Chapter 2

Isobel checked a message from her friend, Sophie Thorne. "Man, have you and Ethan already hit home base? Didn't you say you wanted to leave your first time until after marriage?"

Isobel laughed and replied, "Who said anything about the guy being Ethan? Don't make it sound like nobody else wants me."

Sophie called her as soon as the message was sent. The first thing she heard when she answered the call was a shrill scream. "Have you finally seen the light, Isobel? Did you dump Ethan, that fucker?"

Everyone but her could tell that Ethan was a jerk. She'd been bewitched in the past and so head over heels for him that she'd been blind to the truth.

Now that she'd woken up from her dream, she realized how dumb and ridiculous she'd been. Well, that didn't matter anymore.

Isobel made a sound of acknowledgment. "Yeah, that's exactly what I want you to spread around. Tell everyone I'm the one who dumped Ethan."

Ethan had always been prideful, so she wanted to shame him within the upper crust.

"Who's the guy?" Sophie asked.

Isobel rubbed her sore shoulders. "I'll tell you when I get to the company. I need to head home to change."

Sophie hummed. "Oh, don't forget you have to meet an important client today. Drop by early."

Isobel left the hotel after hanging up. However, as soon as she got downstairs, she remembered she hadn't driven last night. She'd taken a cab to the hotel.

She checked the time. She'd run a little late if she were to take a cab just then.

A familiar car pulled up beside her as she thought about what to do. The window slowly rolled down to reveal Theodore inside.

She cocked an eyebrow. He asked, "You didn't drive here?"

She nodded. Just as she thought he would offer to give her a ride, he curled his lip and said, "You can hail a cab, then. I'm leaving, so bye."

Isobel's jaw dropped as she watched the black car speed off. Then, she kicked a pebble beside her, growling, "Men really are the same everywhere! They put on their pants and leave after having their fun!"

Ultimately, she took a cab back to the Somner residence. To her surprise, Ethan was there. She frowned before looking away and turning to head upstairs.

Ethan and Heather were seated on the couch and talking to Vincent Somner, Isobel's father.

They saw Isobel, and Vincent stopped her. "Stop right there! Where were you last night? It's so unbecoming of a young woman to stay out the whole night like you did! Do you know how long Ethan's been waiting for you?"

She knew he didn't keep up with social media. If not for that, he would probably have already slapped her. She turned to glance at Ethan before looking at Heather, who sat beside him, looking gentle and fragile.

She snorted. "Waiting for me? He has someone with him, doesn't he? They've just gotten out of bed together, haven't they?"

As she laughed, Vincent stormed forward and slapped her. "Shut up! Do you even hear yourself? How can you say that about Ethan and your sister?"

The force of the slap forced Isobel's head sideways. She pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek. Before she could say anything, Heather spoke up.

"Don't be mad at Ethan for this, Bell. He only looked after me last night because I was in a bad mood. I'm sorry we made you get the wrong idea, but you couldn't just sleep with… No, you were just angry. There's no way you'd sleep with another man…" Her tears fell before she could finish her sentence. It was almost as if Isobel had slept with her boyfriend.

Isobel had to admire her acting skills. She'd caught Heather and Ethan sucking each other's mouths yesterday afternoon, so engrossed in each other that they were almost like animals that had yet to evolve.

She shrugged and let out a derisive laugh. "Oh, he was caring for you by kissing you, was he? I guess that means I should forgive him."

She turned to Heather with a bright smile. "Should he and I proceed with our engagement, then?"

Heather faltered. That wasn't the effect she'd been going for.

Isobel continued, "Drop the act, okay? I don't want him anymore, so you can have him. I hope you two stay together until the end of time."

Heather had moved in five years ago, and she'd started taking everything of Isobel's from her first day there. She'd started with Isobel's room before moving on to Vincent. Now, she even wanted Ethan.

Isobel scoffed. "Since you're a beggar who loves picking up someone else's leftovers, I have to go along with you. I'm your sister, after all."

Some of her frustration dissipated after saying these things, but she wasn't in the mood to change—not with those eyesores around. She turned to leave, but Ethan grabbed her arm. "Don't go, Isobel. We have to talk about this."

She shot him a sharp and impatient look. This was his first time being on the receiving end of such a look from her. She said, "I don't speak dirtbag. What could we have to talk about?"

Ethan was taken aback. This was Isobel's first time insulting him like that.

She understood the look in his eyes and scoffed. Everyone knew she had relentlessly pursued Ethan for many years. He'd always been surrounded by women, but he'd suddenly agreed to be with her three years ago. Their families had even started talking about an engagement.

She didn't expect him to get involved with Heather, though. That was the part that disgusted her most, and it was what she couldn't accept.

Ethan knew very well that Heather's mother had everything to do with Isobel's mother's death and that she detested Heather.

That was why Isobel had instantly decided she wasn't going to keep Ethan around anymore, not after he'd messed around with Heather.

She had always been someone who could let go as easily as she held on, but she still wanted to get revenge on them. This was not over.

Ethan frowned. As he tightened his grip on Isobel's arm, Heather suddenly started gasping. "Dad, Ethan, it's my fault. It's my… fault…"

She passed out before she could get any further.