Chapter 4

Isabel closed the chat and packed up all the food. Then, she headed downstairs and gave everything to the strays she'd fed before. As she turned, she saw a man standing nearby. He nodded and said, "Good day, Ms. Shore."

She faltered briefly, evidently not expecting to see Dominic's special assistant, Harvey Fuller, there. After regaining her composure, she said politely, "Hello, Mr. Fuller."

He held out an envelope to her and said, "Mr. Zimmerman told me to deliver the keys to an apartment to you. He also hopes that you can complete the move today and prepare yourself accordingly so you'll be ready to start work tomorrow."

Isabel accepted the envelope gracefully. "Got it."

After signing the contract last night, she'd officially joined Dominic's architectural design team. One of the contract's clauses was that she had to obey his every order unconditionally, the first of which was for her to move house.

Of course, it was something she would've done, even if he hadn't told her to. The apartment she currently occupied was one that the Shores had technically gifted to her, but that was just for show. They wanted the outside world to think that they still treated her as their own, even if their blood didn't run in her veins.

In truth, the whole thing had been Cameron's idea. Only then had his parents, Richard Shore and Sheila Beech, begrudgingly agreed to do it. In a way, it was their compensation for the emotional damage Isabel had suffered.

For one, the Shores could come and go freely from the apartment. There was also the fact that there were too many traces of Samuel's presence there. Having to put up with that nauseated Isabel.

After returning to the apartment, Isabel opened the envelope to see that the keys led to a place called Premiero Estate. Wasn't that the upscale neighborhood at the foot of Mt. Zeeson?

If she remembered correctly, it was one of Dominic's real estate developments.

Just then, someone knocked on the door, startling her. She quickly hid the envelope in the bedroom and checked the peephole to see who was outside. Then, her gaze turned icy.

She opened the door to reveal Cameron standing there in a coffee-colored coat. He smiled affectionately and called her name as indulgently as he always did. "Izzy."

It almost made Isabel feel like what had happened the night before was a figment of her imagination. Her eyes turned icier as she looked at him, and she rested her right hand on the doorknob, evidently not allowing him entry to the apartment. "You're here early, Cam. Did you need something?"

Cameron knew she was mad, but he didn't let it bother him. He held up the bag in his hand and smiled warmly at her. "I brought you your favorite mango mille-crepe cake."

"It's not my favorite anymore," she said bluntly.

He faltered at that, but his smile remained in place. "It's pretty cold outside, Izzy. Can you let me in so we can sit and talk?"

"If you don't need anything—" she started.

Cameron grabbed her right hand before she could get any further. "Izzy, we're siblings—we grew up together. We don't hold grudges against each other, especially over a man who isn't worth it."

He forced his way into the apartment and pulled Isabel in with him, shutting the door behind them.

Isabel wrested free of his hold and said sullenly, "Alright, you made your way in here. Can you just spit out what exactly you want now?"

Cameron noticed the two suitcases in the bedroom and frowned slightly. "Are you moving in with Samuel?"

She curled her lip. She knew he'd come to persuade her on Winona's behalf. All that nonsense about them being siblings who'd grown up together—they weren't even related!

"Of course. He and I just got married yesterday. Wouldn't we be making fools of ourselves by getting a divorce so soon?"

"If that's what you're worried about, you shouldn't be. I can deal with that for you, and I won't let anyone have the chance to make fun of you," Cameron said confidently as his frown disappeared.

Isabel looked up at him doubtfully. Then, an outrageous thought formed in her mind. "Don't tell me you plan to announce to the world that Winona is actually the one Samuel married."

He didn't respond. That silence made her heart shatter. Even if the Shore family's treatment of her had changed drastically after learning she wasn't one of them, she was still grateful that they'd raised her. And because Cameron had never changed the way he treated her, she'd respected and admired him the most.

In hindsight, he'd probably changed since Winona's return without Isabel realizing it. Now…

Cameron felt like he'd been stabbed in the heart when he saw how ashen Isabel's face was and how hurt she looked. He stood before her and grabbed her by the shoulders, saying gently, "Izzy, Samuel isn't worthy of you. You deserve so much better.

"Listen to me and divorce him, alright? I've already arranged everything abroad for you. Once you two finalize the divorce, I'll take you out of the country. We can stay there for a few years while you try to forget all of this…"

Isabel broke down when she heard that he wanted her to leave the country. She shoved him away, her eyes reddening as tears streamed down her face. "Are all of you Shores insane? Your enemies are the ones who swapped me and Winona! I had nothing to do with it!

"I've said time and time again that I want to leave, but you guys forced me to stay! And now, you're banishing me abroad for Winona's sake! What do you take me for? Do you think I'm an object that you can keep around when you want and cast aside when you find me to be a waste of space?"

"How can you think that of us, Izzy?" Cameron asked cajolingly. "You've always been a member of our family."

"That's bullshit! Stop being so pretentious! If you truly thought of me as family, how could you have stood by and watched as Winona lay in Samuel's arms last night? You know he's my husband!

"You've been badmouthing him since last night and trying to persuade me into a divorce. Be honest with me, Cameron. Do you genuinely mean well for me, or are you doing this for your precious sister?" Isabel screamed.

Cameron faltered, ultimately swallowing the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He stepped forward, still sounding cajoling as he said, "I know you're upset, Izzy. But I guarantee that I'll make up for all the suffering you're going through now. I'll pay you back double!"

"Cut the crap!" Isabel snapped.

"When did you start talking like that?" He raised an eyebrow, feeling like she wasn't like her old self—obedient and demure.

She sneered. "I can be worse."

"Izzy!" Cameron gave her a warning look. "Haven't you always listened to me?"

Listening was all they expected of her. It was precisely because she listened to everything they said and always put them first that they took advantage of her.

"Izzy, what I said just now—"

Before Cameron could finish, Isabel grabbed a fruit knife from the coffee table and pressed it to her neck.

"Izzy!" he shouted, a tremor in his voice. He never would've expected her to do something so extreme.

Isabel backed up and pointed at the door with her free hand. "Take your cake and leave now!"

"Izzy, you're not the type to act rashly," he said with a frown.

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, she pressed the knife down harder, making droplets of blood ooze out. She looked at him, her face expressionless. "Do you still think I'm being rash?"

Cameron gritted his teeth, ultimately giving in. He picked up the cake and said, "Fine. We can talk about this once you've calmed down. One day, you'll understand what I mean. Anyone might hurt you or lie to you, but not me. I'll only ever be nice to you, Izzy."

"Get out!" Isabel barked while glaring at him.

The moment he stepped out of the apartment, she slammed the door shut and locked it.