Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
The question resonated throughout the crowd, laden with implications.
Sensing the change in atmosphere and the judgmental glances, Eliza hastily explained, “No, this was just a backup in case something went wrong during the competition!”
Isabella couldn’t help but let out a mocking laugh. “Clearly, anyone can see which dress is better. If I were truly out to sabotage your dress, wouldn’t I target the better one? Eliza, your tactics lack finesse. You might want to hone your skills before attempting such theatrics again!”
The secretary then chimed in, reinforcing Isabella’s position. “As a judge, it’s perfectly normal for Isabella to inspect the contestants’ preparations. Moreover, I advise some here to abandon their petty maneuvers. Even with ten more years of practice, you couldn’t match Isabella’s caliber. She has no need to stoop to such levels. Sabotage your dress? Preposterous!”
This was Trevor’s secretary, a person renowned for her astuteness and insight. Her firm support of Isabella shifted the crowd’s perspective dramatically. Could Isabella actually be as exceptional as she said?
If that was the case, there was no conceivable reason for her to target Eliza, especially not the less significant dress. Those in the crowd who had initially sided with Eliza now bore expressions of disappointment. They realized they might have been manipulated into supporting a cause based on deceit.
“So it appears that Isabella is truly a remarkable dancer. The National Dance Association is known for its fairness, especially in selecting judges.”
“Yeah, if that’s the case, she had no reason to sabotage Eliza’s dress.”
“I think Eliza’s been playing us. She used the damaged dress to frame Isabella, but her real plan was to use the deep blue gown for the competition!”
Eliza’s complexion flushed a deep red, as if the crowd’s realization was a physical blow. She trembled, attempting to muster a defense. “No, it’s not like that…”
But the secretary’s endorsement of Isabella had solidified the crowd’s opinion, and their expressions hardened into ones of disappointment and disdain. Eliza felt a cold isolation envelop her as if she had plunged into an icy abyss.
How did it come to this? Isabella was supposed to be the one getting mocked! How on earth did she end up as a judge?
“Eliza, if you’re so certain that I ruined your dress, hand it over to the staff right now and let them check for fingerprints.” Isabella looked down at Eliza, a hint of amusement in her expression.
Eliza’s face tensed, her mind racing. She knew very well that Isabella’s fingerprints wouldn’t be found on the dress.
“Forget it. I don’t want to argue with you anymore. I need to focus on preparing for the competition,” Eliza said, trying to salvage some dignity as she turned to leave.
Her retreat, under the guise of magnanimity, did little to mask the truth from the onlookers. Disappointment and indignation echoed through the crowd.
“How awful of Eliza! I can’t believe I supported her earlier, only to discover she’s that kind of person.”
“That’s disgraceful. Must be a result of her rural upbringing.”
“That’s unfair. Her actions have nothing to do with where she’s from—it’s her own flawed character!”
The secretary then took the floor with resolve. “Our association does not merely seek talent; we demand integrity as well. Eliza’s behavior will be formally addressed. Any further misconduct and she will face a permanent expulsion from our association.”
Her words left no room for ambiguity and emphasized the seriousness of the situation.
Eliza, still within earshot, nearly lost her footing upon hearing these declarations. Anger boiled inside her as she fixated blame solely on Isabella. It was all Isabella’s doing! She would pay for this!
Turning attention back to the event, the secretary called for the contestants to make their final preparations. Isabella settled into her judge’s seat, poised and focused on the tasks ahead.
With the preliminary round underway, participants from all corners of the country displayed their skills. Isabella engaged deeply, offering insightful and precise feedback to each contestant, affirming her role as a fair and observant judge.
As the round wrapped up, fifty contestants, Eliza included, were selected to move forward. Eliza had started learning dance as a child, and while she might not have been the best, her years of training secured her a place in the competition.
Isabella had judged her fairly, without prejudice.
After her performance, Eliza strode off the stage filled with a sense of accomplishment. She was convinced that her skills were unmatched and that Isabella couldn’t possibly find any flaws in her routine, even if she desperately wanted to.
Her phone rang just as she was reflecting on her performance. With a frown, she answered in a brisk tone, “What is it?”
“Eliza, the dance competition’s today, right? We’ve come to watch you perform. We also brought some of your favorite treats,” Sherlyn Webb, Eliza’s former mother, said, her voice tinged with excitement and anticipation.
Eliza’s expression darkened upon hearing of her former parents’ arrival. She dreaded the thought of her sophisticated peers seeing her with them, a reminder of her less privileged past.
Now surrounded by affluence, Eliza was keen on preserving a more polished image, one that did not include public interactions with her former parents.
“I’m tied up right now. Please, head back,” Eliza responded tersely. “Next time, wait for my invitation before visiting. It’s a long journey for you; you’d better just stay home and save this money.”
“May we at least see you for a moment?” Sherlyn’s voice came through, gentle and full of longing. After all, she had raised Eliza and provided her with a loving home.
