novelxo Chapter 2
Chapter 2: I Am Your
Fiancée
In the CEO’s office of Ascot Group, Alexander sat with his eyes closed, resting against his chair, his distinguished face devoid of any expression. The air in the office felt stagnant, as if presaging the apocalypse.
His subordinates, freshly returned from that dilapidated apartment building, stood before him with heads bowed, hearts lodged in their
throats.
The office was in disarray; except for the chair Alexander was sitting on, everything else had been caught in the storm of his fury. Even the valuable ornament gifted by foreign royalty lay shattered on the floor, a testament to the magnitude of his
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Chapter 2: I Am Your Fiancée
rage.
“A bunch of incompetents.”
After a prolonged silence,
Alexander’s voice, cold as winter
snowflakes, fell, making everyone sharply inhale.
“Boss, we’ve checked the surveillance along the way. That woman last went to The Sterling…”
The mention of The Sterling made the assistant’s voice tread lightly, well aware of the special relationship
between Charlotte and their boss.
Charlotte? No, she lacked the skill
and the courage.
Could it be The Sterling’s adopted
daughter?
…
On the other end, Isabella set down her phone and pulled out her old,
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chipped laptop, her eyes forming crescents of satisfaction.
At last, the firewall of Ascot Group
had been breached.
Viewing the lengthy string of digits. in Ascot Group’s accounts, Isabella’s lips twitched. Alexander was already so wealthy, yet he had the audacity to eye the orphanage’s funds!
Fueled by indignation, her slender fingers danced over the keyboard. Moments later, ten million from Ascot Group’s account found its way to the Riverdale Children’s
Foundation.
“Why stop there? Let’s make some investments on your behalf, shall
we?”
Soon, a significant amount of Ascot Group’s funds flowed into the stock market, targeting plummeting
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stocks. Only after executing these transactions did Isabella feel a sense
of vindication.
Having done all this, Isabella took a shower and slept contentedly,
bracing herself for the engagement ceremony with that detestable old man, as arranged by The Sterling, the following day.
The next evening, Sterling Manor was all set, the invitations having been sent out early. Being just an adopted daughter, there was no need for extravagance–a few close
friends and relatives would suffice to
keep up appearances.
Isabella was stationed at the entrance
to greet the guests. Despite her mental preparation, her stomach couldn’t help but churn at the sight of the short, fat, balding greasy man stepping out of the car.
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The Sterlings really weren’t picky.
This was Oliver, the man The
Sterling intended to marry her off to,
a nouveau riche who made his
fortune in real estate.
Isabella’s gaze deepened as she approached confidently, extending her hand in greeting.
“You must be Mr. Vanderbilt. My name is Isabella, your fiancée.”
Oliver glanced at her, his eyes widening in shock. He had seen Isabella before, but back then, her plain appearance hardly caught his
eye.
Today, however, with just a change of clothes and a touch of makeup, she seemed transformed, as if
reborn.
Internally, Oliver rejoiced, thinking he had struck an incredible bargain.
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Lost in his thoughts, he felt a delicate hand on his shoulder, and the next
moment, Isabella whispered in his
ear, her breath almost making him
weak at the knees.
“Mr. Vanderbilt, thank you so much for the great favor you’ve done for The Sterling.”
“We’re practically family now, no need for such formalities…”
Oliver’s mind raced with thoughts of quickly getting through the
engagement ceremony to cherish
the beauty before him. However,
Isabella’s next words sent a chill
down his spine.
“Of course, I’m grateful. Marrying
you means I won’t have to serve those disgusting men anymore.”
Serve… other men?!
Even Oliver, with his limited
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understanding, grasped the
insinuation. He had heard rumors
about The Sterling’s adopted daughter being marginalized, but he never imagined she was implied to be involved in such demeaning
activities!
Isabella maintained a calm
demeanor, as if discussing something utterly mundane.
The Sterlings had groveled before him, seeking his investment to save themselves from financial ruin. He agreed, thinking it a simple business transaction. Now, to be deceived with someone considered undesirable by society, felt like an utmost betrayal!
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