ALISTAIR
I was practically amused by her flustered look.
The way her brows knitted together, lips parting in quiet disbelief—it almost made me want to drag the moment longer, just to see how else she would react.
But instead, I leaned back in my seat, letting her savor the weight of my words.
She had no idea what awaited her.
When I placed the folder before her earlier, I wasn’t testing her obedience—I was testing her resolve.
I already knew Bernard Bennett posed a threat to her.
I had known it from the start.
At first, it surprised me how they could so easily sell their own daughter just for their own benefit.
Well, there was nothing new in that—for a greedy man like him, life was only about two things: profit and power.
And when a man like that grows desperate, he uses the people closest to him as bargaining chips.
Isla was his bargaining chip.
Yet today, she had chosen differently.
Boldly and fiercely.
She had looked me straight in the eye and declared she would not divorce me—even when she had no clue what that choice entailed.
A woman with no fear in facing a difficult situation—strong, resilient.
The exact qualities that belonged to the title of Mrs.
Montgomery.
So yes, it was time Bernard and his precious family saw exactly where their pawn now stood.
I cast her another look before stepping out first, then offered my hand to her.
She hesitated only for a beat before placing her small palm in mine.
Her hand was a little cold—she was tense, her pulse thudding, but her chin remained high.
Good.
I didn’t let go of her hand.
I held it firmly against mine as we started walking inside their home.
I could feel her stiffen, but her expression never faltered.
I only smirked at that in silence.
Inside, we were greeted by the Bennetts’ housekeeper, who led us to the living room.
The couple was present, and—of course—Liana.
Bernard’s face paled the instant he saw me.
They clearly hadn’t expected my sudden appearance in their home.
Bethany’s painted smile faltered despite her best effort.
And Liana…her eyes widened, then quickly dimmed when her gaze fell to where my hand was clasped tightly around Isla’s.
After a moment, she plastered on a faint, innocent smile.
“Alistair,” she greeted, her tone carrying that same fake warmth as always.
“What a surprise, having you here.”
I let my gaze sweep over the three of them—slowly and purposefully.
My hand tightened fractionally around Isla’s.
“It’s no surprise,” I drawled, my voice steady and cold.
“It’s called a visit.
After all, I thought it was time we had a proper family introduction.”
The silence that followed was almost satisfying.
Bernard was the first to recover.
“Please, have a seat, Mr.
Montgomery!
We’re truly honored by your unexpected visit.”
He scrambled to give orders to the housekeeper standing nearby.
“Bring my vintage wine here, and tell the kitchen to prepare a lavish meal.”
“Let’s sit down first.” I looked into her eyes knowingly, and she just nodded.
We settled on the couch across from them, and soon the wine Mr.
Bennett had ordered arrived.
He poured into my glass first.
“Mr.
Montgomery, to what pleasure do we owe this wonderful meeting?” he began in a professional tone.
I didn’t answer right away.
Instead, I let them squirm under the silence a little longer before I spoke.
My voice was calm, but each word landed heavily.
“How’s Bennett Industries holding up these days?”
Bernard straightened in his seat, puffing his chest with pride.
“We’re doing really well, thanks to the Montgomery Group’s favor and generous investments.
Our expansion wouldn’t have been possible without it.”
I gave him a thin smile, laced with sarcasm.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Then my eyes lingered on Isla for a moment before returning to him.
My tone dropped—sharper this time.
“Though my wife here is a bit distressed.
I received news earlier that you’ve been forcing her to divorce me?” I went straight to the point, my gaze fixed sharply on him.
His joyous expression immediately fell.
His smile wavered as he scrambled to deny it.
“I—it’s not what you think, Mr.
Montgomery.
I…uh…I was only considering my daughter’s wellbeing.
We regretted how we forced her to sign the marriage contract, and…uh, actually, I had planned to beg the old lady to spare my child from the agreement,” he reasoned nervously.
“But I can see my daughter is doing well by your side.
