Chapter 464

The Montgomery household staff gasped in unison, hands flying to cover their parted lips.

Seeing Leonard would undoubtedly side with her, Penelope attempted to shift blame onto the Montgomery family.

All eyes, including a shocked Eleanor Montgomery's, turned toward Isabelle simultaneously.

"Is this true, Isabelle?"

Isabelle's face paled as she vehemently denied the accusations, brows knitting together. "I would never do something so despicable, Mother. Cassandra was the one who suggested giving Isabella Laurent counterfeit jewelry."

Cassandra's face twisted in fury at Isabelle's blatant lie. She pointed an accusing finger and shrieked, "That's a filthy lie, Isabelle! You proposed the scheme to help me win Isabella over while undermining Evelyn in the process!"

"Evelyn?" Eleanor's eyebrows shot up. "You mean Evelyn Carter? What does she have to do with this?"

Isabelle broke into a cold sweat, rendered speechless.

That idiot Cassandra had dragged Evelyn's name into this. Their friendship was clearly over.

"Do you know where you are, Ms. Blackwood?" A chilling voice cut through the tension like ice, making Cassandra flinch.

Julian strode in from the grand entrance, his lips curled in a dangerous smirk.

"I don't care if you want to humiliate yourselves, but don't you dare involve my family in your petty schemes."

"Young Master Julian!" The butler and staff immediately bowed in greeting.

"Julian!" Isabelle's eyes welled with tears as her knight in shining armor arrived.

Julian had always despised Cassandra. Given his unconditional devotion to his sister, he would unquestionably take Isabelle's side.

"You're Nathan's closest friend, Julian," Penelope snapped. "Our families have decades of history. How dare you speak to me this way?"

"My friendship with Nathan is between us," Julian countered, tilting his head with a mocking smile. "What does that have to do with you? You didn't birth or raise him." His smile turned razor-sharp. "You've never shown Nathan an ounce of maternal care, so don't try playing that card now."

Penelope never imagined Julian could be so duplicitous. At the Blackwood estate, he'd been the picture of courtesy, but here, he didn't bother hiding his contempt.

All her social standing depended entirely on Leonard's favor. The moment he withdrew it...

A shiver ran down Penelope's spine.

After twenty years as Mrs. Blackwood, she still couldn't command basic respect.

"Cassandra went too far, Julian!" Isabelle threw herself into her brother's arms. "She tried dragging me into her mess and framing me! You were right about her all along. I should have listened when you warned me to cut ties. I promise I'll never be so stubborn again."

"Is what Cassandra said true, Isabelle?" Julian's voice turned grave as he searched his sister's face. "Did you really commission counterfeit jewelry to harm Ms. Carter?"

"Never!" Isabelle shook her head frantically, her complexion ashen. "It was all Cassandra's idea!"

"Stop lying, Isabelle!" Cassandra's finger trembled with rage as she pointed accusingly. "The forger was Alexa's apprentice from Valmont! Even if I wanted fakes, I'd have found someone local on short notice. Why would I go all the way to Valmont?"