Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
Isabella didn’t bother to respond, her silence only fueling Eliza’s anger. As Eliza spotted the butler approaching, a smug grin spread across her face.
The butler hurried over, bowing in respect. “Miss…”
But Eliza, brimming with self-importance, cut him off with a sharp, condescending tone. “Are you the butler here? This servant had the audacity to push me! You should really be more selective with the staff of this house. Someone like her will only tarnish your reputation.”
She was convinced the Patton family would be grateful for her intervention and expected swift repercussions for Isabella. But as she scrutinized the butler’s face, she noticed something unsettling—a blend of disdain and an unidentifiable emotion that made her falter ever so slightly.
“Watch your words, madam. The Patton family’s business doesn’t concern you,” the butler said, his voice laced with warning. “And for your information, she is…” He paused, a sneer tugging at his lips.
Eliza’s face darkened with frustration. Why were all the Patton family’s servants so arrogant?
“I’m only trying to help by pointing out a potential issue for you. You can’t keep someone like her around! And more importantly, as a guest of the Patton family, I deserve more respect from you.”
Her irritation simmered just beneath the surface. The servants should be bowing to the guests, not challenging them.
The butler’s gaze shifted from Eliza to Gilbert, his expression one of undisguised disdain. Then, with a marked change in demeanor, he turned to Isabella, awaiting her instructions with respectful attentiveness.
Isabella’s voice was calm but firm. “People like them shouldn’t attend the banquet.”
“Got it,” the butler replied without hesitation, his tone turning icy as he addressed Eliza and Gilbert. “I’m sorry, but you should leave now.”
Eliza was taken aback, her eyes widening in disbelief. “Excuse me? You want us to leave? We’re invited guests here! What gives a butler like you the right to tell us to leave?”
“If you don’t leave immediately, I’ll have security drag you out.” The butler’s voice cut through the air like a sharpened blade. Authority dripped from every word, leaving no doubt that defiance would be met with swift consequences.
Gilbert’s disbelief morphed into anger. Was this butler serious? Since when did the servants dictate terms to guests? His eyes narrowed as he clenched Eliza’s hand, dismissing the butler’s threat with a contemptuous glare. They were going inside, whether he liked it or not.
But before Gilbert could take another step, the butler snapped his fingers. In an instant, a squad of burly security guards materialized, surrounding the couple on all sides, their presence as imposing as a wall. Without a word, they seized Gilbert and Eliza, manhandling them with practiced efficiency and unceremoniously tossing them out onto the gravel driveway.
Guests continued to arrive, their elegant attire contrasting sharply with the disheveled pair now sprawled on the ground. Eliza’s meticulously chosen outfit was smeared with dirt, her humiliation as palpable as the dust clinging to her clothes.
The onlookers stared at them, a mix of shock and disbelief painting their faces. “Isn’t that Gilbert from the Santos family?” one guest muttered in disbelief, his eyes widening at the sight of Gilbert being thrown out.
“And that girl—she’s Eliza from the Chapman family, right?” another whispered, equally bewildered by the scene.
“Did they somehow cross the Patton family?” A few more guests joined the hushed speculation, trying to piece together the reason for this public disgrace.
As Gilbert listened to the murmurs around him, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Desperately, he tried to salvage his dignity, turning to those who recognized him. “It’s not what it looks like! The Patton family’s staff are completely out of line—acting all high and mighty!”
His voice carried a mix of frustration and indignation, but to the others, his words sounded almost laughable. How could the staff bully someone of his status? The very idea seemed preposterous.
Eliza, feeling the weight of the stares and whispers, could barely hold back her tears. Her lower lip trembled as she looked up at Gilbert, her voice small and pitiful. “Gilbert, this is too much! They’ve gone too far!”
Gilbert gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry, Eliza. I’m calling my dad right now. I’m not letting Isabella get away with this!” His expression darkened as he yanked out his phone and quickly dialed, his fingers trembling with anger.
But the moment the line connected, he was met not with sympathy but with a thunderous roar. “Gilbert, you idiot! What did you do this time?”
Gilbert’s mouth went dry, his words stumbling out in a rush. “Dad, why are you screaming at me?”
“Why?” His father’s voice thundered through the phone, each word laced with fury. “Dane just canceled our partnership! We didn’t have many deals with them to begin with. Are you trying to ruin our company? I sent you to that party to represent the family, and this is what you did?” The sheer anger in his father’s voice was almost tangible, hitting Gilbert like a physical blow.
Gilbert stood there, reeling, his mind scrambling to make sense of what had just happened. He tried to respond, to explain himself, but before he could get a word out, the call ended with a sharp click. The silence that followed was deafening. He stared at his phone, stunned.
Eliza, who had overheard the conversation, was equally stunned. “I don’t understand. How?” she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. “Gilbert, isn’t Dane Glenn’s son? Why would he… Wait! I think I get it now!”
Her sudden shift in tone caught Gilbert’s attention. He turned to her, desperation in his eyes. “What do you mean, you get it?”
A cold, calculating look crossed Eliza’s face. “Dane did this to defend Isabella,” she said with certainty, her eyes narrowing. “He’s punishing you because of her.” The more Eliza pondered her theory, the more convinced she became. “Isabella must’ve wormed her way into Dane’s good graces to take control of Natural Beauty, which is under the Patton Group!”
