Hearing those sharp whispers around her, Isabella felt like fear had punched her straight in the gut.

She was terrified-terrified that any of these people might actually start liking Elizabeth, even the tiniest bit. Admiring her? Absolutely not.

Her legs went weak, and out of nowhere, she dropped to her knees, flinging herself toward Elizabeth with a loud thud that turned every head in the room.

"Elizabeth, please," she cried, voice trembling. "Don't be mad at Mom and Dad. It's all on me. I shouldn't have taken Victor from you! Mom and Dad are getting older, they can't handle this kind of stress. Please... just take it out on me instead, okay? I swear I'll give Victor back. You can be his fiancée again. Just... don't hate me."

Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, her sobs weak but dramatic as she clung to Elizabeth.

"You really feel guilty? Then slap yourself, how about that?"

Elizabeth crossed her arms, smirking as she stared down at her with eyes full of sarcasm.

She wasn't buying this act. Isabella's sorry excuse for acting didn't fool her one bit.

Besides, Elizabeth didn't show up at this engagement party to fight over some lame promise of marriage...

But Isabella grabbed hold of that line and ran with it, making her expression look even more pitiful, like Elizabeth was some heartless villain picking on the helpless.

She clutched her face and sobbed louder now, looking like the picture of tragedy.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes so hard it was almost audible.

Vivian Lane couldn't take it anymore. She rushed up and helped Isabella off the floor, shooting Elizabeth a death glare.

"I don't care what the old master agreed to back then. That childish engagement doesn't hold weight anymore. Isabella and Victor truly care about each other. Miss Kaiser, you're way out of line acting like this."

"Oh? And I suppose barging in and rewriting someone else's word is polite?" Elizabeth shot back with a smile. "The old man's dead, so now it's just your say-so? That's pretty disrespectful."

"I mean, the Lane family used to have integrity. If you're tossing that aside now..."

"Bull! That's pure nonsense!" Vivian snapped, voice rising with her fury.

She was totally losing it now, too angry to fake calm.

"You're mouthy, aren't you? But don't think being loud and unruly will get you through our front door. Someone like you? You don't deserve the Lane name."

"Only someone like Isabella-a real lady-deserves to be my daughter-in-law."

Her words, meant to sound proud, just made Elizabeth crack up.

She covered her mouth, but the laughter burst out anyway.

"You're calling her a proper lady? Knowing full well Victor was already engaged, but still chasing after him? That's classy?"

Her blunt shot landed, and Isabella's face twitched so hard it almost broke her mask.

The crowd broke into whispers again, buzzing with doubt.

It wasn't hard to guess they weren't saying anything nice.

Vivian was left gaping, too stunned to reply.

Where did this mouthy little witch learn to talk circles around people like this?

Isabella's eyes sparkled with fresh tears that wouldn't stop flowing.

"Elizabeth, I never meant to take him away-I wasn't trying to hurt you. It's just... Victor's everything I've ever dreamed of. I couldn't help falling for him...You say we're not right for each other. But am I wrong for truly loving him?"

Elizabeth let out a dry laugh, disgust tightening her stomach.

Of course, Victor was all heart-eyes for this sob story.

He grabbed Isabella's hands, looked like he was about to cry.

"Babe, don't worry-I only love you. No one's going to come between us."

"I love you too, Victor," Isabella wept.

And there they were, the pathetic couple, holding each other like the world had betrayed them.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes again. For real this time.

The dramatic love scene had the whole crowd stirred up, with people quickly turning against her.

"Elizabeth is shameless, breaking up a couple like that."

"If you've got even a shred of decency, just get out."

"They're made for each other-who are you to step in?"

Amid the chaos, Elizabeth just gave a calm, amused smile.

Gripping the mic, she said coolly, "Relax, I'm not here to mess up anyone's relationship. Actually, I'm here to wish Victor and Isabella a long and happy life together."

"The Lane family breaks promises, and Victor has no shame. He's not good enough for me. I came to say just one thing-I'm calling off the engagement."

She pulled out a jade pendant, then slammed it to the ground. It shattered into pieces.

That was the engagement token between the Lane and Kaiser families, now crushed beyond repair.

"Alright then," she clapped her hands, "Best wishes to the lovely couple."

Lucas let out a low, mocking laugh. "At least you know your place."

Elizabeth didn't even look at him, already moving on to the next thing on her list.

She took out her phone, gave a slight smile, and tapped something.

The big screen that had been showing sweet photos of Victor and Isabella suddenly switched to a video.

It was dimly lit, classy-the kind of vibe you'd see in a luxury lounge. A man was holding a glass, his profile sharp and clean-lined. Right next to him stood a woman who looked oddly familiar.

It was Isabella. Her makeup was flawless, and she stuck close by his side, clearly trying hard to impress.

"I've been in love with you ever since we first met ten years ago. No one else has ever caught my eye," she said.

