Isobel stormed forward, her voice shrill and confrontational, fully fired up for a showdown.
But the moment she actually saw Edwin’s face, she froze on the spot, heart pounding out of control.
Damn, was it even legal for someone to be that good-looking?
She was already thinking—she had to make him hers.
A “pretty boy”?
Was she seriously calling Edwin that?
Ashley glanced at Edwin, gauging his reaction.
His flawless face remained unreadable, but the air around them definitely grew heavier.
Isobel was still completely oblivious to any danger, arms akimbo, tossing out insults like candy.
“Hey, handsome, you’re this hot and still settling for a sugar mama?
At least find a better one!
That woman you’re holding?
Deaf, mute, and someone else’s leftovers.”
Edwin’s gaze turned steely as it landed on her.
“Really?
And what kind of trash would that make you?”
Rude.
But his voice was annoyingly pleasant, and the fact that he even responded made Isobel’s heart skip.
Chin lifted, she gave a smug little smile.
“You’ve heard of Sullivan Corp., right?
I’m the youngest daughter.”
“Sullivan Corp.?” Edwin’s lips curled into a cold smile.
“Got it.”
With that, he strode right past her without a second glance, carrying Ashley into the car and driving off without hesitation.
Isobel stood there, blanking out.
Wait…
what did that mean?
He remembered her?
Was he dropping Ashley for her?
Her eyes lit up.
Jackpot!
Then another thought hit her.
If she could dig up proof that Ashley was cheating, hand it to the King family, that would ruin her completely.
And then?
That gorgeous guy would be all hers.
Perfect plan.
As Edwin’s car disappeared down the road, she jumped in her own and hit the gas, determined to follow.
But before she could take off, a black car suddenly swerved out and slammed head-on into her.
“Aaah!”
Isobel screamed, ducking too late.
With a deafening crash, the front of her car got wrecked, smoke pouring out from under the hood…
Meanwhile, Edwin watched it all from his rearview mirror.
From the Bluetooth in his ear came a respectful voice:
“Mr.
King, proceed further?”
“No need.
She’s not worth the effort.”
Ashley gave him a long, unreadable look from the passenger seat.
Isobel had this coming—but this man?
Absolutely terrifying.
At the same time, back in the ballroom upstairs…
“She got away?!” Beatrice glared at the group of bodyguards standing sheepishly in front of her.
She practically had a stroke right then and there.
“Useless idiots!
I paid you all that much and seven grown men can’t deal with one mute woman?!”
“Ma’am, someone with a gun suddenly showed up and saved her…” The bodyguard looked like he’d eaten a pile of grievances.
Beatrice, of course, wasn’t buying it.
“Nonsense!
That little mute?
No way she’s got some man by her side!”
“It’s true, Mom!” Isobel stormed in, holding her bruised forehead, teeth clenched.
“That little tramp’s keeping a guy outside!
I saw it with my own eyes!
She was carried into a car by this seriously hot guy—obviously her boy toy!
I tried to go after them, but then outta nowhere a car hit me!”
Worst day ever.
It’s all that jinx Ashley’s fault.
Every time she shows up, something goes wrong!
Fuming, Isobel pulled out her phone and shoved the photos she took in front of Beatrice and Audrey.
The pictures didn’t catch the guy’s face, just his tall, lean back, but they did catch Ashley’s side profile as she leaned into him.
Even better—there was a clear shot of the car’s license plate.
Audrey took one look and gasped, “That’s a King family car!”
She’d done her homework on the powerful families in North City, and that plate she knew for sure.
Beatrice’s mood instantly did a one-eighty.
Her lips curled into a smug smirk.
“So she’s bold enough to use the King family’s money to keep a boy toy?
When Edwin finds out, he won’t let her off easy!”
“Ma’am!” Bruce rushed in holding a gift box, only to get smacked across the face before he could speak.
He looked completely stunned.
“Ma’am…”
“You traitor!
Perfect timing, huh?
How dare you conspire with that little mute to frame me!” Beatrice’s eyes were spitting fire.
She looked ready to tear him apart.
“When did I ever tell you to invite that wretch here?!”
Bruce couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“You sent me the email yourself!” he said quickly, pulling out his phone and opening the message to prove it.
Beatrice snatched the phone, not buying it for a second—but froze the moment she saw the sender address.
Her jaw dropped.
It really was from her account.
And it was worded like a personal instruction: she had specifically requested Bruce to give Ashley a grand entrance today…
“No…
No way!
Why would I send something like that?!” Beatrice’s face went paper-white, disbelief written all over it.
“This…
this has got to be some kind of curse!”
Audrey frowned, quiet but clearly irritated.
No curse.
They’d just completely underestimated that little snake Ashley…
Maybe this whole party stunt had been her plan from the start.
The more she thought about it, the clearer it became—ever since Ashley showed up, they’d been dancing to her tune!
And the craziest part?
She hadn’t even done anything.
Just stood there and watched it all play out.
Audrey’s eyes darkened slightly, a flicker of doubt flashing through them.
Was that mute act just a front?
Could she have been faking the whole time?