Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
Even though his father hung up on him, Waylon was visibly delighted, turning back to Andrew with a grin. “That’s my long-lost younger sister. Isn’t she adorable? I need to finish up here fast and head back to meet her.” He threw a casual invitation Andrew’s way. “Andrew, want to come back with me?”
He knew it was a long shot; Andrew typically avoided visits to the Patton family’s residence due to Kristine’s overt affection. There had been an old arrangement of a potential marriage between the Patton family and the Klein family, but it was merely a verbal agreement made by the elders. The Kleins, a prominent family from Ansport, were leagues apart from the Patton family of Gemond in status and influence, a gap that Kristine seemed to ignore as she clung to the idea of marrying Andrew.
Andrew, his gaze intense and distant, replied nonchalantly, “Sure, it’s been a while since I last saw your parents.”
Waylon blinked, taken aback by Andrew’s unexpected acceptance. Was he being serious?
Once the meal concluded, the Patton family all made their way to their expansive mansion, dwarfing the simpler villa of the Chapman family in both scale and splendor. The estate exuded a regal elegance, mirroring a castle in its grandeur.
Elaine eagerly escorted Isabella through the vast corridors to a specially prepared room. The room was a vision of feminine grace, adorned with delicate hues and thoughtful embellishments, leaving Isabella speechless with its overly girlish ambiance.
Surrounded by this enchanting retreat, Elaine looked at Isabella with expectant eyes and asked softly, “Isabella, is it to your liking?”
“Yeah, I love it,” Isabella replied, her voice tinged with a hint of helplessness.
Elaine beamed, squeezing her hand gently. “That’s good! If there’s anything you need, just tell me,” she said, bubbling with joy. “Now, let me show you the wardrobe your father and I picked out for you!”
With a flourish, Elaine flung open the wardrobe doors. Isabella’s eyes widened at the array inside—rows of exquisite, opulent dresses that sparkled under the soft lighting.
“These are just the beginning. There’s more to arrive tomorrow,” Elaine announced.
“Thank you, Mom, but—isn’t this a bit much?” Isabella inquired.
Elaine laughed lightly, dismissing the worry. “Oh, never! A girl can never have too many dresses. This afternoon, we’re going shopping so you can add anything else you like!” she declared with a generous smile.
Isabella, though overwhelmed, felt a deep warmth from the gestures surrounding her.
Elaine had intended to wait a few days before changing Isabella’s name. However, feeling the genuine love from Elaine and Glenn, Isabella saw no reason to delay. That very afternoon, they visited the local City Hall, where Isabella officially adopted the surname Patton, becoming Isabella Patton.
With the legal formalities complete, Elaine squeezed Isabella’s hand, her voice filled with excitement. “Sweetheart, let’s dive into some shopping and see what catches your eye.”
Glenn watched the two with a tender gaze, regret in his tone. “You two enjoy yourselves. I’ve got some work this afternoon and can’t come along. Here’s ten million; treat yourselves to whatever delights you find.” Adjusting to the lavish lifestyle of her parents, Isabella thanked Glenn, taking the generous sum.
He patted her head lovingly, his eyes brimming with paternal affection.
The Moonshine Mall was the top-ranked luxury shopping mall in Gemond. Elaine led Isabella to the chic Chanel boutique, eyes alight with excitement as she envisioned Isabella in each outfit. She quickly picked out a collection of garments. “Sweetheart, try these on. If they suit you, we’ll take them all.”
Isabella, feeling somewhat overwhelmed yet compliant, nodded and gathered the clothes. As she was about to head to the fitting room, she noticed Phyllis and Eliza approaching.
Eliza, clearly in a foul mood, had been brought by Phyllis to indulge in some retail therapy. Her surprise at seeing Isabella was evident. “Isabella?” she blurted out, her voice ringing with disbelief.
Elaine, turning at the voice, recognized the pair instantly. She softened, knowing the Chapman family’s significant role in Isabella’s upbringing. Glenn had already agreed to work with the Chapman family’s company for their part in raising Isabella, and he had returned to the company earlier just to meet with Jeffry to discuss the cooperation.
As Elaine readied a warm greeting, even planning to cover Phyllis’s and Eliza’s shopping expenses as a gesture of goodwill, Eliza’s tone shifted sharply. “Isabella, what are you doing here? This is a Chanel boutique. Can you even afford anything?”
