Chapter 18

Chapter18

Eleanor clenched her fist, her gaze locking onto Isabella, who offered her a sweet, innocent smile. After a tense moment, Eleanor burst into laughter, her voice sharp as she spat, "You're nothing but a bastard child."

Everyone had their weakness, and Eleanor had struck a nerve. The word "bastard" was a forbidden topic for Isabella, whose face instantly darkened with rage. Without thinking, she shoved Eleanor to the ground, her anger boiling over. It wasn’t until the act was done that she realized her mistake.

But it was too late.

Margaret’s shocked gasp echoed through the room. "What did you just do?"

Isabella froze, her arms awkwardly outstretched as she tried to explain. But Margaret brushed past her, ignoring her completely.

Eleanor, however, was quick to recover. She stood up with a chuckle, brushing herself off. "I'm fine," she said, her smile dripping with sarcasm. It was a mirror of Isabella’s usual tactics, but with a sharper edge.

Margaret missed the sarcasm, her glare fixed on Isabella. "Mom, it wasn’t what it looked like—" Isabella began, but her words were cut off by a maid’s announcement.

"Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Carter is here."

Tears immediately welled up in Isabella’s eyes, and as Nathaniel entered the room, he was met with the sight of her sobbing.

"Enough, wipe your tears," Margaret instructed Isabella before turning to Nathaniel. "Nathaniel, you’re here."

"Hello, Mrs. Bennett," he greeted with a nod, his sharp gaze scanning the room. "What happened?"

"Oh, it was nothing. Eleanor... she just slipped," Margaret said, clearly covering for Isabella.

Eleanor raised an eyebrow, her voice calm but laced with irony. "Did I, Mom?"

"Yes," Margaret insisted, her tone firm.

The scene reminded Eleanor of the child she had lost, and how her family had dismissed it as an accident. Her smile faltered as she murmured, "If you say so."

But Isabella, ever the victim, broke down further. "No, Mom, I... I pushed her, but..."

Margaret moved to comfort her, but Nathaniel’s icy voice cut through the room. "I’m sure Isabella wouldn’t hurt anyone without a good reason."

His words were firm, his gaze piercing as it landed on Eleanor. The faint smile on her pale face vanished completely. Her blood ran cold, her arms trembling at her sides, but her eyes remained steely as she met his gaze.

At that moment, a maid stepped forward. "Mrs. Bennett, I heard Ms. Eleanor and Ms. Isabella arguing earlier."

Margaret turned to the maid. "What did you say?"

Nathaniel’s harsh gaze shifted to the maid, who kept her head bowed. "I heard Ms. Eleanor call Ms. Isabella a... bastard child."

The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Eleanor stood tall, her defiance unwavering, while Isabella’s tears continued to flow. Nathaniel’s expression darkened, his loyalty to Isabella clear, but Eleanor’s resolve didn’t waver.

The game was far from over.",