The next moment, Isadora tossed the insted lunch bag straight into the trash without a second thought.


    "Tell her not to bring food for me again."


    With that, and leaving Laura standing there in stunned silence, Isadora walked away.


    When Isadora arrived at the office, heads turned and curious nces followed her.


    After all, in their eyes, she was the heiress of the Vaughan Group, but she worked as hard as anyone else always diligent, never acting entitled.


    It was rare for her to take this much time off. Rumors naturally started swirling- something serious must have happened.


    Unbothered by the office gossip, Isadora strode straight to her office.


    She nced at the mountain of paperwork piled up on her desk, let out a sigh, and, for the first time, felt a twinge of weariness.


    She didn''t stay long. Instead, she got up and went to find Richard.


    Standing outside the CEO''s office, Isadora knocked on the door.


    A voice from inside called, "Come in."


    Stepping in, Isadora immediately spotted Prescott sitting on a chair by the marble desk.


    Her clear, discerning eyes flicked briefly to the bandage on his forehead-a neat white square, making him look haggard and stripped of his usual arrogance.


    Prescott could feel Isadora''s gaze lingering on his injury.


    He assumed she was mocking him.


    He turned away, chest tight with anger and frustration, wanting to say something, but the memory of Victor beating him senseless the other day made him mp his jaw shut and swallow his words.


    Richard greeted her with a broad smile. "Isadora, you didn''t have to rush back. You could''ve taken a bit more time to rest."


    Prescott bristled at Richard''s ingratiating tone-disgusted by how sycophantic he sounded.


    "Dad, you told me Isadora and I wouldpete fairly for the Vice President position. Well, the deadline''s up."


    While Isadora was gone, Prescott had thrown himself into winning over old Vaughan Group employees, and his numbers showed it.


    Isadora sat down on the sofa, arching an eyebrow.


    Richard lowered his gaze, thoughtful. "Since Isadora''s been out on leave, to be fair, let''s extend thepetition by another quarter."


    Prescott objected immediately.


    "Why does that matter? I came to work even with a head injury—she''s just being dramatic! My numbers are better than hers now. That position should be mine."


    He red at Richard. "Dad, you''re not seriously going to let your fear of the Fitzgerald family''s golden boy cloud your judgment, are you? Don''t forget yourst name—or who your son is!"


    Richard''s face darkened. "Watch your mouth!"


    Isadora sat back, a cold smile curling on her lips.


    She knew it wasn''t that Richard had changed.


    Her boyfriend''s status as Mr. Fitzgerald clearly outweighed her being Richard''s


    daughter. In Richard''s world, profit always came before family.


    Prescott seethed. "You''re the CEO-you can''t just go back on your word. If people find out, you''ll be aughingstock."


    He sneered at Isadora. "Besides, now that she''s hooked up with the Fitzgeralds'' heir, of course she doesn''t care about some measly VP title."


    Everyone knew that the Vice President''s office was just a stepping stone to the CEO''s chair.


    Prescott was the eldest son of the Vaughan family-there was no way he''d let Isadora take over thepany.


    Isadora watched as Prescott''s face turned red with anger.


    If she pulled out that contract for the 30% stake right now, she''d instantly be


    the Vaughan Group''srgest shareholder-thepany would be hers.


    Prescott and even the rest of their family would bepletely sidelined.


    But that would mean she''d made some sort of deal with the Fitzgerald family matriarch-a line she wasn''t ready to cross.


    Clenching her hands, she was silent for a moment before speaking. "I actually came here today to let you know I''m resigning. I''ll transition my work and be finished by the end of the month."