Phyllis scrutinized Isabella in confusion, her face darkening as she recalled the scene she had seen at the Alpenglow Hotel earlier that day. “Isabella, why aren’t you with your poor parents? Buying luxury goods here—where did you get such money? Have you found a sugar daddy?”
These harsh words cut through the boutique’s refined air, leaving Elaine shocked and momentarily speechless.
Isabella, her face set in a mask of icy detachment, responded without a hint of warmth, “My affairs are no longer your concern.”
Isabella’s view of the Chapman family crystallized in that moment, reflecting years of unreciprocated loyalty. She had elevated their modest enterprise to a publicly traded powerhouse, believing she had repaid the debt of gratitude for raising her. Yet, the Chapmans were unaware of her help.
Phyllis stared at Isabella with disdain, her words laced with venom. “Who says your affairs don’t concern us? If people hear that you’re sleeping around for money, our family’s reputation will be tarnished! I suggest you reconsider your choices. Leave this place immediately and return to your humble roots!”
Elaine’s expression turned stern as she absorbed the harshness of Phyllis’s words. The family she had envisioned as part of Isabella’s past was far from the reality presented before her. They treated Isabella not with familial concern, but with outright hostility.
“Excuse me, I gather this young woman was once a daughter to you, but why are you treating her like this now?” Elaine interjected, unable to hold back her dismay. With an audience now present, Phyllis exhaled deeply, her face a mask of sorrowful resignation.
“Indeed, she was a daughter to me once. But I must caution you, madam, not to be deceived by her facade. She’s crafted numerous lies and even stolen money from our family. She’s a disgrace!”
She continued, her voice laden with feigned distress, “My disappointment was profound, leaving me no choice but to distance her from our family, despite the years we spent nurturing her.”
Phyllis was determined to paint Isabella in the worst possible light, ensuring that no wealthy lady would think well of Isabella, lest word spread that she was too harsh on this fake daughter. To make her words more convincing, she even dabbed at her eyes, simulating tears to underscore her supposed despair.
Isabella’s expression hardened, a dangerous spark igniting in her gaze as she realized Phyllis was actively discrediting her before her own mother.
“Is that so?” Isabella retorted with a measured calmness that belied her rising anger. “Mrs. Chapman, let’s not rewrite history. You have been extremely harsh on me since I was a child. At the slightest dissatisfaction, you would beat and kick me. Later, Grandma intervened, unable to watch you abuse me any longer. She took me away to the countryside to live with her, where we relied solely on each other. It was only after Grandma passed that I returned to your house. I even financed my own education. Tell me, what financial support did you actually provide over those years?”
These were truths Isabella seldom aired, but the confrontation stirred a need to lay bare the past grievances. Celia Chapman, her grandmother, hailed from a family of scholars, in stark contrast to Phyllis, who came from a less cultured background. This disparity often subjected Phyllis to derision for her lack of refinement, driving her to place high expectations on her daughter. She subjected Isabella to grueling schedules with less than six hours of sleep and excessive study.
Then, Celia, driven by compassion, decisively removed Isabella from Phyllis’s rigorous demands, taking her to a more nurturing environment in the countryside. During those years, Phyllis didn’t contact Isabella even once. It was only after Celia’s death that she brought Isabella back, treating her with a chilly detachment.
As Isabella recounted these truths, Phyllis displayed no remorse; her arrogance intensified. “Who would believe your story? I paid for your high tuition fees for university every year. How else could a girl like you have managed to earn so much?”
She scoffed, adamant about discrediting Isabella. Phyllis’s strategy was clear: by tarnishing Isabella’s reputation, any future difficulties she faced would not reflect back on the Chapmans. Typically, people would believe Phyllis’s words. After all, why would adoptive parents tarnish their own child’s reputation?
However, Elaine’s expression darkened with each passing moment of the confrontation. Her brief time with Isabella had shown her a young woman of integrity and kindness, starkly contrasting with Phyllis’s behavior. What kind of parent would publicly disparage their own child? Elaine’s belief in Isabella only solidified. She was shocked to learn of the hardships Isabella had faced with the Chapmans, relieved only by the kindness Isabella had received from Celia during her formative years.
Elaine pondered the stark contrast between the luxurious life Isabella should have led within her own home and the harsh reality she had endured. This realization weighed heavily on her heart.
