Chapter 216
Margaret saw her opportunity slipping away as Henry’s expression hardened with each accusation she hurled at him.
“You need this man to get your son out of prison, she reminded herself.
Desperation drove her to play her trump card the debt of gratitude.
you forgotten how much Isabella sacrificed for you? Margaret’s voice trembled with emotion, though this was her skillful pretense. Without her, you wouldn’t even be alive today! She’s dying, how dare you abandon her!”
Henry’s disgust was palpable. With a subtle nod to his security team, two men in dark suits immediately stepped forward, physically separating Margaret from him.
“Mr. Harding doesn’t wish to be disturbed,” one guard stated firmly as they pushed the woman aside.
You talk about ingratitude?” Henry finally spoke, bi
voice dangerously quiet. ‘Fine. Let me be thoroughly, completely ungrateful this one time.
He turned to leave, his long strides carrying him quickly down the corridor.
“Mr. Harding, please don’t go!” Margaret’s tone instantly transformed from accusatory to pleading. “Please help me! I’m begging you!”
Henry didn’t slow his pace, continuing toward the exit without acknowledging her cries. Margaret watched in horror as her chance to secure her son’s freedom walked farther away with each step.
Desperation completely overtook her.
Breaking free from the security guards‘ grasp, she lunged forward.
Mr. Harding, please! I have secrets about Isabella to tell you!” she shouted, no longer caring who heard.
Henry’s stride faltered slightly, though he didn’t turn around. The woman’s voice was like fingernails on a chalkboard to him, grating and impossible to completely ignore. His brow furrowed in annoyance as he continued walking.
Margaret played her final card.
‘I know about Isabella arranging to have your wife hit by a car!”
Henry stopped dead in his tracks. Slowly, he turned around, his eyes fixed on Margaret with newfound interest.
“Tell me more,‘ he said simply. “If what you say has value, I might listen to what you want.”
Henry had his suspicions already. James had been investigating Sophia’s hit–and–run incident for weeks, uncovering potential connections to Isabella’s cousin. This woman might actually know something useful.
Margaret’s hope rekindled instantly. If Henry helped, her son wouldn’t have to serve his full sentence. For this, she was willing to betray Isabella.
*Your wife–Sophia, right?” Margaret began, carefully choosing her words. “Isabella hated her. She was constantly working against her, both openly and
behind her back.”
Henry’s face remained expressionless, but his eyes never left Margaret’s face.
“One day, Isabella approached my son,” she continued, gaining confidence. “Asked him to help her find someone to hit Sophia with a car. She did Sophia died or was just injured–said she’d take responsibility either way.”
e if
Margaret’s words now poured out like a flood. “My son needed money, and Isabella was generous–gave him $100,000 upfront. So he contacted a friend who agreed to do it. I don’t know the specifics after that–how they arranged it or how they communicated. But I know Isabella was behind it all.”
She leaned forward, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret: ‘I swear I’m telling the truth! I’m only sharing this because I need your help. In all of New York, you’re the only one who can save my son. Please, Mr. Harding. I’ve told you everything. Only you can help him now.”
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Chapter 216
Margaret had placed all her hopes of Henry, gambling that her betrayal of Isabella would pay all
Henry stood frozen, the information hitting him like a physical blow.
Isabella–the woman he’d believed was his pure, perfect first love–had tried to kill Sophia? His wife?
In an instant, his mind replayed the security footage he’d seen of the incident.
The car accelerating directly toward Sophia. Her rolling to avoid the first attempt, only to have the driver come at her again. The terrible gash on her arm, bleeding badly as she clutched Billy protectively, running for their lives. The final desperate moment when they hid behind a tree, the car smashing into it. the front end crumpling from the impact.
If that driver had succeeded…
A darkness descended over Henry’s features. Without a word, he motioned to his security team, who immediately stepped forward to escort Margaret awa).
“Investigate her claims thoroughly,” he instructed them, his voice hollow with shock.
“What? That’s it? Margaret shrieked as the guards began leading her away. “I’m Isabella’s aunt! You can’t treat me like this! If you don’t get my son out, this isn’t over! Isabella saved your life! You wouldn’t be here today without her!”
The security team quickly removed her from the area, silencing her protests. Several onlookers tried to record the scene with their phones, but a stern warning from the security guards swiftly put an end to that.
No one wanted to risk angering Henry Harding.
Nancy, the caretaker who had been quietly observing the entire exchange, finally stepped forward. She bowed respectfully to Henry.
“Mr. Harding, everything Miss Scott’s aunt said was a lie,” she assured him. “I can testify that Miss Scott is innocent. Her aunt is just desperate to get her son out of prison and doesn’t care about the truth. Miss Scott has been devastated without you–she’s barely eating, losing weight dramatically. Please don’t let these lies poison your mind against her.‘
Nancy knew her own fate was tied to Isabella’s.
If Henry abandoned Isabella completely, Nancy would lose her access to him forever. She harbored inexplicable feelings for Henry–a man so far above her station she could never hope to reach him.
If not for Isabella, she might never have even seen Henry in person. Only by protecting Isabella could she maintain this tenuous connection.
Henry remained silent, his expression dark and unreadable.
“Mr. Harding,” Nancy desperately continued, “that aunt is truly despicable. You should investigate her family–her son is involved in gambling, drinking, prostitution, everything. He’s in prison for raping a female student after her parents filed charges. How can you trust anything from someone like that?”
But Henry barely registered Nancy’s words.
His mind was consumed by the shocking discovery: Isabella had tried to have Sophia killed. Isabella–the sweet, gentle girl who once cried over an injured bird and nursed it back to health–had become a monster capable of murder?
What if Sophia and Billy hadn’t escaped? What if Isabella had succeeded?
A cold wave of fear washed over him, followed immediately by crushing guilt.
Sophia was his wife, yet he’d never known about this life–threatening experience. She’d never mentioned it–or perhaps he’d never bothered to lix* suffered through this trauma alone, while he remained oblivious.
All these years, he’d thought Sophia was the calculating one, the villain in their marriage. Now he understood what true villainy looked like.
she’d
While he was gravely ill, Sophia had cared for him personally despite being heavily pregnant. Frank had told him back then: ‘Even at that time, I knew she was a good woman.”
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Chapter 216
And Isabella? Behind her innocent facade and sweet smiles fucked someone capable of attempted murder.
Henty stood paralyzed, his lips moving silently, unable to form words.
Self–reproach, regret, concern, and guilt crashed over him in overwhelming waves, tearing at his heart. He felt his chest constricting, as if physically breaking apart under the weight of this truth..
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