Chapter 668

The figures clad in black swiftly approached, bowing their heads in deference. "Ms. Lancaster."

Isabella's sharp gaze pinned them in place as she wasted no time. "Did you retrieve the girl as instructed?"

"Yes, Ms. Lancaster," one confirmed.

Satisfaction ignited in her eyes. At last, she had secured Harrison's legitimate child—the one born to Nathaniel. Once Charlotte was dealt with, her secret would remain buried forever. The suffocating weight on her shoulders lifted, allowing her to breathe freely again.

"Take me to her. Immediately!"

"Right away."

They guided Isabella to a dim, cramped chamber. A narrow window on the door revealed Victoria cradling Charlotte protectively in the corner, the grandmother and granddaughter clinging to each other.

Isabella stiffened. She blinked, doubting her vision, but the image remained unchanged—Victoria was truly there.

What in the world? Why was she here?

She whirled toward the black-clad men. "Why is there another person inside?"

"An unforeseen complication," one admitted. "When we seized the girl, this old woman intervened. She fought to protect her, so we had no choice but to bring her as well."

Damn it!

Lightning might as well have struck her. Never had she anticipated this—her future mother-in-law had been dragged into the mess.

Since when did Victoria care so deeply about the child?

A wave of dread crashed over Isabella, but fear eclipsed everything else.

She snapped at the men, "Have you lost your minds? Do you realize who she is?"

"Just some wheelchair-bound crone," one scoffed.

Victoria had lived reclusively for years. It wasn't surprising they didn't recognize her.

Isabella's fury left her speechless. "That 'crone' is Victoria Hawk!"

"What?" The man paled. "That's Mrs. Hawk?"

"Exactly! Now do you grasp the disaster you've created? Nathaniel already knows his mother is missing—and that she vanished alongside Charlotte. I wanted this done quietly, but you've dragged him into it! What now?"

Panic flickered across their faces. Everyone knew of Nathaniel's merciless reputation, and this was his domain.

"We didn't recognize her! She resisted, and we couldn't risk exposure. If Mr. Hawk finds us, we're dead men!"

They were all trapped now. There was no escape.

Isabella's expression darkened. "I'm working on a solution, but our options are limited. Nathaniel has likely set traps everywhere. One wrong move, and we're finished."

Besides, this was Victoria. Harming her was unthinkable.

"Ms. Lancaster, what's our next move?"

"Keep them confined for now. Don't lay a finger on either until I devise a plan."

"Understood."