Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
“Well, thank you. But really, why don’t you keep these for yourself?” Isabella asked, glancing at the samples Susan had handed her.
Susan chuckled softly, her gaze thoughtful. “These items come at a steep price. I use them sparingly on clients here and just a bit on myself from time to time. That’s all I really need,” she explained.
Then, her expression shifted to one of concern. “Isabella, how have you been holding up? I heard you had parted ways with the Chapman family. Where are you staying these days?”
Isabella responded with a serene smile, “I’ve found a nice place, actually. You should come over for a visit soon.”
Relief washed over Susan’s face. “I’m glad to hear that,” she sighed, her earlier worries dissipating. Their lifelong friendship had always been a source of strength, and they told each other everything.
Suddenly, Susan asked, her voice filled with genuine interest, “And how are things going with your fianc??”
The Chapman and Santos families had intended to strengthen their ties through marriage.
Isabella paused before responding to Susan’s inquiry about her supposed fianc?. “He’s not my fianc? anymore.”
Susan’s expression softened with empathy. “Are you serious? But you’ve been together for so long.”
“Time doesn’t mean everything,” Isabella replied. “Besides, I was never truly a Chapman.”
She reflected on her relationship with Gilbert Santos—it had always felt more like companionship than romance. The dynamics had shifted drastically when Eliza returned. The change in Gilbert’s demeanor made Isabella’s past feelings seem almost foolish in retrospect, especially considering she had once helped his family during a financial crisis, viewing him as her future partner.
As they continued their conversation, a customer entered the store, prompting Susan to excuse herself to attend to the new arrival. Isabella remained seated nearby, watching as more customers filtered in. Not wanting to impose while Susan was busy, Isabella decided it was time to leave. After a brief farewell, she stepped out of the skincare store.
As Isabella wandered outside, her attention was caught by a tall figure not far off. Was that Andrew? It looked like he had found himself in an awkward position.
“Hey, handsome, I really like you. Can I get your number?”
“No!” Andrew’s response was a frosty dismissal.
Intrigued, Isabella watched the scene, noticing the woman’s striking figure. Andrew wasn’t even interested in such an attractive woman. He must have high standards. The woman, undeterred by Andrew’s refusal, pressed on. Isabella’s amusement soon gave way to sympathy as the persistence bordered on harassment.
Then, Andrew’s gaze swept over, his eyes locking with hers. Isabella shifted uneasily as he approached and stood beside her, declaring to the woman, “I have a girlfriend.”
The woman’s face crumbled with disappointment. Without further ado, she retreated.
“Ahem, Mr. Klein, I didn’t expect you to be such a heartbreaker,” Isabella teased, her smile lighting up her face.
Andrew offered no reply but instead queried, “What brings you here?”
“Just meeting a friend and grabbing a bite,” Isabella responded. “Eating alone?”
She nodded, and then Andrew suggested, “Would you care to join me?”
“Sure, where to?” Isabella’s curiosity was piqued.
He gestured toward a nearby establishment.
Isabella’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Riggi Huggi? The name was synonymous with culinary excellence, known for its Michelin-starred chefs and the sort of dining experience that required reservations. Being able to enjoy a meal at Riggi Huggi with Andrew was a stroke of luck.
“Is it just the two of us?” Isabella inquired.
Andrew explained, “I was expecting a friend, but he’s been held up.”
Perfect! This moment was for her to savor. Isabella could barely hold her excitement.
They proceeded into the restaurant, where they were immediately ushered by the manager into a VIP room. The space was serene and tastefully decorated, offering a view of a gently babbling stream. Its beauty was undeniable.
Just as they settled in, Andrew’s phone rang. “I’ll need to take this,” he said, excusing himself.
Isabella nodded understandingly.
She went to use the restroom, and when she exited, a grating voice stopped her in her tracks. “Why are you here?”
She looked up to see Eliza, elegantly clad in a Chanel gown, standing beside a man who looked moderately impressed. His expression quickly soured when he saw Isabella, as if he’d glimpsed something distasteful.
Eliza, feigning innocence and surprise, asked, “Isabella, what brings you here? This isn’t a place for just anyone. Surely you’re not here to see Gilbert?”
Isabella wouldn’t be kept by her sugar daddy forever. Gilbert, as the heir of the Santos family, had drawn the admiration of numerous socialites in Gemond. Eliza, seeing Isabella here, jumped to the conclusion that she was here to pursue Gilbert.
Eliza’s words only deepened the disdain in Gilbert’s eyes. He rebuked Isabella sharply. “Isabella, remember what I said when Eliza returned? She’s my real fianc?e. You, having occupied her place for more than twenty years, should be embarrassed rather than shamelessly pestering me. Your malice knows no bounds!”
Isabella was taken aback. “Pestering you? I’m the one who stopped contacting you in the first place. Did you forget?”
