Chapter 6

"Seduce your husband?" Sheila's voice became more shrill from her agitation. "If not for us raising you, do you think you would even know someone like Samuel? Don't forget that everything you have now is supposed to be my daughter's!"

She finally couldn't hold it in any longer. Though Sheila had never said such things in the past, it was clear enough from the way she looked at Isabel that she thought of the latter as a thief who'd stolen everything from Winona.

Isabel had figured it wasn't a big deal to leave some things unsaid and act like everything was fine. They could just continue like that forever. She wouldn't be home much after marrying Samuel, anyway.

But now, she wanted to get a divorce, and the Shore family had taken things to such extremes. She would be a fool if she continued allowing herself to be manipulated by guilt. She would deserve to be trampled on.

Cameron realized what Isabel was building up to and reached out a hand to stop her. However, she dodged him deftly and said, "Then, you shouldn't have any objection to me wanting to cut ties with your family."

Sheila was evidently caught off guard by Isabel bringing that up at a time like this. Then, something occurred to her, and she snapped, "You always use that as an excuse! I think you're—"

"I heard you screaming from outside the door. Should I call the neighbors over so they can hear you, too?" Richard suddenly emerged from the foyer.

Silence descended upon the living room. Sheila composed herself, but her words were still sharp. "It's this ingrate's fault. She's only been married for a day, yet she already has the nerve to talk back to me."

Richard looked grim as he approached. He glanced at Isabel and said, "Come to the study with me, Isabel."

She calmly followed him upstairs. Once the study door swung shut behind them, Richard sat on the couch and said sternly, "Your mother is right! You've only been married for a day, yet you've already forgotten all the etiquette you've learned over the years! Do you remember that you're the Shore family's heiress?"

"You're wrong, Dad. Everyone in Jeriton knows that I'm just a fake heiress," Isabel said.

"Does that matter? It's fine as long as we consider you one of us."

Isabel laughed inwardly at that. She had to admit that every member of the Shore family deserved awards for their acting skills. They were the perfect candidates for sales jobs.

Richard had always been the type to stop lecturing after making a point. Even if Winona was his actual daughter, Isabel was the heiress he'd painstakingly raised and trained since her childhood. She was a much more valuable chess piece than Winona was.

He took a deep breath and said, "I know this whole situation is unfair to you, but Winona's depression isn't something that can go away in a day or two. The psychiatrist told us that Samuel is currently the best thing to keep her calm.

"Your identity as his wife will not change—all we need now is for you to loan Samuel to Winnie temporarily. You two are childhood sweethearts, so nothing can get between you and ruin your relationship. As long as Winnie recovers, you can rest assured that you'll have my gratitude forever. I'll support Samuel as much as I can in the future."

Isabel clenched her fists tightly, making her nails dig into her palms so that she wouldn't lose control of herself. She knew that night's dinner wouldn't be a simple affair, so this outcome was within her expectations. She was this close to losing it, though.

Did they think she was a pushover and easily fooled just because she'd always been obedient?

After a long silence, she said, "Since I was a child, you've taught me to be upright and to have a clear moral compass. You told me girls had to be proper, and especially as a daughter of the Shore family, I had to maintain my reputation and not bring shame to the family."

Richard sensed something was wrong at this point. However, it was too late. What Isabel said next made his expression turn ugly.

She said, "Do you think it's morally upright to persuade me to loan my husband to Winona? Depression isn't a get-out-of-jail-free card, Dad."

"Why, you!" Richard snarled. "Can you represent Samuel?"

His words were like a slap to Isabel's face. Of course, she knew she couldn't represent Samuel. He'd already betrayed her, after all.

She said, "If he's okay with it, then I'll take back what I said and respect the consensus everyone has come to. However, I hope you can agree to one condition I have."

Richard's expression softened at those words. He thought she'd gone to such lengths just so she could bring up her condition. He said, "I knew you were obedient. Let's hear what your condition is."

"I'll give Samuel to Winona in exchange for cutting ties with the Shore family," Isabel said.

He shot to his feet in a rage. "Are you threatening me?"

She wasn't cowed. "I'm negotiating with you."

"Aren't you afraid Samuel will get mad when he finds out about you using him as a bargaining chip?"

Isabel smiled. "Winona pulled the suicide trick because Samuel and I got married. Can you and everyone else handle a second attempt?"

This was Richard's first time feeling that he was so close to not recognizing the daughter he'd raised. He'd never taught her to do anything like this.

He calmed down and put on the loving father act again. "Izzy, even if you aren't actually my child, I still raised you. I've always thought of you as my own."

"I'll remember the things you did for me for life," Isabel parried.

Richard narrowed his eyes slightly, staying calm as he said, "I know you've always felt insecure. Your brother and I were actually discussing giving you some of the company's shares, you know. I think now's the perfect time to do that. You were just saying angry words earlier, and I'll act like I never heard them. You can sign the share transfer agreement tomorrow."

There he was again, ignoring everything Isabel had said. Like father, like son.

She said, "I need emotional exclusivity, Dad."

"When did you become so disobedient?" he roared.

"And I'm no longer a child," she added.

Richard felt his temples throb. Isabel's disobedience both upset him and left him helpless.

Ultimately, Isabel said, "Give my condition some thought, Dad. I'll go out now."

Richard let her leave without protest.

Once Isabel was outside the room, she exhaled heavily. The Shores were the ones who'd chosen to pick on her first. They couldn't blame her for wanting to shatter every bit of value they still saw in her.

She headed upstairs, her face blank. She wanted to head to her bedroom to rest. As for the divorce, she figured it would be better to delay it for the time being. At the very least, she had to wait until she could break away from the Shore family. Only then would she be able to get the most out of the divorce.

Since she wanted to wash her hands of both the Shores and Samuel, she wanted to do it in one fell swoop.

Isabel's phone rang as she headed upstairs. To her surprise, Dominic was calling her. She answered it and kept her voice down as she said, "Mr. Zimmerman."

"Did I catch you at a bad time, Ms. Architect?" Dominic always sounded like he was smiling when he spoke. He dragged out the tail end of his words, lending an air of amorosity to his tone.

Isabel's temples throbbed. She was curious to know whether he spoke to everyone like that or whether he was deliberately using such a tone with her.

"No, you didn't," she said calmly. "Also, I'm only starting work tomorrow. I think it's a little early to call me that, Mr. Zimmerman."

"I just thought you'd want to get used to it beforehand."

Was that really the case? Why did she suspect it was more like he was just up to no good?

Just then, a wanton moan filled the air. Isabel's hand froze on the doorknob as her head shot up. She turned in the direction of Winona's room.

On the other end of the line, Dominic had heard the moan, too. He asked teasingly, "Are you sure I didn't catch you at a bad time, Ms. Architect?"

"If you think you did, then you did. Sorry, but I need to go." Isabel hung up without another word. She couldn't stop herself from heading to Winona's room.

The closer she got, the louder the moans and gasps became. When she stopped before the door, she saw through the crack in it two bodies that were glued to each other.

Winona's back was plastered against the wall, and she had her arms wrapped around a man's head. She allowed him to devour her bosom.

She sensed Isabel's presence and turned in her direction with a cocked eyebrow. Her face was flushed, but the look in her eyes was filled with provocation and smugness.