Chapter 272

All eyes were drawn to the power couple, their presence eclipsing everything else in the room.

Isabella's chest burned with envy, her resentment toward the brilliant freshman growing deeper by the second.

"Look!" Arabella suddenly gasped. "Harrison's here!"

Nathaniel had been nursing his drink all evening, indifferent to the festivities. But at Arabella's words, his sharp gaze lifted, gleaming with sudden interest.

There she was.

Harrison wore a sleek black sleeveless dress that hugged her slender frame perfectly. The flared skirt accentuated her long, porcelain legs as she entered, immediately commanding attention.

Her raven hair cascaded down her back like silk, a sweater draped carelessly over her arms. From his vantage point, Nathaniel could only see her profile - delicate features appearing even more petite, her luminous skin giving her an almost ethereal glow.

That aura was uniquely hers. No one in Willowbrook could compare.

Isabella spotted Harrison too, her eyes lighting up with malicious delight.

She'd always viewed the prodigious freshman as competition, seething with jealousy. But seeing this country girl now filled her with overwhelming superiority.

"I heard Harrison was terribly ill recently," she said sweetly. "Seems she's recovered."

Arabella scoffed. "Nathaniel's wanted a divorce for ages. Honestly, he's done her a favor by waiting this long. Pathetic that she got sick over it."

Sebastian, who'd never liked Harrison, watched her closely. "Well, it's official now. They're divorced. Nathaniel, when do we get to celebrate your wedding with Isabella?"

The wealthy socialites around them began teasing. "Guess we should start calling her Mrs. Falcon now."

Isabella beamed with pride.

Nathaniel's gaze flickered to Harrison, his expression unreadable. He turned away abruptly, draining his glass in one swift motion.

Harrison had come to The Velvet Lounge with Rosalind to unwind. After a couple drinks, she excused herself to the restroom.

In the hallway, a figure suddenly blocked her path.

Harrison looked up to see Isabella standing before her.

Isabella's lips curled into a saccharine smile. "Harrison, I heard you took the divorce quite hard. Feeling better now?"

Harrison's gaze turned glacial. "We're not friends, Isabella. Say what you want and leave."

Isabella held up an expensive handbag, smirking. "Limited edition. Nathaniel took me shopping for it."

Harrison arched a brow. "And?"

"This isn't for me," Isabella purred, her smile widening. "It's a gift for Bebe Whitmore."

Harrison remained silent. She knew the Whitmores were Nathaniel's maternal relatives, though he'd never introduced her to them.

She waited, expressionless, for Isabella to continue.

Isabella studied Harrison's face hungrily. "Eleanor may like you, I'll admit that. But Nathaniel plans to introduce me to Bebe, to the entire Whitmore family. We're getting married, Harrison. It's happening."

Just then, a tall, commanding figure appeared. Nathaniel had arrived.

Isabella immediately latched onto his arm. "Nathaniel, darling, I was just telling Harrison about our wedding plans."