Deanna lounged at the head of the table, recliningfortably in her chair with a smug, self-satisfied smile on her face.


    Her narrow eyes narrowed even further, glinting with a venomous cunning-like a viper fixated on its prey, she stared daggers at Isadora Vaughan.


    Deanna loathed Isadora.


    If not for her, none of this would have happened. Her rtionship with Victor Fitzgerald-once so close-had be strained beyond repair.


    Once, she merely wanted Isadora to stay far away from Victor.


    Now, she wished the woman would drop dead.


    She didn''t even care about the child Isadora was carrying anymore.


    Isadora, you''ll learn soon enough: you''ll never marry into the Fitzgerald family. Over my dead body.


    Isadora could feel Deanna''s icy gaze boring into her, cold enough to chill her to the bone. She looked up and locked eyes with Deanna, refusing to back down.


    A slow, mocking smile curled on Isadora''s lips.


    Did Deanna really think she was still the same gullible girl she could toy with?


    Isadora slipped her hand through Victor''s arm, her dark, expressive eyes turning up to him with a feigned pout. "Honey, breakfast is so exhausting with all this drama. Honestly, your uncle and aunt-barging in first thing in the morning and running their mouths in someone else''s house. Do they even remember their ce?"


    Victor''s dark gaze flickered with something unreadable as he nced at her. After a moment, he ced hisrge hand over hers, giving her a reassuring squeeze.


    It was a clear sign: he was taking her side.


    At Isadora''s words, Deanna, Virgil ck, and Kathie ck all looked stricken, their faces twisted with anger and disbelief.


    Virgil couldn''t contain himself. "What did you just say, you insolent woman? Haven''t your parents taught you anything about respect? When elders are speaking, do you really think it''s your ce to interrupt?"


    Isadora just smiled, her hand drifting protectively to her stomach as she replied, calm andposed, "Respect? I''m carrying the first grandson of the Fitzgerald family, and soon I''ll be Mrs. Fitzgerald, in name and in fact. If you want respect, shouldn''t you show me some first? Or does that only work one way?"


    Virgil''s face flushed a deep, ugly red, his chest heaving with fury. He jabbed a finger at Isadora''s face. "I thought you were at least well-bred, but you''re nothing but a disgrace! If not for Victor, you wouldn''t even deserve to speak to me!"


    "That''s enough!" Victor''s voice cracked like a whip, sharp and cold as winter frost. His gaze sliced toward Virgil''s outstretched hand, full of warning.


    Virgil jerked his hand back instinctively.


    "She''s my wife," Victor continued, his voice low but unyielding. "That makes her thedy of the Fitzgerald family. If you can''t show her respect, then you''re no longer wee here. Don''t set foot in this house again."


    With a resounding smack, Deanna mmed her palm down on the table.


    "Victor! How can you treat your uncle and aunt this way? Are you really going to turn your back on your own family for this woman?"


    Victor leaned back in his chair, a cold smile flickering on his lips. His tone was icy, his words heavy with warning. "Anyone who mistreats my wife, I don''t care who they are-they''re dead to me."


    Deanna shot Isadora a look so sharp it could have killed her on the spot.


    But Isadora only smiled brighter, her eyes glittering with triumph as she leaned


    into Victor''s shoulder. "You''re so good to me, honey."


    "Didn''t you say you wanted me to manage the Fitzgerald family affairs?" she added sweetly. "Since Deanna''s getting on in years, maybe it''s time she stopped worrying about the younger generation. She should really stay in her room and enjoy her golden years in peace."


    Kathie''s eyes went wide with shock, her voice trembling. "You... you... You can''t


    possibly mean to lock your aunt away! How dare you?"


    Isadora feigned innocence, her voice soft and delicate. "Auntie, what are you talking about? It''s just that the baby can''t handle all this stress, it''s not good for me, and if anything happened to the heir, wouldn''t Grandpa roll over in his grave and me you?"


    Deanna''s face turned ghostly white. She gasped for breath, her eyes rolling back


    as if she''d aged ten years in an instant-looking as though she had one foot in the grave.