And I couldn’t thank you enough for that, Mr.
Montgomery.”
I leaned back slowly, cradling the wine glass he had filled for me.
I swirled the liquid once, letting the silence stretch thin, watching the way his throat bobbed nervously.
“Interesting,” I murmured at last, my tone deceptively casual.
“You speak of regretting what you did to your daughter, yet not once did I hear you apologize to her.”
Bernard’s posture went rigid.
Bethany’s painted smile twitched, and her hands tightened in her lap.
“Or perhaps,” I continued smoothly, my gaze locking on him, “regret to you means losing control of your pawn.
Because as far as I can see, your concern has never been Isla’s wellbeing.
It was only for your own convenience.”
Bethany shifted uncomfortably.
“Mr.
Montgomery, please don’t misunderstand—”
My cold and sharp gaze cut across hers.
“I don’t misunderstand greedy men and their shallow excuses.
I’ve dealt with them my entire life.”
The color drained from Bernard’s face.
His fingers twitched against his glass, but he couldn’t form a reply.
Beside them, Liana remained strangely composed.
But her eyes betrayed her—dark, resentful, simmering with jealousy as they darted to Isla’s hand still clasped in mine.
She loathed it.
She loathed her.
I tightened my grip around Isla’s hand deliberately, letting Liana see it, and her gaze flickered with a storm she couldn’t hide.
The corner of my lips tugged upward, cold and deliberate.
“So tell me, Mr. Get faster updates on g.com.
Bennett,” I drawled softly, “will you continue insulting me with flimsy excuses—or will you acknowledge what you’ve done to your daughter?”
The room grew heavier, suffocating.
Bernard’s composure crumbled, Bethany’s eyes darted in desperation, and only Liana’s stare remained steady.
And I enjoyed every second of watching them break under my presence.
“Mr.
Montgomery, I…I’m sorry,” Bernard shrank with his head down.
I set down the glass on the table with a sharp clink.
My gaze darted to him frostily.
“Mr.
Bennett, don’t you think you’re apologizing to the wrong person?”
His expression grew more jittery, though a glint of anger and humiliation briefly passed in his eyes as his gaze landed on Isla.
“Kneel,” I commanded icily.
Bethany gasped, her face horrified.
Liana bolted up, her chest rising and falling with anger.
“Alistair, how could you do this?
Please, spare my dad, will you?
For the sake of what we had in the past…” Her eyes glistened with tears.
I only gave her an detached look.
“Well then, let’s ask what my wife wants.” I turned to Isla.
She met my gaze, her eyes full of questions—probably wondering why I was doing this.
But there was still stubbornness behind them.
She turned her gaze to the three people in front of her, her expression turning cold.
It was only now I realized how badly they had treated her all those years until this very moment.
“I don’t want your insincere apology,” she stated firmly.
“Neither do I want you kneeling at my feet.
I only want two things.
I’m cutting ties with the Bennett family.
I don’t belong to this family anymore.
And my grandmother’s custody should be transferred to me.
From now on, Grandma and I don’t want anything to do with this family.”
I wasn’t expecting that.
But all I could say was—this wife of mine was really something I couldn’t ignore.
“You ungrateful wretch!
How dare you—!” Bernard burst out, pointing at Isla with a livid expression.
“Sister, how can you be so cruel, disowning us?
We’re your family!” Liana spat angrily.
Isla remained unfazed through their rage.
“Have I really been a part of this family from the start?
I can’t remember when that ever was,” Isla sneered.
I had no time for their family drama.
I stood up and pulled Isla with me.
“You heard her.
And let me make this clear to you—if you cause trouble again for my wife, Montgomery Group will pull out every cent we invested in your company.” I cast them one last glance.
“I trust you’re wise enough never to cross me.”
Without another word, I dragged Isla out of that suffocating house.
Behind us, their silence was louder than any outburst.
And I knew—we had just drawn the first blood.