Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
Josie no longer felt the same respect she once had for Jada. “I can’t believe how arrogant Susan’s become. What makes her think she’s worthy of this?”
Jada followed her gaze. There stood Susan, Dane, Isabella, and Andrew. The presence of the four together managed to capture everyone’s focus. The Riggs, Klein, and Patton families—if these three influential families formed an alliance, it could shift the entire power dynamic within Ansport’s elite circles.
“Oh, silly,” Jada said with a knowing smile, her eyes shifting back. “Don’t fret; Susan’s happiness won’t last long. I have something on her.”
“What is it?” Josie asked, her curiosity piqued.
Jada responded, “I can’t reveal it just yet, but it’ll come into play when the time is right.”
Susan had missed the deadline to respond to Jada, but Jada wasn’t worried. A secret this significant needed to be saved for the perfect moment.
“So, they’re not actually going to tie the knot, are they?” Josie asked, clearly hesitant.
“I assure you, they won’t,” Jada said confidently. Any woman who could form close ties with almost all the powerful families of Ansport had to be highly cautious.
Meanwhile, Isabella and Susan walked into the venue hand-in-hand, with Dane and Andrew trailing behind them. Since the two women met, they had only paid attention to each other, ignoring their partners. So, Dane and Andrew started business discussions.
The charity event began with a dinner. Throughout the dinner, Isabella quietly ate the food Andrew offered, without once sparing him a glance. Dane chuckled and teased Andrew. “Looks like you’re losing her attention.”
After that, Dane handed Susan a glass of milk and spoke softly, “No alcohol for you. Here’s some milk instead. Remember how unwell you felt the last time you drank?” Upon hearing Dane, Susan quickly pulled her hand away and firmly responded, “No, I want to drink with Isabella. It’s been a while since I last saw her.”
Dane found himself at a loss for words. Andrew’s quiet voice chimed in from the side. “Looks like you’re not having any more luck than I am.” Dane had nothing to say in response.
As Susan and Isabella were talking, Isabella noticed Tatiana making her entrance.
Susan followed Isabella’s gaze and spotted Tatiana as well. With a frown, she asked, “How did she manage to get here? I thought she was banned.”
“She must’ve slipped in. Do you want me to have someone throw her out, Isabella?”
“No, don’t worry about it. I helped her in,” Isabella said casually, taking a slow sip of her drink.
Susan was caught off guard by this.
Tatiana was clad in an extravagant rented dress that gave her a touch of elegance. However, unlike before, no one came to greet her, leaving Tatiana awkwardly trying to make small talk with others, who all pretended not to notice her.
Unfazed, Tatiana began scanning the room, searching for her next targets.
She spotted a few unfamiliar faces, likely low-profile attendees who didn’t know about her recent downfall. She decided they would be her best bet to approach first. While scoping out her targets, Tatiana overheard a conversation nearby. “Isn’t that Mr. Lyons? He’s really attractive, just as good-looking as Mr. Patton.”
“Rich guy, for sure. But he’s married, isn’t he?”
“Nope, not married. And he’s got a clean reputation, no scandals at all.”
Tatiana glanced over at the two girls chatting beside her. One of them was a familiar face, a minor celebrity likely trying to latch onto some wealthy man. She followed their line of sight and saw Hector.
Mr. Lyons?
Tatiana recalled a few details about the Patton Group. The Patton Group had been co-founded by Nolan and his close friend, who seemed to have the surname Lyons. That man had since stepped down, allowing his son to take on the role of vice president.
Was this man the vice president of the Patton Group?
He appeared strikingly handsome and refined, with no discernible hint of his age. Even though he was just the vice president of the Patton Group, he wielded considerable influence.
After pondering for a moment, Tatiana made a decision. Having exchanged pleasantries with his acquaintances, Hector got up and headed towards the restroom. Along the way, he unexpectedly collided with someone.
She stumbled and fell, prompting Hector to quickly extend his arm and inquire, “Miss, I’m so sorry. Are you alright?”
She looked up, revealing a delicate and beautiful face to Hector.
“It’s alright. I should be the one apologizing for bumping into you. I’m sorry,” she said.
“It’s fine. Please, get up,” Hector said, helping Tatiana to her feet with a friendly smile. Noticing the scrape on her knee, he asked with genuine concern, “Does it hurt? I can get someone to fetch some alcohol to disinfect it.”
“I’m fine,” Tatiana quickly replied. “It’s nothing serious. I can handle it myself.”
“You’re a big star; how could it not be serious?” Hector said kindly. “Come on, let’s head to the lounge upstairs.”
