Chapter 15
It was nearly noon when Isabelle woke up. She had tossed and turned all night, her thoughts consumed by Damien’s strange new attitude and Seraphina’s icy stare. She rubbed her temples, deciding to get something to eat before strategizing.
But when she entered the dining room, she found only one place setting on the table. Seraphina was leisurely eating a piece of toast, a cup of black coffee beside her.
“Where’s my breakfast?” Isabelle demanded with a frown.
Seraphina didn’t look up until she had finished the last bite. Then, she glanced lazily at Isabelle. “If you want to eat, go ask the cook. “She wiped her mouth. “I made this myself. There’s only enough for one.”
Isabelle’s chest tightened. Suppressing her anger, she snapped, “Then have the cook make me something now!”
Seraphina chuckled, stood up, and walked right past her without a single extra glance.
2
Furious, Isabelle stormed into the kitchen, only to find it empty except for a young maid washing dishes.
“Where is the cook?!” she demanded.
The maid flinched. “She… she has the day off today…”
“Then why did Seraphina get to eat?!”
“The madam… she made it herself…” the maid whispered, her head bowed.
**
20
195
Isabelle’s face turned livid. She slammed the door and stormed out.
Back in her room, she was too angry to even drink water. Just then, her phone rang.
was the private
investigator.
She answered immediately. The voice on the other end was low. “Miss
Croft, I found
something.”
“Spit it out!” she commanded.
“The night before the wedding, security cameras caught someone who looks identical to Seraphina Vance leaving the Blackwood estate.” The investigator paused. “Also, I found records of a transaction three years ago between the Vance family and the original Seraphina. The details are unclear, but it seems to be related to a substitute bride,”
Isabelle’s pupils contracted, her fingers tightening on the phone. “Do you have proof?”
“Photos and copies of the transaction records. Would you like to come and get them now?”
“Send me the address. I’m on my way!”
After hanging up, Isabelle quickly changed, put on sunglasses and a hat, and slipped out of the mansion.
Half an hour later, she met the investigator in a secluded café. He handed her a manila envelope. “All the files are in here. The surveillance stills and the Vance family’s financial records.”
Isabelle tore it open. After flipping through a few pages, a cold, triumphant smile spread across her face.
Just as she thought! The current Seraphina was an imposter!
She paid the remaining fee, stuffed the evidence into her purse, and headed back, her mood soaring. Now, let’s see how long that fake could keep up her act.
However, just as she reached the mansion’s entrance, she ran into Seraphina, who was on her way out.
Their eyes met. This time, Isabelle made no attempt to hide her glee. She tilted her chin up defiantly. “Seraphina. Or… should I be calling you by another name?”
2042
Chapter 15
Seraphina stopped, her gaze cold.
20:12
Isabelle brandished the file folder, her smile smug. “I know your secret. If you don’t want Damien to throw you out, you’d better get on your knees and apologize to me, right now.”
Seraphina stared at her blankly for a few seconds, then let out a short laugh. “You’re insane.”
She turned to leave.
Her dismissive attitude finally broke Isabelle. She lunged forward and grabbed her wrist. “What are you pretending for?! I’m telling you, this evidence is enough to—”
“Ah-!”
A
Before she could finish, Seraphina yanked her arm back. Isabelle lost her balance, her feet slipping, and she fell backward.
The
གསུནམཛགས་ནན་ནང་བར་ངལ་
In her panic, she latched onto Seraphina’s clothes, and both of them went tumbling down the grand staircase.
The sound of their bodies hitting the steps was punctuated by Isabelle’s screams. Finally, they landed in a heap on the first–floor landing.
The contents of the file folder–photos and documents–scattered everywhere.
Tax
2012
