Isabella walked into the living room and just as she halted, Charlotte’s hand came swinging toward her. This was the first time she had lost control in front of David. After playing the role of a perfect wife and mother for so long, it seemed she could no longer keep up the facade.
However, her hand was grabbed in midair by Isabella and forcefully pulled away.
“Aunt, what’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?” Isabella looked at Charlotte in shock.
The expressions of the others in the room varied. David couldn’t help but furrow his brow, Mrs. Ada appeared indifferent, and Aria, lacking in guile, couldn’t contain her laughter for a moment.
This current stepmother had always treated Isabella, her stepdaughter, even better than her own daughter. Today, however, she had resorted to physicality with Isabella. In Isabella’s eyes, this behavior was nothing short of being irrational.
Charlotte’s raised arm hadn’t had a chance to lower down. Her expression was both ugly and awkward. After playing the role of a perfect wife and mother for over a decade, she had completely lost her composure today.
“Charlotte, why couldn’t you express yourself calmly? What does it look like to hit a child?” David said with a stern face.
Although he had always favored Charlotte and her daughter, he wouldn’t just listen to one side of the story.
“Mom, although what Isabella did this time was indeed excessive, Dad is right. We should talk things out. Aunt, your impulsive act hurts not only her but also yourself.” Victoria took Charlotte’s arm, speaking calmly. The mother and daughter exchanged a quick glance.
Charlotte understood immediately, wiping her tears, “Isabella, you’ve grown up under my care. How could I bear to lay a hand on you? But when I think of Emily’s state… Isabella, what you did this time is too much, Aunt doesn’t know how to forgive you.”
Isabella patiently waited for Charlotte and Victoria to finish their performance. With a bewildered look, she asked, “Aunt, what did I do wrong?”
Charlotte, Victoria: “…”
Only Aria, nonchalantly, said, “Isabella, you really don’t know? Emily keeps saying you caused her miscarriage and intentionally seduced James.”
Upon hearing this, Isabella’s bewildered expression turned into shock. “Is Emily suffering from delusions of persecution? Shouldn’t she go to the hospital for a proper examination?”
Her pretending ignorance made Charlotte tremble with anger. She eagerly pulled out Emily’s phone and showed the photos inside.
“Isabella, take a good look. Aren’t the people in these photos you and James?” Charlotte demanded sternly.
As Isabella glanced through the photos, she was more shocked. “Where did these photos come from? Did Emily have someone track me?”
Charlotte was speechless at Isabella’s counter-question.
Mrs. Ada remained silent but couldn’t help a sarcastic chuckle. Rarely did she see Charlotte on the losing end, getting into trouble for no reason and ending up in a predicament.
David’s face grew colder. One daughter hired someone to track the other daughter. What were they up to, causing such turmoil!
“Where’s Emily? Bring her down to explain!” David said coldly.
Charlotte frowned and signaled to a servant. The servant, being smart enough, cautiously replied, “Emily is weak and has just taken her medicine to sleep.”
“If Emily is sleeping, let’s not disturb her for now. After all, she just had a miscarriage and needs rest,” Victoria interjected at the right time. “As for the source of the photos, let’s put that aside for now and ask Emily when she wakes up.”
No one voiced opposition. Charlotte and her daughter managed to cover up this issue.
“Aunt, I only said I was there when Emily fell down the stairs, but I never caused her harm. Please don’t wrongly accuse me,” Isabella spoke firmly.
“I had plans to have dinner with James when Emily suddenly barged in and slapped me. James didn’t want a scene at the restaurant, so he decided to leave. But Emily persisted, and as they argued, James accidentally pushed Emily, causing her to fall down the stairs.”
Isabella briefly explained the sequence of events, adding, “Dad, Aunt, if you don’t believe me, you can check the restaurant’s surveillance footage.”
Isabella’s words left Charlotte and Victoria speechless. They had already reviewed the restaurant’s surveillance video, which indeed aligned with Isabella’s account.
However, Victoria absolutely didn’t believe Emily’s miscarriage was merely an accident.
“You went on a date with James, isn’t that seduction?” Charlotte questioned again, refusing to believe Isabella’s explanations.
Isabella’s expression carried a hint of grievance. “Aunt, in your understanding, is having a meal equivalent to going to bed with someone?”
After saying this, she turned to Victoria, “Sis, you should avoid dining with those investors in the future. Otherwise, Aunt might misunderstand and think you’re seducing them.”
“You…” Charlotte was so infuriated she wished she could slap Isabella again.