Chapter 266
Because of that slap just now, half her face was burning with pain, but Sophia had already left, so she couldn’t exact revenge.
Instead, she channeled all her energy toward Henry. This time, she was determined to make the most of the opportunity Catherine had given her, to perform well enough to make Henry fall in love with her again.
The doctor entered the room and immediately ordered Henry to be rushed to the third–floor emergency room. His body was convulsing with pain.
“What’s wrong with you people?” the doctor snapped at Catherine and Isabella. “He’s been in this condition for at least ten minutes! Are you the patient’s family members? Couldn’t you see how much pain he was in?” Without waiting for a response, he hurried after Henry’s gurney.
Once they were gone, the hospital room fell silent. Isabella remained quiet for a long while before turning to Catherine, who stood motionless by the wall.
“What Sophia said just now… is it true?” Isabella’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Am I your biological daughter? And Henry isn’t your biological son, is he?”
Years ago, when she first appeared at the Harding estate as Henry’s girlfriend, she’d noticed certain similarities between herself and Catherine. Particularly their noses and mouths–they were almost perfect copies. At the time, she hadn’t given it much thought, dismissing it as coincidence.
From her very first visit, Catherine had been unusually warm toward her, constantly checking if she was comfortable, if she needed anything. Isabella had assumed her future mother–in–law simply liked her. In her mind, winning over the mother meant securing her position in the wealthy family.
Catherine’s affection had seemed genuine–anyone could see that. And Isabella, eager to please her future mother–in–law, had gone out of her way to reciprocate. Whenever Henry bought her designer jewelry, she would select a few pieces to gift to Catherine.
And Catherine, after receiving these luxury items, would always help Isabella even more tirelessly.
If they weren’t mother and daughter, why would Catherine help her so relentlessly?
Catherine stared at Isabella’s reddened eyes, sighed deeply, and remained silent.
Some things couldn’t be spoken aloud!
The consequences of such a revelation would be too severe for both of them to bear.
Even if Isabella were her biological daughter, what good would acknowledging it do now? Could she
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Chapter 266
publicly claim this child without losing her position as Mrs. Harding?
Catherine’s silence was confirmation enough for Isabella. What had started as mere suspicion was now certainty, transforming her initial confusion into shock.
“I really am your daughter, aren’t I?” Her voice cracked with emotion. “No wonder my mother always said I was worthless, that I was just a burden. It’s because you abandoned me. My father never liked me either. I was treated like a criminal in my own home!”
All the years of pent–up pain came flooding out at once, tears streaming down her face.
From her earliest memories, her mother had shown her no affection, her father had ignored her completely, and everyone around her had looked at her with belittling eyes.
This treatment only changed after she met Henry.
Suddenly, those same people were falling over themselves to be nice to her, eager to connect with the Harding family through her.
Only then had her life become somewhat bearable.
All the childhood suffering, the discrimination, the humiliation–everything erupted in this moment, transforming her face with rage. She glared at Catherine, her eyes filled with hatred.
“If you’re my mother, why did you abandon me?” She grabbed Catherine’s clothes, screaming in her face. “You knew I was your daughter, yet you let Henry marry Sophia instead. What about me? What am I to you?” Each accusation made her body continuously bend, as if her pain was like weights crushing her down.
Isabella hurled questions at Catherine, who remained speechless. Only when Isabella had exhausted herself, collapsing against Catherine’s shoulder with heart–wrenching sobs, did she finally speak.
“Child,” she whispered, “I never wanted to abandon you. I had no choice. I was desperate, with no other options.” Her voice trembled.
“If I’d had any other way, I would never have left you. Never.”
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The Ex–Wife’s Redemption: A Love Reborn
