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    I was stunned. Even though I’m with Ryan, I hardly ever step into his social circle. The only time I met his group of friends was at his birthday party. ‘Is that supposed to be wrong?‘ I wondered.


    Isabelle took a deep breath. “That night, Ryan said the harshest words he’s ever said <i>to </i>me, and it was all because of you.”


    I let out a coldugh. “Wasn’t it you who started targeting me first?”


    Isabelle lifted her chin with an air of superiority. “What? I was just telling it like it is. Your divorce wasn’t my fault. Didn’t you get your ex–husband a gift? I’m just being honest.”


    I replied calmly, “If you think it’s okay to bring up someone’s pain in front of everyone, that’s on you.”


    A flicker of satisfaction crossed Isabelle’s eyes before she asked, “By the way, your brother’s girlfriend–her name is Sophia Langley, right?”


    My heart jolted as I locked eyes with her. “What did you do?”


    Isabelle said casually, “She really has no standards. Give her a bag worth over ten thousand dors, and she’ll let someone keep her for a whole month. Tsk, tsk. Your brother must not be worth much.”


    “Isabelle, what are you trying to pull?” I snapped.


    Isabelle shrugged. “I didn’t do anything. I just had a friend do some business with Sophia, and after a bit of back and forth, they started having dinner together, going on dates, and then…”


    “Isabelle, target me all you want, but leave my brother out of this,” I snapped, fury rising in my chest. I never thought Isabelle’s revenge would go this far.


    “You should be thanking me. If it weren’t for me, you’d never know what kind of trash your future sister–in-w really is,” Isabelle said, arching an eyebrow. “Oh, I heard your brother is crazy about her. Let’s see if he can handle it when he finds out his precious girl is so worthless to others that she’ll do whatever they want.”


    “Isabelle, you’re seriously messed up,” I spat, fists clenched. She actually got someone to go after Sophia just to watch my brother lose his mind.


    Isabelle narrowed her eyes at me. “Your brother’s working at an investment bank under The Jennings Group, and Sophia’s at a bank owned by Jennings Holdings. Victoria, do you even have any shame? Your whole family’s living off the Jennings family’s generosity, and what do you do? You y games with your brother and mess around with Uncle Ryan. If anything happens to your brother, it’s all because of you.”


    “I didn’t-“I screamed, my voice shaking. “I never went after Edward. I swear I didn’t!”


    “If you hadn’t gotten him all worked up, why would Edward be so hung up on you? Victoria, I’ll admit you’re good–looking, but using your looks to mess with everyone–you’re just a walking disaster,” Isabelle said, tilting her chin up. “Oh, and I’ve got plenty more photos of your brother’s girlfriend. If you want them, meet me at this address tomorrow at noon.”


    With that, Isabelle tossed a slip of paper at me. “If you don’t show up, I’ll send all these photos straight to your


    11:53 Thu<b>, </b>Sep 11


    brother’s office. Let everyone have a good look.”


    With that, Isabelle headed for her sports car.


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    I tried to rush after her to stop her, but two bodyguards in ck stepped out of a nearby car and blocked my


    way.


    Isabelle nced back at me with a look of superiority, then opened the car door and slid inside.


    Momentster, her sports car flicked on its hazard lights, cut across the double lines, and vanished into the night.


    The bodyguards got back in their car and drove off after her.


    Watching them drive right over the double lines like they owned the road, my heart started pounding.


    Power was absolutely suffocating in that moment.


    I bent down, picked up the slip of paper, and saw the address–it was a tea house.


    Chilled to the bone, I stumbled home and slumped onto the couch, sitting there numb, unable to pull myself together for what felt like forever.


    Thinking about everything I’ve been through, it’s like fate’s been pulling the strings, but somehow, every step feels like it was my own choice.


    “How did it end up like this?” I whispered to myself,pletely lost and hurting inside.


    I barely slept that night. The next day<i>, </i>I went to the office to handle some work.


    During the meeting, I couldn’t focus at all. My mind kept reying those indecent photos, imagining them getting stered all over my brother’s office. If he saw the woman he loves exposed like that, would he just lose it right then and there?


    Before the meeting was even over, I had toe up with an excuse about a headache and slip out early.


    Sitting in my car, I stared at the handwritten address, trying to figure out what Isabelle was plotting this time, Victoria thought.


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