Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
Howard stared at her, bewildered by her actions. “Tatiana, have you lost your mind? Who I spend my time with is none of your concern.”
It was only now that Milly seemed to comprehend the situation. Her clear eyes brimmed with tears as she looked up at Howard, a picture of heartbreaking innocence. The sight of her like this stirred a wave of pity in Howard, prompting him to gently take her hand.
Maybe it was the way she had appeared so vulnerable when his car almost hit her that made Howard decide to take her under his wing. Over time, he had gotten used to seeing her as a little sister. Milly’s quiet and introverted nature made it easy for Howard to slip into the role of her protector.
Now, as he looked into her tear-filled eyes, an unexpected anger surged within him. He turned to Tatiana, his voice cold. “Apologize to her!”
Tatiana’s legs wobbled. Unnerved by the coldness in Howard’s eyes, she instinctively took a step back. Was this really the Howard she knew?
“Howard, don’t you see? She’s just faking vulnerability!” Tatiana’s frustration boiled over. “She’s an orphan with no family to speak of. She doesn’t deserve you at all. Why are you even with her? You must be the one who’s lost it!”
Howard’s eyes narrowed sharply. “You did a background check on Milly?”
Tatiana didn’t respond.
When Milly joined the film crew and took the role that was meant for her friend, Tatiana had felt compelled to look into her background, assuming Milly was from a notable family. However, she found out Milly was an orphan with no family at all. Tatiana had dismissed her as unimportant.
Yet, seeing Milly out shopping with Howard was something Tatiana hadn’t anticipated and simply couldn’t come to terms with.
“Howard,” Tatiana said, “can’t you understand why someone like Milly would approach you? You come from the Patton family—everyone wants to be part of your family. Don’t be deceived by her! Your parents would never accept someone like her as a daughter-in-law.”
Milly stayed quiet, her lashes lowered.
Howard could feel her distress acutely, and it tugged at his heartstrings. He knew Milly had suffered deeply, though she never spoke of it. Her resilience was admirable. Tatiana’s insults might not have shaken her, but they stirred anger and sorrow in Howard.
A dangerous gleam flickered in his icy eyes. “Tatiana, shut up. If you say one more word, you and your family will regret it.”
Tatiana was taken aback. Howard had transformed completely.
He had always seemed like an angel, the Prince Charming that every woman dreamt of. Despite his privileged status, he had remained humble, warm, and gentle, consistently showing kindness to everyone. Unlike the cunning Dane, who masked his malice with a smile, Howard was genuine and kind-hearted. Tatiana was well aware of this, having spent so much time with him.
But now he spoke to her with such coldness.
Tatiana’s heart felt like it was breaking. “Howard, you’re speaking to me like this because of her?”
“We have no connection anymore,” Howard replied in an icy tone.
Tatiana swallowed her bitterness with difficulty. “I’m only trying to look out for you. You’ll realize it sooner or later—she’s not who you believe her to be.”
Despite the heaviness in her heart, Tatiana couldn’t ignore the unmistakable disgust in Howard’s eyes. Reluctantly, she turned and walked away, not wanting to humiliate herself any further.
After Tatiana left, Milly turned to Howard and said, “I’m fine.” Howard’s gaze softened as he looked into her clear eyes. “When you’re with me, you won’t have to endure anyone’s harsh words.”
Milly nodded, but his gentle words stirred something deep inside her. An unexpected pain shot through her head like a jagged knife. She winced as a voice echoed in her mind:
“You’re only allowed to stay with me—no one else. Understand? If you ever leave me, you’ll suffer a fate worse than death.”
“Everything I do is for your own good.”
The voice was both sweet and terrifying, wrapping around her like a velvet noose.
“Milly!” Howard’s voice cut through the fog in her mind as he grabbed her hand, sensing something was wrong. “Milly, talk to me—what’s happening?”
But Milly was consumed by the pounding in her head, unable to hear him. The pain was overwhelming, drowning out everything else. Then, like a beam of light cutting through the darkness, a new voice rang out in her mind:
“Hey there. What are you doing here? Are you okay?”
The voice was so tender, so warm, that it pushed back the cold, cruel echoes. Slowly, the pain ebbed away, leaving Milly feeling lighter.
When Milly opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the worry etched on Howard’s face. Without thinking, she threw her arms around him, pressing her lips to his in a spontaneous, desperate kiss. Howard stiffened in shock.
He had known Tatiana since they were children and had been by her side for years, but they had never shared a moment like this. Howard believed that intimacy was something sacred, something to be cherished. This was his first kiss, and it was nothing like he had imagined.
Before he could fully grasp what had just happened, the kiss ended as abruptly as it began. Milly’s body went limp in his arms, her eyes fluttering closed as she fainted. Howard reacted instinctively, catching her before she could fall to the ground.
