Otherwise, there''s no way he''d have ended up in such a mess.


    Wendy sat off to the side, growing anxious herself. She hadn''t expected that even with all this dirt on him, the man still wouldn''t cave.


    Isadora merely raised an eyebrow, her expression barely shifting.


    She supposed it was the result of spending so much time around Victor Fitzgerald.


    Victor always seemed untouchable—aloof and calcting, as if the world itself bent to his will.


    That confidence had rubbed off on her, too.


    Isadora curled her lips into a calm, unhurried smile. "Since you know I could get my hands on this evidence, you must also realize-whoever''s backing me could easily destroy you."


    Abbott''s face turned ashen, like a mirror shattering into pieces.


    He prided himself on never leaving loose ends.


    If someone had dug up this much illegal dirt on him, their reach and power must be formidable.


    Abbott fell silent, ring at Isadora. After a tense pause, he ground out through clenched teeth, "Didn''t expect you to have this kind of nerve. Rowena, you''ve outdone yourself."


    He shot a cold look at his assistant, who immediately got the message and rushed to the car to fetch a folder.


    A momentter, Abbott''s eyes shed with malice as he tossed a thick envelope onto the table.


    Rowena snatched it up and opened it.


    Wendy and Isadora leaned in.


    Inside were photo after photo, allpromising-some in the bathroom, some at the edge of a bed, every angle imaginable.


    Rowena recognized the perspectives instantly. Clearly, tiny cameras had been hidden all over her house back then.


    She''d never even suspected.


    Her eyes burned with tears, fury rising in her chest like a volcano ready to erupt. She screamed, "You bastard! You piece of trash! You disgusting excuse for a man!"


    She couldn''t hold back-she lunged forward, aiming to p him across the face.


    But Abbott was quicker. He was a man, after all, and with a swift, reflexive motion, he pped her back.


    "Slut. Don''t forget how loud you used to scream in bed. You brought this on yourself!"


    Isadora rushed to steady Rowena before she could copse.


    "Abbott!" she shouted, her voice sharp with outrage. "What kind of man hits a woman? Have you no shame?"


    Wendy''s eyes zed. "You are the absolute lowest scum on earth!"


    Abbott just looked down his nose at them.


    "She came at me first. Now we''re even. I''d suggest youdies mind your own business."


    He paused, then let his gaze linger on Isadora with a predatory hunger. "But Miss Vaughan, I have to admit-you''ve piqued my interest."


    He wiped his thumb across his lips, smirked, and walked out without a backward nce.


    After he left, Rowena copsed onto a chair, unable topose herself.


    She buried her face in her hands, tears streaming through her fingers as she choked out, "How could I ever have fallen for someone like that? God, I''m such a failure."


    Isadora and Wendy took turnsforting her, letting her cry it out until she began to calm down.


    Just then, Nte called-she''d returned to the city.


    Isadora quickly filled her in on what had happened.


    Nte wasted no time. She booked a private room at a karaoke bar and told them all toe blow off some steam.


    Half an hourter, Isadora and Rowena arrived at the karaoke lounge. Nte was already there, lounging on the couch, texting. A waiter was setting out bottles and a tter of fresh fruit.


    Rowena hadn''t seen Nte in ages-only glimpses on TV and social media.


    Now, confronted with her old friend in person, Rowena felt a pang of insecurity. Both Isadora and Nte radiated an effortless confidence she felt she could never match.


    She hesitated, voice a little shy. "Nte, it''s been a long time."