“I’m busy right now!” Eliza said sharply, cutting off the call abruptly.
Sherlyn gazed at her silent phone, swallowed by a tide of melancholy. Her husband, Aidyn Webb, sensing her despair, gently rested his hand on her shoulder and sighed, “We probably should have stayed away. Let’s head home.”
“But we’ve shared so many years…” Sherlyn’s voice trembled with emotion, her heart aching. Eliza was just like her own child.
With scant resources, they had scrimped and saved, often forgoing their own needs to support Eliza’s ambitions, ensuring she could compete with peers from wealthier backgrounds.
Aidyn’s expression hardened with sorrow. “She’s drawn to her new life now, to her wealthy parents. She doesn’t seem to want us in her life anymore.”
As Sherlyn’s tears began to flow, Aidyn held her close, offering solace in his embrace.
At that moment, a Porsche came to a halt on the side of the road. Phyllis and Jeffry emerged, eyeing the modestly dressed, distressed couple with a mix of curiosity and contempt.
What were these country bumpkins doing at a place like this? They were clearly unaware that they were observing Eliza’s former parents.
Ever since Eliza had been integrated into the opulent lifestyle of the Chapmans, she had severed ties with her past. The Chapmans had always been cautious, wary of any unwanted attention from those less fortunate, which is why they had never sought out Eliza’s former parents.
When Phyllis found Eliza and learned of her success in the competition, her face lit up with pride. “My daughter is incredible!” she exclaimed, her joy evident. “Come on, I’ve brought some of your favorite snacks!”
“Wonderful!” Eliza responded, her spirits lifted by the praise.
As they made their way out, Phyllis’s eyes narrowed when she spotted Isabella in the vicinity. “What is Isabella doing here? Is she competing as well?”
Eliza tensed upon seeing Isabella, her reply vague and unclear. “Hmph, just look at her; it’s obvious competing is a waste of time. She won’t get far.”
Phyllis scoffed dismissively. “Right, Eliza?”
“Yeah, she won’t make it far…” Eliza murmured in agreement.
Little did her parents know, Isabella wasn’t there to compete — she was one of the judges.
Phyllis, misinterpreting the situation and fueled by her assumptions, approached Isabella with a sense of entitlement. “Isabella!” she called out sharply.
Isabella turned to face her, her expression composed and detached. “Mrs. Chapman, is there something you need?”
Phyllis was taken aback by Isabella’s cool and collected manner, which only served to irritate her further. How dare Isabella remain so indifferent to her?
“Isabella, why are you competing here? You know your family isn’t well-off. You should stop wasting their money and just stay back in the countryside!” Phyllis said, her voice dripping with disdain as she delivered her unsolicited advice.
“What I do isn’t your concern,” Isabella retorted, her voice icy and composed.
Phyllis, clearly shocked by Isabella’s audacity, responded with heightened annoyance, “I can’t bear to look at you! Do you think you’re still part of the Chapman family? Your folks are just simple farmers, working hard to scrape by. It would be one thing if you’d made it further, but you didn’t even get past the preliminaries—you just wasted their effort and money! You’re nothing but an embarrassment!”
Didn’t get past the preliminaries? Isabella’s expression tightened subtly as she glanced at Eliza, catching a guilty flicker in her eyes. It was clear Eliza was behind this misinformation.
Isabella then retorted, “Who exactly told you I was eliminated in the preliminaries? I am actually the—“
“Mom!” Eliza cut in sharply, pulling at Phyllis’s arm, her voice laced with urgency. “Please, let’s not discuss this here. Isabella’s had enough, and I’m really hungry. Let’s just go have our meal.” She attempted to steer her mother away.
“Alright, darling, since you’re hungry, we’ll leave now,” Phyllis said, flashing a smile but not without a parting glance of scorn towards Isabella.
In Phyllis’s view, Eliza was her shining star, a source of immense pride. She felt reassured by their decision to distance themselves from Isabella. If they hadn’t done that, any failure on Isabella’s part in the preliminaries would have tarnished their family’s reputation.
As the Chapman family approached their prominently parked Porsche, Eliza reveled in the admiring looks from bystanders. Those from the same dance studio as her, who had once looked down on her, were now forced to admire her from afar.
Then, the atmosphere changed.
A blue Lamborghini smoothly pulled up and parked near their Porsche, instantly capturing the crowd’s attention with its striking presence.
Even Eliza couldn’t help but be drawn to the Lamborghini as the driver’s door opened and a charismatic figure emerged. The man was strikingly handsome, his sunglasses adding an enigmatic touch. He was dressed in a sleek black shirt and suit pants, and his athletic build was unmistakable, exuding an effortless elegance.
Completely entranced, Eliza watched as the man stepped onto the pavement, his presence overwhelming. She had never seen anyone so effortlessly regal and charming.
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