cold smirk as she shook her head. "You crossed Emeric's own daughter. That old man spared you out of respect for the decades-long ties between our families. But didn't all of this start because of Nathan?"

"Nathan." The name buzzed in Margaret's mind.

In her days of seething, she had been fixated on the Kingsleys, nearly forgetting that spineless coward!

"Nathan lured you into the Kingsleys' crosshairs. If he hadn't been so arrogant from the start, you and your husband would still be living in luxury. Now, he's ruined everything. From the press conference to your imprisonment, did he ever defend you? He let you take the fall while he hides safely under the Sinclair family's protection, still playing the role of Mr. Sinclair. Are you really going to let him get away with that? I can't bear to see you like this, Margaret."

Reason and emotion—that was how to break her.

Margaret fell silent, clearly plotting her next move, but the hatred in her eyes burned brighter.

"What do you suggest we do?"

"That depends on how committed you are to working with me," Isabella said, stretching comfortably, her legs crossed. The ball was in her court now.

Margaret's eyes were bloodshot as she ground out each word, nearly crushing her teeth. "I want him dead!"

"Death is too easy, too quick. He'd escape suffering."

Isabella leaned closer to the glass, a sinister smile playing on her lips. "You need him to beg for death but be unable to achieve it. Make him live every day hating you, powerless to act. That's true satisfaction."

"I have dirt on Nathan. It's in an encrypted folder on my laptop in the study. The password is—"

"No need for passwords."

Isabella stood gracefully, satisfied with the outcome, looking down at Margaret's furious face. "Your so-called encryption is child's play to me."

As she left the detention center, Harvey rushed to her side.

Isabella lazily extended her hands, which Harvey promptly sanitized before spritzing her with a freshening spray.

"It's disgusting in there. No place for humans."

Isabella frowned, vigorously rubbing her hands, her germaphobia flaring. "Though, it's the perfect environment for maggots like Margaret."

"You honored her with your presence. That's more than she deserves."

Harvey hesitated before asking, "Mr. Sinclair, will that madwoman cooperate with you?"

"When I step in, failure isn't an option," Isabella said with an arrogant lift of her brow.

"Then early congratulations are in order—another thorn removed from your side."

Harvey's smile was sycophantic. "Once Nathan falls, what about Matthew? When your father runs out of options, he'll have no choice but to rely on you. The entire Sinclair Group will be yours."

"Hopefully."

Isabella's eyes gleamed with complex emotions as she gazed at the darkening sky. "My father has done so much for me. I only hope to live up to his expectations."

"Mr. Sinclair, I've just received word that your private jet is ready."

"It's been a wait, but worth it."

Isabella adjusted her sunglasses, a cold glint in her eyes. "Contact Eden. Tell him everything is set. We can send him and his brothers off at any time."

Isabella's luxury car glided toward The Velvet Haven.

She couldn't help but smile at the thought of the coming events and her grand designs for the future.

Everything was under her control.

Except for Evelyn.

At the thought, Isabella clenched her fist in frustration. "I told you to keep an eye on the Kingsleys. Any news?"

Harvey wiped his forehead, remembering. "Our men found out Ms. Kingsley has fled the family. Chairman Kingsley is searching everywhere for her, but she's still missing!"

"What? Evelyn ran away from home? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Isabella leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with urgency.

"Mr. Sinclair, please! The Kingsleys are tight-lipped. Our men have been staking out day and night to get this information!" Harvey looked genuinely worried.

Isabella removed her sunglasses, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I remember when Evelyn was a child, climbing walls and trees just to sneak out and play."

"I can't believe she's still so rebellious as an adult. And Emeric, knowing how headstrong she is, thought grounding her would work? That's like caging a wild bird."

"I wonder how Ms. Kingsley is doing now. But with her intelligence and ability to stand out, no one can push her around."

"The Kingsley brothers would never let their beloved sister wander alone. If Emeric can't find her, they certainly will."

Isabella adjusted her sunglasses, but before she could finish, her gaze caught a startling scene outside the window.

"Stop the car!"

Harvey slammed on the brakes, sweat beading on his forehead.

Isabella pressed her palm against the window, her breath fogging the glass in quick, fervent gasps. Yet it couldn't obscure the striking figure that pierced her gaze.

Across the street, in front of a street food cart serving hot dogs and pretzels—

A couple stood shoulder to shoulder, leaning over their food, laughing and sharing smiles.

It was Evelyn and Alexander!

Who would have thought the haughty billionaire, who prided himself on refined tastes, would stoop to sharing street food with his beloved? The man who indulged only in the finest cuisine was now devouring late-night snacks—even letting Evelyn feed him a greasy corn dog!

Anyone witnessing this would think it a fairy tale, thrilling yet baffling.

"Is it good?" Evelyn's smile bloomed like a flower as she tenderly wiped his lips with a napkin.

No sooner had his mouth been cleaned than he couldn't resist stealing a kiss from her rosy lips. "Delicious. Anything tastes like heaven when I'm with you."

His voice was loud, making Evelyn blush. Even the elderly woman making the hot dogs couldn't help but smile.

Such a handsome man, such a beautiful woman—a match made in heaven, their love as endless as the stars.

Who wouldn't smile at such a sight?

"Pssh. So you're saying it only tastes good because it's with me?"

Evelyn feigned annoyance, pouting slightly. "If you don't like it, just say so. I don't want you forcing yourself to please me. I won't bring you here again."

Alexander's lashes fluttered as his long arm reached across her, grabbing two bottles from the far end of the table—one pepper, the other vinegar.

He meticulously added them to Evelyn's soup, stirring gently before urging softly, "Try it now."

Evelyn blinked her almond-shaped eyes, took a sip, and suddenly widened them in surprise.

"Oh my! This is amazing! Such a simple change, but it transforms everything. How are you so clever?"

Alexander gazed at her deeply, his smile shy, as if he were a teenager again. "Evelyn, you think I say it's delicious just to please you, but you're wrong. Before I was taken back into the Abernathy family, these humble food carts were my mother's and my greatest joy."

A pang shot through Evelyn's heart.

She thought she knew much of his past from Alva, but now she realized it was only the tip of the iceberg.

Unless he told her himself, there were things she might never know—let alone imagine.

The street food that was a mere diversion in her life had been a daily comfort for the young Alexander.

"As a child, after helping my mother with chores, I'd always be starving. She'd take me to a cart for a hot dog and soup," Alexander said, idly spinning the cup in his hands, lost in memories. "To save money, she'd only order one for me, but it always had meat. Afraid I'd find it bland, she'd create her own seasonings. My favorite was pepper and vinegar—sour and spicy, so satisfying. As I grew up, every time I ate from a cart, I'd do the same. But now, I no longer have the chance to savor those childhood flavors."

A poignant silence filled the air.

Alexander snapped back to the present, his smile apologetic. "I'm sorry, Evelyn. Here I am, ruining our meal with these stories."

And with that, Evelyn's eyes brimmed with tears as she cupped his face and kissed him.