The warmth of her lips lingered on his, but there was no time to dwell on it. His heart raced as he scooped her up and rushed her to the hospital.
After what felt like an eternity, the doctor emerged, a reassuring smile on his face. “Nothing to worry about. Your girlfriend is in excellent health, young man!”
Howard leaned closer to the doctor, asking, “If she’s perfectly healthy, why did she suddenly collapse like that?”
“Sometimes, intense emotions can overwhelm the body, causing temporary fainting spells. She just needs some rest. And as her boyfriend, you should try to keep her stress levels low. Emotional well-being is just as important as physical health.”
Howard nodded slowly, choosing not to correct the doctor’s assumption about his relationship with Milly. His gaze shifted to Milly, who was peacefully asleep on the hospital bed, her face pale but serene. A wave of guilt washed over him. He had underestimated the depth of her turmoil, mistaking her distress for mere sadness.
His resentment toward Tatiana grew even stronger.
Stepping out into the quiet hospital corridor, Howard pulled out his phone and made a call. His voice was cold and resolute. “Ensure that Tatiana’s scandal stays at the top of the trending lists for the entire week. I don’t want it disappearing anytime soon.”
Days passed, and true to Howard’s order, Tatiana’s name remained splashed across every social media platform, her misdeeds dissected and discussed endlessly. Attempts to contact her usual media connections had been futile; calls went unanswered, and doors that were previously open to her were now firmly shut.
Damn it!
She had planned to let the scandal die down naturally before staging a grand gesture—perhaps a generous charity donation or a heartfelt apology—to win back public favor. But with the relentless spotlight, her reputation was deteriorating by the minute.
In just a few days, she’d watched her follower count plummet from twenty million to ten million, losing not just numbers but the engagement of her most dedicated fans.
Desperation clawed at her. Grabbing her phone, she dialed Courtney’s number. “We need to move forward with the plan. Release the information.”
Inside the offices of Edge Entertainment, Isabella scrolled through her phone, eyebrows slightly raised as she noticed Tatiana’s scandal still dominating the news cycle. Typically, such stories lost steam after a day or two, yet this one seemed persistent.
Setting her phone down, Isabella shrugged off the curiosity.
Around noon, Isabella made her way to the cafeteria, her pace unhurried. As she walked through the halls, employees greeted her with smiles and nods.
“Miss Patton, good afternoon!”
“You look radiant as always, Miss Patton.”
“Hello, Miss Patton!”
Before Isabella could respond, a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, catching her off guard. “Miss Patton, long time no see! Did you miss me?” came a playful, familiar voice.
Isabella broke into a wry smile. “Evie, what brings you here?”
Evie moved forward to face her, grinning from ear to ear. “I have a shoot nearby, so I thought I’d drop by. She added with a mischievous wink, “I couldn’t resist the lure of a free lunch!”
They grabbed their trays and found a quiet spot to sit. “So, how’s work treating you?” Isabella asked, stirring her soup.
Evie shrugged, her cheerful demeanor softening. “It’s been alright. Not too hectic, but… it’s been a while since I was last in Ansport. I kind of miss it, you know?”
Isabella raised an eyebrow teasingly. “Don’t tell me you can’t afford to eat out. Why go through the hassle of coming here for a free meal?”
Evie grinned, letting in with mock seriousness, “You wouldn’t understand, Miss Patton. Since moving out of my home, I’ve become the queen of saving every penny. Every little bit helps!”
Isabella chuckled and nodded. “Fair enough. Smart thinking.”
“And besides, Isabella, I’ve been learning so much on set.” Evie launched into an animated recount of her experiences, her enthusiasm infectious.
Isabella listened with a smile, occasionally nodding as Evie chattered on. Yet, beneath her calm exterior, she couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between Evie’s lightheartedness and Andrew’s intense demeanor. It was hard to believe they were siblings, so different in every way.
As Evie continued talking, her phone suddenly rang, cutting through the conversation. She glanced at the screen, and for a split second, her cheerful expression faltered. Without a word, she ducked her head, focusing intently on her meal as if trying to make herself invisible.
Isabella noticed the shift immediately. “What is wrong?” she asked, her tone gentle but probing.
“It’s nothing at all,” Evie mumbled, her voice uncharacteristically subdued.
Isabella raised an eyebrow, knowing that Evie was lying but choosing not to expose her. Everyone had their secrets, and she respected that. A second later, Isabella’s phone buzzed with a call from Susan. The moment she answered, she was met with an unusual burst of anger. “Isabella! I’m fuming right now. Andrew—he is a jerk! I can’t believe I ever thought he was decent.” Susan’s voice trembled with frustration.
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