"I'll give up anything for just one chance with you. I swear I won't go through with the engagement next month!"

She was nearly in tears by the end.

The man finally turned to look at her. Handsome face full of contempt, he spat, "Get lost. You think you're good enough to be my woman? Who let this trash in here?"

He set down his glass and walked off without hesitation.

The light caught his face-it was Alexander.

"Wait, wasn't she with Victor for years? And yet she was trying to get with Alexander just a month ago? So, Victor's been getting played this whole time...?"

"I thought Isabella looked all sweet and innocent, but turns out she's been playing both sides. What a joke."

Whispers quickly turned to flat-out roasting.

Isabella swayed on her feet, face pale as a sheet. She stammered, "That's not true... That video's fake! Someone must've edited it to frame me! I-"

"Smack!" A slap landed across her face before she could finish.

With a dark expression and trembling with rage, Vivian shouted, "You filthy snake! Isabella, I defended you just now-I had your back! And this is how you treat us? What do you take the Lane family for?"

She grabbed Isabella's collar and landed blow after blow. Only then did she calm down a little.

She had just been bragging about her ideal future daughter-in-law, and now this huge mess exploded in her face. Her cheeks were starting to sting from embarrassment and anger.

No one was more furious than Victor.

His fists clenched, his breaths ragged, eyes red with fury. He looked at Isabella like he could kill her.

"Slut! I must've been blind to think you were decent."

"Trash stays trash-doesn't matter how pretty you dress it up. You're filthy to the core."

"Get this through your head, Isabella-garbage like you is never gonna be anyone's queen."

Victor's furious roar echoed through the hall.

His words hit Isabella hard, like a punch to the gut, knocking the last bit of strength out of her. Her knees buckled, and she dropped to the ground, unable to hold herself up.

Her nails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists, the sharp edges embedding into her skin, but the sting barely registered.

All these years, she had worked herself to the bone, mastering every skill a proper lady from a prestigious family should have, just to shrug off the shadow of her past. She wasn't some broke girl to be looked down on anymore-she was Isabella, the praised daughter of the Kaisers!

Taking a shaky breath, she forced herself to look up at Victor. "You said you didn't mind that I cared about Alexander. You promised to take care of me for the rest of our lives. That's why I agreed to marry you."

"And now you're just throwing me away like this? It's all my fault... I loved Alexander too deeply..."

She covered her face, started sobbing quietly, her frame quivering.

A few seconds later, she turned toward Mrs. Prescott, tears clinging to her lashes, looking utterly pitiful.

Mrs. Prescott was known for being gentle-maybe she'd pity her and let her pursue Alexander.

But instead, Mrs. Prescott just chuckled coldly, giving her a look full of disdain. "Wow, you're really something. Just told everyone how much you love Victor, and now suddenly Alexander's your true love? What a manipulative little act."

"Shameless. Don't worry though-you're not marrying into the Lane family, and definitely not into ours."

"Mrs. Prescott, you've got it wrong! I only said I loved Victor to save face. My heart's always belonged to Alexander!" Isabella cried, sobs tearing from her throat. Her voice was desperate.

But this time, no one bought it.

Everyone's patience wore thin-now it was just annoyance filling the room.

"Hey, everyone knows the Prescotts run Capitol City. Alexander's a genius in business and the future head of their empire. Even a real Kaiser heiress might not be good enough-let alone a fraud like her."

"Ugh, so fake. I actually complimented her earlier. Gross."

Sneers and gossipy whispers came from all sides, each word like ice water dumped over Isabella's head. Cold sweat drenched her back.

Elizabeth stepped up to her, leaned down just a little and gently patted her shoulder, whispering in her ear, "Charlotte, do you remember what you told me ten years ago?"

"Well, let me remind you. What's mine will always be mine. You? You're not worthy."

With a smirk, she subtly waved her phone in front of her. Her eyes glinted with irony.

"You!" Isabella's eyes widened, then twisted into an angry glare. "You recorded me?"

"All this... just to get back at me? You really stooped this low?"

Elizabeth chuckled. "Sweetheart, don't flatter yourself. You're not worth the effort."

She didn't stick around for a response. With her head high, she turned and left.

Reputation in shambles, Isabella was done in the Capitol's elite circle-and Elizabeth had just ticked off a personal win she'd planned for a while.

Now all she could think of was heading home to see Gabriel Kaiser and Grandma. After all these years, she just hoped they were okay.

...

Meanwhile, at Prescott Group's headquarters.

Right in the heart of Capitol City's financial district, the Prescott family owned the prime real estate.

Inside the CEO office, Oliver Watts rushed in.

"Mr. Prescott, I've finally got something on that woman you asked me to look into."

Alexander, who had been flipping through a file, immediately looked up.

"Talk." He kept it short and sharp.

Being a Prescott meant digging up information was usually a breeze-but this time, after days of chasing leads, even her name remained elusive.

That only made him more intrigued than ever.