“Madam, I would advise you to keep your distance from her, lest you invite trouble upon yourself,” Phyllis said, trying to sway Elaine further.
Unable to contain her indignation any longer, Elaine brushed Phyllis aside with a determined motion. “You’re draped in fineries, yet where are hers? Does she possess even a single luxury?” Elaine’s voice rose in fury. “You treat your child with nothing but cruelty and spite, and then malign her in public. How can you be so utterly devoid of compassion?”
Phyllis, taken aback by Elaine’s scolding, struggled to formulate a response. Meanwhile, Eliza’s expression darkened ominously, her eyes flickering with malice. Who did this woman think she was, talking to them in such a manner? How could anyone still treat her so harshly after she returned to the embrace of the Chapman family? The Chapman family held a place among the top ten noble families of Gemond!
The tension escalated as Eliza, with a mocking softness, challenged Elaine’s stance. “And who might you be, madam? You seem to be doing quite well for yourself. Are you really so naive to be taken in by Isabella’s tales?”
“How dare you!” Elaine snapped, bristling with anger. The implication that she lacked intelligence was infuriating.
Phyllis nodded in agreement with Eliza, adding, “Exactly. It’s not easy to amass wealth, and if you trust Isabella, she’ll swindle you out of all your riches!”
Isabella, unfazed and sharp, retorted with a frosty look, “You’re mistaken. If there’s any swindling to be wary of, it’s in your family.”
Phyllis scoffed at Isabella’s defense. “What do you mean by that, Isabella? What have you ever brought to our family? Nothing! But Eliza—she’s been with us just a few days, and already the Patton Group has expressed interest in a partnership. Eliza is truly a blessing.” Phyllis looked at Eliza with satisfaction.
This was her real daughter; even though she had been raised by a poor family, she was proficient in almost everything and a bearer of luck.
The Patton Group? Elaine’s mind raced to the collaboration with the Chapman family that Glenn had mentioned. “The Patton Group will never collaborate with you!” she declared firmly.
Phyllis erupted into laughter. “You think your words hold sway? That’s simply amusing! You must be green with envy. Once we secure a partnership with the Patton Group, we’ll ascend into the top five powerhouses in Gemond! That’s the influence of the Patton Group, and all you can do is look on with jealousy.”
Eliza pulled gently at Phyllis’s arm, urging, “Mom, let’s not squander our breath on them.”
“True, engaging with them is pointless!” Phyllis agreed, casting a disdainful look toward Isabella and Elaine before addressing the shop assistant with a sneer. “What’s going on with your store, allowing just anyone to enter? Honestly, I’ve lost all desire to shop here.”
Eliza glanced at Isabella with a smug expression. In her eyes, even if Isabella had secured a wealthy benefactor, it wouldn’t matter. With one word from Phyllis, she would be removed from the store.
The shop assistant, caught in an awkward position, responded cautiously, “Ma’am, these ladies are valued customers just like yourselves.”
Phyllis scoffed. “Oh, please! We’re about to strike a deal with the Patton Group. Doesn’t this mall belong to them? I’d prefer to shop without disturbances, if you don’t mind,” she said, implying a threat. She assumed that whoever sided with Isabella couldn’t be anyone of importance.
Originally, she had used a tactful approach with Elaine to expose what she perceived as Isabella’s deceitful nature. However, Elaine’s biting retort had pushed Phyllis toward a more confrontational tactic—she was now determined to teach them a lesson.
The shop assistant’s face contorted with confusion and disbelief. Phyllis must be out of her mind. Didn’t she recognize the stature of the woman she was challenging? The shop assistant turned to Elaine, displaying deep respect and silently seeking her direction.
Elaine’s response was frigid, her authority unwavering. “Since you desire to shop without disturbances, I suggest you leave. And refrain from visiting Moonshine Mall in the future!”
“You want me to leave? Huh, how absurd!” Phyllis scoffed in disbelief, her arrogance undiminished.
However, the shop assistant told Phyllis, “I’m sorry, ma’am, but you must leave now. You’ve been blacklisted by our store.”
“What did you say? Are you out of your mind?” Phyllis blurted out, her disbelief echoing through the boutique.
The shop assistant, however, stood her ground unwaveringly. “If you don’t leave voluntarily, we will have to call security.”
Seething with fury, Phyllis and Eliza were escorted to the mall entrance. As they stepped outside, a biting cold wind greeted them, causing both to shudder reflexively.