Chapter 451

Isabella's face drained of color, her hands trembling visibly.

She shot a desperate glance at Victoria.

Without missing a beat, Victoria moved forward. "It wasn't Isabella! I did it! I was the one who contacted that scar-faced man and orchestrated the entire kidnapping!"

Harrison stared at her mother in disbelief. This desperate attempt to shield Isabella revealed everything.

Victoria had willingly thrown herself into the fire to protect her favorite.

A bitter laugh escaped Harrison's lips. Was this twisted devotion what passed for maternal love?

Why?

Harrison was Victoria's flesh and blood, yet she'd always treated Isabella like royalty. What had Harrison done to deserve such betrayal?

The sting of maternal rejection never lessened, no matter how many times it happened.

Gasps filled the room as all eyes turned to Victoria.

"You?"

Rosalind's voice shook with rage. "Mrs. Whitmore, Harrison is your actual daughter! You hired criminals to abduct her and wanted her dead? Have you lost your mind?"

Victoria hadn't anticipated the truth surfacing. Isabella's involvement couldn't be exposed - it would ruin her reputation and destroy any chance with Nathaniel. Sacrificing herself was the only option.

"Harrison," Victoria pleaded, "I'm still your mother. Please let this go."

"Mother?" Harrison's voice dripped with venom. "You and Margaret disowned me long ago. Staying your daughter would've gotten me killed!"

"Harrison considered you family, and you wanted her dead. What kind of monsters are you?" Rosalind added.

The murmurs grew louder.

"What kind of mother does this? Hiring thugs to kidnap her own child while spoiling another woman's daughter?"

"Blinded by obsession... It's sickening."

Victoria's stomach churned with fury, but she maintained her composure. The game was over, and she'd lost everything.

Harrison turned to Isabella. "You really think that flash drive has evidence?"

Isabella froze, fingers tightening around the stolen device. "What do you mean?"

Oliver smirked. "Isabella, Mrs. Whitmore, you've been played. That drive's empty. There's nothing on it."

What?

Isabella and Victoria gasped in unison, their faces draining of color.

Nathaniel's piercing gaze locked onto Oliver. "Mr. Falcon took the kidnapper. I'm certain he's already interrogated him thoroughly but found nothing. Yet when I brought up the flash drive, Mr. Falcon, you didn't call my bluff. We owe you thanks for playing along with our little charade."

Isabella staggered back, her wide eyes fixed on Nathaniel. "Is this true? You knew the flash drive was empty all along?"

Nathaniel met her shocked expression with calm certainty. "Yes, I knew."

When Nathaniel had arranged for Scarface's capture, he'd left no stone unturned. Every bank account, every transaction had been scrutinized.

So when Oliver mentioned transaction records on the flash drive, Nathaniel instantly recognized the lie. Oliver had been bluffing, using a fake flash drive to trap Isabella and Victoria.

This time, they'd covered their tracks meticulously. But they'd underestimated opponents like Oliver and Nathaniel. The moment they made their move, both men had seen through them.

Isabella's composure shattered. She whirled on Nathaniel. "Whose side are you on? Why are you conspiring with outsiders against me?"

Harrison let out a derisive laugh. "Conspiring? Mrs. Whitmore claimed she did this for you. Why are you so defensive now?"

"Exactly, Isabella!" Rosalind chimed in. "If you were truly innocent, why didn't you immediately condemn Mrs. Whitmore for hiring thugs to kidnap Harrison? Instead, you attacked Mr. Falcon. That speaks volumes. Your claims of ignorance aren't convincing anyone!"