Isadora: ".


    Even now, in a moment like this, this man still couldn''t resist making light of things.


    All the tangled, overwhelming emotions that had been crashing over Isadora''s heart seemed to scatter in an instant. In their ce rose a sudden, inexplicable wave of embarrassment. The heavy, suffocating weight she''d been carrying felt a bit lighter, soothed by the flush of shame that crept up inside her.


    Just then, two technicians dressed head-to-toe in ck appeared, each hauling a professional-grade video camera.


    "Mr. Fitzgerald, here''s the footage you requested. It''s all copied onto this device," one of them said.


    Victor took the small device, his gaze unreadable. He tapped the screen, scrolling through the clips with long, elegant fingers.


    Everyone nearby held their breath, watching his every move in tense silence.


    Suddenly, Victor''s hand paused. He arched a brow, then handed the device back to the technician with a simplemand. "y this section for everyone."


    People nced at each other, uncertain and skeptical. Did he really have surveince footage from inside the Vaughan family''s manor-inside the bedroom, no less? What kind of security system could capture something like that?


    The technician, following orders, set up the camera so that its footage was projected onto the white wall of the Vaughan estate, turning it into an impromptu


    screen.


    Momentster, a video flickered to life for all to see.


    Pearl broke out in a cold sweat; the physical pain in her body was nothingpared to the monstrous, all-consuming fear that now threatened to swallow her whole.


    Eleanor assumed her daughter was afraid to relive the moment of her fall. She tried tofort her. "Don''t be scared, sweetheart. I believe you. If there''s really surveince footage, at least the truth wille out and Mr. Fitzgerald can''t use our family unfairly."


    Pearl clung desperately to Eleanor''s dress, her eyes wide and trembling. She stammered, "Mom... let''s not... let''s not watch this..."


    Before she could finish, a cold, familiar voice echoed from the speakers:


    "Isadora, after today, I''ll make sure you know what it means to be utterly ruined." On the video, Pearl appeared at the window, eyes squeezed shut, and then, alone, she threw herself out.


    The entire room stared in shock, transfixed by the rity of the screen.


    The surveince footage had caught not only every movement, but every word, leaving no doubt about what had taken ce.


    So this was what the infamous Mr. Fitzgerald had done-pulled in military-grade surveince just to put on this little fireworks show, all to please Isadora.


    Eleanor was shaking uncontrobly, staring at Pearl in disbelief.


    "Pearl... you lied to me."


    Never in her life had Pearl seen her mother look at her with such icy eyes-no warmth, no recognition, as if they were strangers.


    Tears streamed down Pearl''s face. She cried out, her voice cracking with desperation:


    "No, mom, dad, big brother—this isn''t real! It''s all fake! Every bit of it!"


    Eleanor, who had been the picture of dignity and grace, suddenly seemed to age ten years in an instant-her face lined with heartbreak, allposure gone. Ovee by grief and anger, she pped Pearl hard across the face.


    "Pearl, you hurt yourself just to frame Isadora? Is this what you''ve done with the trust I ced in you-all these years I''ve raised you, my own daughter? Unbelievable."


    "I distanced myself from Isadora because I was afraid you''d be upset. I spoiled you because I was afraid you''d be jealous. Every time you fought with Isadora, I took your side because I didn''t want you to be sad. And after all that, you still lied to me!"


    Richard hurried over to catch Eleanor as she nearly copsed, shooting a furious re at Pearl sprawled on the floor.


    Pearl''s eyes were swollen from crying. She tried to kneel in front of her parents to beg forgiveness, but her broken legs wouldn''t let her-she could only crawl, reaching helplessly for the hem of Richard''s trousers.


    "Dad, mom, I''m sorry! Please, just this once-give me another chance. I promise I''ll never do this again!"


    "I was just so afraid of losing you both... If you hadn''t thrown that birthday party for Isadora tonight, I never would have thought of something so desperate. I was jealous-jealous she was taking your love away from me!"