Chapter 466

Cassandra froze.

"Mom! Save me, Mom! Please!"

As the officers dragged her daughter away, Penelope's only concern was maintaining appearances. She rushed forward to block them.

"My daughter is innocent! Are you blind? How dare you arrest someone who's done nothing wrong?"

Julian watched coldly as Penelope and Cassandra caused a scene. He prayed the officers would hurry before he had to endure more of their theatrics.

"Obstructing justice is a crime, Mrs. Blackwood," one officer said flatly.

"Sir, my daughter was set up! Isabelle Montgomery orchestrated this!" Penelope turned on Isabelle, her face twisted in fury.

"W-What does this have to do with me? Even if I forged something, it's just a copyright violation—a fine at most. I didn't leak trade secrets. Your daughter thought she could take on Evelyn. She got what she deserved."

The moment the words left her lips, Isabelle paled.

Shit. In her panic, she'd just incriminated herself.

A cold, piercing gaze burned into her back.

She turned slowly.

Julian's eyes were dark with fury, shock, and something worse—disappointment.

"Your sister isn't the saint you think she is, Julian. She manipulated both of us."

Cassandra's screams echoed through the Montgomery estate.

"Isabelle! You used me as your pawn! I swear, I'll make you pay for this!"

"Isabelle, come here!" Mrs. Montgomery called nervously, her voice trembling as she watched Penelope and Cassandra's outburst.

"Mommy!"

Still dazed, Isabelle moved toward her mother—until Julian seized her wrist.

"J-Julian—" She flinched.

"Why did you do it?" His voice was raw, his grip tightening. "Was this all just revenge against Evelyn?"

"Cassandra made it up!"

"Stop lying to me!"

He clenched his fingers harder. Isabelle whimpered. "Ow! Let go! You're hurting me! Mommy, help!"

"Julian, release her this instant!" Mrs. Montgomery pried his hand open and pulled Isabelle into her arms. "We can talk this through!"

"Talk?" Julian's laugh was bitter. "I gave her chances. What did she do with them?"

His gaze burned into Isabelle's tear-filled eyes. She looked fragile, angelic—but he knew better now.

The betrayal cut deep. She'd lied repeatedly. She'd conspired with Cassandra to destroy Evelyn.

"What did Evelyn ever do to you? Why go this far? Because she's Nathan's ex-wife? Is that reason enough to ruin her?"

"That's enough, Julian!" Mrs. Montgomery tightened her hold on Isabelle. "You grew up with her. You know she'd never intentionally hurt anyone!"

She stroked Isabelle's trembling back. "Even if she made mistakes, that girl Cassandra influenced her. Why drag your sister down? If this gets out, she could be interrogated!"

"You flew abroad on the private jet before Cassandra and Isabella signed the contract. When I asked where you were going, you said Feranco for a fashion show. I had Natalia check—you never went there. You went to Valmont." His voice was hoarse, veins standing out on his forehead. "If you had nothing to hide, why lie?"

He continued, relentless. "When Cassandra was arrested, you admitted to forging the jewelry. What's your excuse now? Do you think Dad would be proud, knowing his 'perfect' daughter is a scheming liar?"

"Julian! How dare you!" Mrs. Montgomery's eyes welled up at the mention of her late husband.

"You're a monster, Julian!"

Isabelle finally snapped. All her pent-up rage exploded. "Evelyn humiliated me in front of Nathan! She made me look like a fool in public! What's wrong with teaching her a lesson? You're no better—defending that gold-digging slut while turning on your own sister! I mean nothing to you!"