Tatiana was taken aback that he recognized her. Yet, Hector was incredibly considerate. Unlike most people who tended to avoid her, he was different. High-profile individuals truly did have their own unique qualities.
Tatiana trailed behind Hector as they went upstairs, and it seemed like she wanted to protest, but something held her back. Lowering her gaze ever so slightly, Tatiana watched Hector as he carefully disinfected her wound, tears brimming in her eyes. “You’re such a kind man,” she said.
“What’s the matter?” Hector asked, his voice gentle as he noticed the tears streaming down her face. Tatiana quickly brushed her tears away and forced a smile. “It’s nothing. It’s just… it’s been so long since I came across someone as kind and gentle as you.”
“Is that so?” Hector responded. “Maybe you’ve just been crossing paths with the wrong kinds of people. It’s not just that; most people these days are just opportunists. I’m sure you’ve heard rumors about me—my reputation is pretty bad, and people have started looking down on me.”
As Tatiana spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again. She quickly wiped them away and said, her voice cracking, “People might gossip about you being with me. I really appreciate your kindness, but it’s better if I go.”
As she stood to leave, it looked like her knee buckled beneath her; the pain was too much to bear, and she stumbled forward. Hector swiftly caught her in his arms. “Take it easy. And don’t say things like that. Whether you’re good or not, that’s for you to decide. Everyone should live by their own standards, not by the judgment of others.”
Tatiana felt touched by his words. “You’re incredibly kind, sir,” she murmured, gently wiping away her tears. He offered a small smile.
“Don’t let this get you down. Here’s my card. If you ever need help, feel free to reach out anytime.”
The moment she glanced at the card, Tatiana’s eyes widened in surprise. “Mr. Lyons? I had no idea you were… “
“What’s the matter?” Hector asked, puzzled.
“You are close to the Patton family, right? The Patton family would never approve of us interacting, Mr. Lyons. I don’t want to make things difficult for you.” As she spoke, Tatiana slipped the business card into the pocket on Hector’s chest, letting her fingers lightly graze his collarbone.
With that, Tatiana turned on her heel and walked away. She could feel Hector’s eyes on her as she made her exit, a satisfied smile dancing in her eyes. She held him exactly where she wanted him.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Isabella had been watching the stairs closely. The moment she spotted Tatiana descending, she finished the wine in her hand, a knowing smile creeping across her face. Tatiana had played right into her hands.
“You look like you’re in a good mood. Is everything going according to plan?” Susan asked, her curiosity piqued.
“Everything’s going perfectly,” Isabella replied with a grin, swirling the glass in her hand. This time, she wasn’t just going to deal with Tatiana—she’d be able to dig up some dirt on Hector too. Two birds, one stone.
“Oh, Isabella! There you are!” Jada approached with a casual stride, taking the seat right next to Isabella. “So, what are you pulling up for auction?”
When Susan saw her arrival, her face soured. “Jada, we were in the middle of a conversation. Could you stop interrupting?”
“What? I just wanted to chat with Isabella for a bit. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Jada said, her voice soft as she lowered her head, feigning sadness. “I’ll leave if it bothers you.”
Wesley was irritated. “Why can’t Jada speak like the rest of us? What’s your problem with her, Susan?” he asked.
“This has nothing to do with you,” Susan shot back. With that, she stood up abruptly and walked away. Dane quickly followed after her without a word.
Andrew glared at Wesley sharply, making him duck his head and grumble under his breath, “Susan was way out of line…”
Jada turned to Isabella, her face still wearing a sad expression. “I’m sorry, Isabella. I didn’t mean to bother you.”
Isabella’s voice was calm and low. “Don’t worry about it. We were just chatting because we happened to sit together. Honestly, if it weren’t for Dane, I wouldn’t even bother talking to her.”
With a satisfied smile, Jada tilted her head and asked, “So, you want Dane and Susan to break up? I honestly think your brother deserves someone better.”
Lowering her voice even more, Jada whispered, “It’s not just Dane seeing her; she has someone else.”
“What do you mean by that?” Isabella asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I’ve got proof. You have to trust me on this, Isabella,” Jada replied with a firm nod.
Isabella caught the serious look in Jada’s eyes and felt a bit uneasy. Still, part of her found it hard to believe that Susan could be involved with another man.
“Alright, so what’s your evidence? If it’s convincing, I’ll let Dane know,” Isabella said after a brief pause.
“I can’t show you right now, but I need you to trust me on this. Susan isn’t the right person for Dane,” Jada replied confidently.
Isabella looked a bit uncomfortable as she responded, “I trust you, but Dane’s really into her. If I say anything bad about her, he’s going to be upset.”