When Loyalty Turns to Shadows
By evening, the mansion was full of tension. Victoria had officially returned and wasted no time making her opinions known.
She cornered Clara near the staircase. "I heard about your little meeting with Marcus," she said smugly.
Clara blinked. "You've been talking to Isabella."
Victoria smirked. "She only told me what everyone else already suspects."
Clara crossed her arms. "And what's that?"
"That you're still helping Marcus behind Ethan's back," Victoria said. "Pretending to be innocent while you manipulate the family."
Clara's jaw tightened. "You really believe that?"
"Why shouldn't I? You've been trouble from the start."
Eleanor appeared at the top of the stairs. "Victoria! That's enough."
But Victoria wasn't finished. "No, it's not! You may be blind, but I'm not. Marcus is hiding again, and somehow she's always in the middle of it."
"Victoria!" Eleanor's voice cracked like thunder.
For a moment, the hall went silent.
Victoria huffed and turned away, muttering, "You'll regret protecting her."
Clara exhaled shakily, forcing composure. "It's fine, Eleanor."
Eleanor shook her head. "No, it's not. You don't deserve this."
Clara gave a tired smile. "It's not the first time someone's hated me for things I didn't do."
She walked off, leaving Eleanor frowning after her.
From the corner of the hall, Isabella watched — a faint smile curving her lips.
---
Later that night, Isabella made her next move.
She slipped quietly into Ethan's study, holding another envelope. Inside were documents showing "bank transactions" between Marcus and a mysterious account — under Clara's name.
Completely fabricated, but convincing enough.
When Ethan returned from a late meeting, Isabella was there, sitting by the fire.
"I found something you should see," she said softly.
He frowned. "What now?"
She handed him the papers. "I didn't want to believe it either. But you deserve the truth."
He scanned the pages, his expression darkening with every line. "These could be fake."
"They could," Isabella agreed, stepping closer. "But Marcus was clever. And Clara… she might not even realize she's being used."
Ethan's throat tightened. "If this is true…"
"Then she's in danger," Isabella finished smoothly. "You have to protect her, even if it means keeping her away from him — away from all of this."
He nodded slowly, torn between fear and fury.
And Isabella knew she'd won another inch of his heart — through pity and poison.