Chapter 264
Isabella’s hatred for me radiated from every pore of her body as she lightly gripped Henry’s Hand
“Henry, is it because of what Sophia did to you? That bitch is trying to kill you, Isn’t she?
Henry’s condition was rapidly deteriorating. His body contorted with painful spasms, his left hand desperately pressing against his stomach in an attempt to alleviate the agony.
This method wasn’t working. Sweat poured down his face like rain, his complexion turning paper- white. He curled into himself, his breathing ragged and shallow like a broken bellows.
I saw him struggling to speak as he heard Isabella’s accusations against me. His mouth opened, but no sound came out–just a silent plea as his eyes desperately darted between Isabella and me.
Catherine, seeing Henry’s staggering attempt to sit up, immediately pushed him back onto the bed. “Henry, what are you doing? You need to rest properly.” She stroked his head with feigned motherly
concern. “Didn’t you want fish soup? I made it for you. Just lie down, and I’ll serve it to you.”
For Catherine, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect–Henry’s sudden condition gave Isabella the perfect opportunity to attack me. Catherine deliberately pressed down on Henry’s shoulders as he struggled to rise, keeping him pinned to the bed while he was too overcome with pain to speak.
Earlier, Grace had messaged Catherine about Isabella being confined at the Harding estate on Henry’s orders. She had begged Catherine to rescue Isabella, and Catherine had agreed. After all, she had never approved of me as her daughter–in–law and couldn’t stand the sight of me–she’d rather have Isabella take my place.
She had gone directly to the estate with Harding security personnel in tow, forcibly removing Isabella from the guards Henry had assigned to watch her.
Isabella had been recuperating in Catherine’s bedroom when she heard about Henry’s knife wound. She couldn’t remain still after that, insisting on going to see him immediately. When Catherine mentioned I was at the hospital caring for Henry, Isabella had already decided to teach me a lesson.
The impact with the bedside table had left my ribs throbbing with pain. I gasped repeatedly, struggling to breathe.
Isabella seized this opportunity, fushing from Henry’s bedside toward me with her hand raised high. “How could you do this? Don’t you know I’m ill? And you’re still trying to steal my man!” Her eyes
blazed with fury.
“Sophia, are you even human? You’ve been poisoning Henry against me, spreading rumors about me, claiming I wanted to kill you–when did I ever try to kill you? Where’s your proof?”
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Chapter 264
When Isabella raised her hand to stap me, I was completely fed up with het theatrical In one swift motion, I caught her wrist before she could strike me, gripping it tightly befor her hand away.
Without hesitation, I delivered a stinging slap across her face.
“Women who’ve been with Henry really are different–even your attention–seeking is exceptional. Running to the hospital to find a man… you’re acting like you own the place.” I stared her down coldly. “I didn’t hit you earlier because I have self–control, but don’t mistake my restraint for weakness.”
She might be Henry’s perfect lover, but she wasn’t mine.
When it was time to teach her a lesson, I certainly wouldn’t hold back!
I hadn’t held back. Isabella swelled immediately, the red imprint of my hand clearly visible against her skin. She stared at me in shock, her hand cupping her inflamed face. “I knew Henry first!
You’re the bitch who stole my man!”
The desperation in her voice was unmistakable.
Having nothing left–her health was deteriorating, and without Henry, she had no idea how to survive. This was her last desperate gamble.
“You knew him first? So what?” I scoffed.
“And what do you mean by ‘your man‘? Is Henry your property? He’s never acknowledged that, so why are you so desperately trying to label him as such?”
Isabella’s level of shamelessness shocked me.
“You and Henry dated–at most, that makes you ex–girlfriend and boyfriend. Henry and I are legally married. Who’s closer to him? Even an idiot could figure that out.” I looked her up and down with
contempt.
“You’re nothing but a homewrecker. What are you trying to show off here? Your ignorance? Your mental instability?”
I had come here with good intentions, feeling obligated to care for Henry because he had risked his life to save mine.
But the situation had devolved/into this ugly scene.
Henry certainly knew how to make things difficult–deliberately having Isabella come here just to aggravate me! If I’d known/Isabella was coming, I would never have stayed to look after him.
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Chapter 264
Being called a homewrecker made Isabella tremble with rage. She covered her stinging her with one hand while raising the other to strike me again.
“You filed for divorce, didn’t you? But you ve been dragging it out forever. Aren’t you just playing hard to get? Henry’s only interested in you because of your cheap tricks. You manipulative hitch. why don’t you just die?”
The hatred in her eyes was unmistakable–I could tell the thing she wanted most might be to shove me out the hospital window to my death.
This time I was prepared for her counter–attack. When her hand came toward my face, I immediately grabbed her wrist.
This time, I twisted it sharply, causing Isabella to howl in pain.
She struggled against my grip, her face contorted with fury and agony. “Sophia, you bitch, let go
me!”
of
I had no intention of letting her off easily. Instead, I increased the pressure on her wrist. With my medical training, I knew exactly which pressure points would cause the most pain, and I didn’t hold
back.
Isabella finally began to plead: “Sophia, let me go! It hurts too much! Remember, I’m a patient!”
Catherine, who had been holding Henry down, saw Isabella getting the worst of our confrontation and immediately abandoned her son, rushing to intervene. She repeatedly slapped the back of my hand. “Let go of Isabella! I said let go, didn’t you hear me?”
Her slaps left visible red marks on the back of my hand. I briefly lowered my eyes, looking at my reddened skin, then raised my gaze to meet/Catherine’s.
When I finally spoke, my eyes were cold as ice: “Mrs. Harding, you’re so protective of Isabella. Could it be that she’s your illegitimate daughter?”
My words hit their mark. Catherine’s face instantly changed color.
Her face flushed crimson with anger: “Sophia, don’t you dare spread such lies! Stop talking nonsense!” Her reaction–that embarrassed fury of someone whose secret had been exposed–only further confirmed my suspicions.
I curled my lips into a strange smile, taunting Isabella: “Oh! If that’s the case, then your dream of becoming Mrs. Harding will be shattered. After all, direct blood relatives cannot marry each other.”