Eliza believed she had nailed the reason behind their humiliating expulsion. But as Eliza reveled in her revelation, Gilbert’s expression darkened. He was staring intently at a news article on his phone, a serious look settling on his face.
“What are you looking at, Gilbert?” Eliza leaned in, her curiosity piqued.
“Take a look at this. Why is everyone calling Isabella ‘Isabella Patton’?” Gilbert muttered, his voice tinged with unease.
Patton…
The name echoed ominously in his mind, sending a shiver down his spine as a sense of dread began to take hold.
Eliza, however, dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand. “Gilbert, I think you’re overthinking it! My former mother’s family name was Patton before she got married. Isabella must be using her maiden name,” she said, a smirk tugging at her lips. “What, do you really think Isabella somehow magically became Glenn’s daughter?”
Gilbert exhaled softly, feeling slightly reassured by her words. It seemed too far-fetched to be true, after all. But despite his efforts to dismiss it, a persistent worry clung to him. The thought of Isabella becoming Dane’s kept woman unsettled him deeply, twisting his stomach in knots.
Noticing the lingering tension on his face, Eliza quickly tried to calm him. “Relax, Gilbert. Isabella’s always with that pretty boy. All we have to do is let Dane know, and he’ll get rid of her in no time!”
Meanwhile, Dane remained completely oblivious to the plots forming at the gate of the house. When he heard about what had transpired earlier, his response was swift and merciless. He immediately commanded his security team to permanently bar anyone from the Chapman and Santos families from entering the Patton property. He also directed his assistant to cut all ties with the Santos family’s business, effective immediately. How dare the Santos family mess with his little sister? They must have lost their minds!
Dane turned around with a warm smile. “Isabella, most of the guests have arrived. Would you like me to introduce you to them?”
Isabella nodded, following Dane obediently into the living room. The villa’s living room buzzed with excitement as guests clustered around Kristine, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere.
The previous welcome banquet had been an intimate affair, limited to those closest to the Patton family, leaving many unaware of Isabella’s return. Today, they naturally assumed the celebration was just another tribute to Kristine’s endless string of accomplishments.
“Kristine, you’re amazing! So young, and already winning awards left and right!” one guest exclaimed with admiration.
“Definitely, Kristine’s been outstanding since she was little. She’s a real role model for us younger ones,” another added.
Amid the flood of compliments, Kristine’s smile faltered slightly, a hint of discomfort showing.
“Actually, you might be mistaken,” she began, hesitating as she tried to set the record straight.
“It wasn’t Kristine who won an award this time—it was our newly found sister, Isabella,” Dane announced as he entered the living room.
Surprised, everyone turned to look at Isabella. Some guests recognized her immediately, their faces lighting up with delight.
“Your newly found sister is Bella!”
“Wow, that’s incredible! Your family truly has exceptional genes.”
“Wait, so Isabella is actually a member of this Patton family?”
The revelation sent waves of surprise through the group. Everyone soon crowded around Isabella, who greeted them with a gracious smile, effortlessly slipping into conversation. Chatting with the throng of people proved challenging, but by midday, Isabella had managed to make her way to where Susan stood.
Susan gave her a warm, understanding smile. “It looks like it’s been quite the exhausting day for you.”
Isabella returned the smile, a touch of weariness in her voice. “It’s been a bit overwhelming, but I’m starting to adapt. It’s part of life in a prominent family, I suppose.”
Shortly thereafter, Andrew and Waylon joined them, taking seats next to Isabella, eager to catch up.
“Waylon?” Isabella’s expression transformed into one of delighted surprise as she spotted him. She hadn’t expected him to make it, knowing his tight schedule with the latest film project.
“I just got back, Isabella. And you’re doing wonderfully,” Waylon greeted her, his smile bright and energizing. He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I’m aware of Kristine’s actions. It’s shocking how far she went, but you don’t need to worry. Dad and Mom have lost trust in her. If she steps out of line again, she won’t be able to stay with us.”
Waylon’s allegiance to Isabella was unwavering.
“I understand,” Isabella responded with a smile.
“But Kristine’s parents saved Dad’s life. We can’t simply dismiss her over this.” Waylon exhaled deeply, his brow furrowed in a mix of frustration and sympathy. Deep down, he did feel a pang of sadness for Kristine. But she shouldn’t have caused his sister any harm. He was resolute, determined never to let anyone harm Isabella.
It seemed they were never a true family. It was just that Kristine was so good at acting, deceiving everyone with her convincing facade.
As everyone began to settle down for the meal, Andrew took a seat next to Isabella, thoughtfully placing her favorite dishes onto her plate.
Meanwhile, at another table, Dane’s phone buzzed with incoming messages. The screen lit up with images pulled from surveillance footage, depicting Isabella and Andrew together in a seemingly intimate exchange. The anonymous sender accused Isabella of unfaithfulness, branding her a slut.
Dane’s face hardened instantly. Without hesitation, he tasked his assistant with uncovering the origin of these inflammatory messages. Observing Andrew and Isabella laughing together only fueled his unease.
In a decisive move, Dane took Waylon out to the garden.