Chapter 13
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Isabelle sat on the sofa in the mansion while a private doctor carefully treated her bruises. The sting of the alcohol swab made her hiss in pain, but her mind was consumed by the memory of Seraphina’s cold, hard eyes in the warehouse.
Something was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
It was the same face, but that look, that viciousness–it was nothing like the submissive “Seraphina” she had known before.
“Ouch-” She gripped the armrest tightly. The doctor quickly apologized. “My apologies, Miss Croft. Just a little longer.”
Isabelle waved him away impatiently.
Once the doctor left, she stood up, intending to get a glass of water to calm her nerves. As she entered the hallway, she heard two
maids whispering in a corner, clutching an envelope.
.The madam told us to give this to her after the wedding, but the wedding never happened. What do we do?”
“Shh, quiet! What if Mr. Blackwood finds out we failed to do what his wife asked…”
Isabelle’s eyes narrowed. She approached them silently. “What are you talking about?”
The maids jumped, nearly dropping the envelope. Seeing it was Isabelle, their faces paled further. “Miss… Miss Croft…”
“What is that?” Isabelle held out her hand. “Let me see.”
The maid hesitated, then handed it over. “The madam gave it to us before… She said to give it back to her after the wedding… But
now that the wedding is off, we don’t know what to do…”
”
An idea sparked in Isabelle’s mind, but she forced a
her.”
gentle smile. “Oh, I see. In that case, give it to me. I was just on my way to see
As soon as the maids were gone, she rushed to her room, locked the door, and tore open the envelope.
Inside were several pages of handwritten notes, the script
and clear:
[Damien is allergic to milk. Be careful not to let him have any.]
[He hates sweets. Coffee must be Americano, no sugar.]
【There’s stomach medicine in the second drawer on the left in his study. He forgets to take it when he works late.)
Isabelle’s fingers trembled.
Seraphina already knew Damien inside and out. Why would she need to write these things down? Why would she arrange for a
maid to give them to “herself,” unless…
Isabelle’s heart hammered against her ribs.
Unless the woman currently in the mansion wasn’t Seraphina at all.
She shot to her feet and dialed a number. “I need you to run a check on Seraphina Vance. Everything you can find. I want her mov-
ements for the last three months, in detail.”
After hanging up, she tucked the note into the bottom of her jewelry box and took a deep breath.
She opened her door and nearly collided with Seraphina, who was coming up the stairs.
2012
Chapter 13
Their eyes met, and the air crackled with tension.
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Isabelle suppressed her racing heart and forced a smile. “Miss Vance. Damien is in his study. Would you… like to take him up a glass of warm milk?”
She watched Seraphina’s face intently, searching for any flicker of reaction.
Seraphina slowly raised an eyebrow. Her gaze drifted from Isabelle’s swollen face to the glass of milk in her hand. Then she let out a cold laugh and took the glass.
SPLASH!
<
The entire glass of warm milk was thrown in Isabelle’s face.
www.
“Ah!” Isabelle screamed, stumbling back, milk dripping from her hair. “Are you
insane?!”
Seraphina dropped the empty glass on the floor, where it shattered. She smirked, her eyes full of contempt. “That’s a job for the staff. Who do you think you are, trying to order me around?
Isabelle was shaking with rage. “You… how dare you-
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“What’s going on?” Damien’s voice cut in. He had come out of his study, frowning at the scene.
Seraphina crossed her arms, her expression defiant. “I threw it. So what?” She glanced at Isabelle. “At least I own up to what I do, unlike some people who resort to cheap tricks.”
She turned and walked away, her heels crunching
the broken glass without a second thought.
Isabelle looked at Damien, her eyes welling with tears. “Damien, why is she treating me like this…
Damien was silent for a moment, hisxed on Seraphina’s retreating back. Then, he said something he never had before. “The wedding didn’t happen. It’s normal for her to be upset.”
He looked back at Isabelle. “It’s not a big deal. Go clean yourself
- up.
Isabelle felt as if she’d been struck by lightning. She stared at him in utter disbelief.
He was actually defending that w
woman?
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