Gilbert’s expression flickered with embarrassment. He hadn’t expected Isabella to cut ties with him so decisively; he had assumed she would cling to their past. After all, she had helped him so much before; surely she loved him deeply.
“Hmph, I thought you had moved on, but following me here proves otherwise. You’re such a pathetic woman!” Gilbert taunted, his eyes gleaming with smug superiority. “Regardless of how you feel, I’m devoted to Eliza now. Spare us the drama and just leave.”
Adopting a softer tone, Eliza interjected, her smile thinly veiled, “Isabella, since you’ve made the trip, why not join us? The cuisine is unparalleled here, and securing a table took some effort.”
Isabella declined firmly. “No, thank you.” She would rather maintain her dignity than share a table with them.
As she turned to depart, Gilbert’s taunt followed. “Eliza’s offering a courtesy you’re unlikely to encounter again, now that you’ve left the Chapman family’s luxuries behind. It’s foolish to pretend indifference.”
His patronizing tone implied a grace bestowed upon an unworthy recipient.
Isabella walked away without a backward glance, her steps brisk and resolute. “Following us here, only to storm off? You won’t find yourself in such esteemed places again,” Gilbert called out, his voice laced with mockery.
Eliza said softly, “Such comments are unnecessary, Gilbert. Isabella must feel very distressed.” Her tone was a blend of mock sympathy and concealed delight. She had always envied Isabella’s noble aura despite her humble roots. Now, witnessing her apparent downfall from a privileged heiress to two farmers’ daughter, who had to resort to stalking to see her fianc?, filled Eliza with vindictive satisfaction.
“Why should she be upset over privileges she never owned?” Gilbert scoffed.
Eliza sighed.
At that moment, the manager began to approach. Gilbert and Eliza, assuming he was heading their way, were taken aback when he went straight to Isabella. Eliza, a tinge of worry coloring her tone, said, “Oh no, is Isabella about to be escorted out for tailing you here?”
Gilbert’s smirk widened. “She would deserve that,” he muttered, almost gleeful at the prospect of seeing Isabella publicly humiliated. In his mind, her current predicament was a direct result of declining their dinner invitation.
However, the scene didn’t unfold as they anticipated. The manager greeted Isabella with a notably respectful demeanor, surprising them. “Miss, it seems you’ve lost your way back to your private room. May I guide you back?” Though he didn’t know Isabella personally, the manager remembered her arrival with Andrew, a guest of significance, and it was his prompt attention that brought him to her aid upon noticing her apparent disorientation.
Isabella acknowledged his offer with a slight nod. The manager courteously escorted Isabella to the VIP private room, leaving Gilbert and Eliza to digest the unexpected turn of events.
As they observed the manager returning alone, Gilbert’s complexion shifted from pale to red, the shock akin to a physical blow that left him visibly embarrassed. It dawned on them that Isabella was not only dining at the restaurant but had been granted access to a VIP private room—a luxury that even they, despite their status, found difficult to secure.
Eliza’s facade of composure began to crack, her hand balling into a fist, nails digging into her palm as frustration simmered just below the surface. The realization that Isabella was welcomed into a space she couldn’t access stoked a fierce jealousy.
Clutching at Gilbert’s arm with a feigned look of concern, Eliza said, her voice trembling slightly, “Gilbert, how did she manage that? I’m really worried she has gotten involved with someone she shouldn’t.”
Gilbert snapped out of his momentary stupor, his eyes filled with renewed distaste. “Let her chase after fleeting riches and status. It’s pathetic and shameless. Eliza, I want you to keep your distance from her moving forward.”
“Alright, Gilbert,” Eliza responded.
Meanwhile, Andrew lurked in the shadows, his expression colder than ever. His phone held the voice of his close friend. “You promised to meet for lunch today. I made the reservation and everything. Who are you with instead of me?”
Andrew simply replied, “I’ll explain another time.” Then he promptly ended the call, his fingers already dialing another number.
As Eliza and Gilbert settled into their seats in the bustling dining hall, a waiter abruptly approached them. “I’m sorry, but we can no longer serve the two of you. Please leave,” he stated firmly.
Gilbert frowned. “But I made the reservation a week ago!”
“I apologize for the inconvenience, but you’ve been blacklisted by our restaurant. We can no longer serve you.”
The surrounding diners turned their heads, curiosity piqued by the unfolding drama. Murmurs and whispers filled the air as everyone speculated about what could have led to such a drastic action.
Humiliation washed over Eliza as she felt the weight of all eyes on them. “You must be mistaken. Do you have any idea who we are?” The influence of the Chapman and Santos families was well known in Gemond, and she could not fathom being dismissed so easily.
“That’s not my concern,” the waiter replied, his voice steady. “The decision comes directly from our boss. Please leave now, or I will have to involve security.”
The threat of a security escort only added to Eliza’s and Gilbert’s embarrassment. Eliza’s cheeks flushed a deep red, and though she was furious, she knew that causing a scene would only worsen their plight.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.