Her Revenge, His Plot

Chapter 5 The Same Necklace

The family dinner ended late, so Isabelle and Nicholas spent the night at the estate.

"How did you know my ring size?" Isabelle finally got a chance to ask.

"I measured it with my fingers at the wedding, remember?"

Nicholas put on his suit jacket. He picked up the ring Isabelle had removed for her bath, took her hand, and carefully slipped it back onto her ring finger.

His actions were unusually gentle, as if he was handling a delicate treasure.

Isabelle's heart skipped a beat at that moment.

Last night had been their first time sharing a room. Although Nicholas had offered to sleep on the couch, Isabelle insisted he share the bed—it was, after all, his own room.

'The bed is spacious, and surely nothing will happen,' she thought.

Indeed, nothing had happened, but when she woke up the next morning, she found herself close to his firm chest and could easily breathe in his scent.

She had been the one who had moved too close!

Feeling embarrassed, she quietly shifted back to her side of the bed, missing the pleased glint in Nicholas' eyes as he lay awake.

*****

Breakfast at Carter Estate was just as extravagant, with a long table filled with dishes from various cuisines.

Selena and Alexander sat across from Isabelle. Selena's dark circles betrayed a night of poor sleep.

'My dear sister, just a necklace already makes you this rattled.'

Isabelle smirked, finding satisfaction in Selena's sleeplessness.

Selena picked at the fresh salad in front of her, but her appetite was gone.

She felt Isabelle's knowing gaze and squirmed in her seat.

'Is this really my sister back from the dead, or just a coincidence? Could Isabelle have survived?'

"Isabelle, the necklace you gave Grandma last night was beautiful." Selena began her test cautiously.

"Yeah, I'm glad Ms. Carter likes it," Isabelle replied with a cool tone.

'Finally showing your hand, Selena?'

"Can I ask where you got that necklace?" Selena asked. "Don't get me wrong; it just looked similar to one my grandmother used to have."

"You must be mistaken. I bought it at an auction not long ago," Isabelle drawled, watching Selena's strained expression. "But... I heard from the auction house that it was sold by a destitute woman. She needed the money for burn treatment."

Selena's knife and fork clattered to the floor, drawing everyone's attention.

"Oh... sorry!" She took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves.

'Are you already panicking, Lena? This is just the beginning.'

Isabelle smirked as she glanced away, only to meet Alexander's infatuated gaze.

She paused and then gave him a flirtatious smile, her eyes full of allure.

Alexander's eyes grew even more dazed, and he stopped eating.

"Alex, where are you planning to go for your honeymoon?" Nicholas asked, his eyes fixed on Isabelle, his tone carrying an unrecognized note of jealousy.

"Oh... we, uh, haven't decided yet," Alexander stammered, snapping back to reality.

"Hey, we're going to the Maldives tomorrow, remember?" Selena whispered, oblivious to the fact that her husband had been staring at her future aunt-in-law.

"I don't feel like going there now. Let's postpone it for a few days," Alexander said impatiently, his mind filled with thoughts of Isabelle's stunning smile.

*****

After what felt like an eternity, breakfast finally ended. Selena hurried to a secluded corner of the garden and intended to contact someone at the auction house about the necklace.

To her surprise, she heard a familiar voice—her husband's.

"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Has anyone ever told you... your eyes are like flawless sapphires?"

"Oh Alex, you are so honey-tongued."

Following the voices, Selena found Alexander and Isabelle standing by the flowerbed, and Alexander's eyes were completely glued to her!

He had never looked at her that way!

"What are you two doing?" Selena stormed forward, her eyes blazing.

"You!" she snarled at Isabelle before either of them could respond. "You're about to marry Uncle Nicholas, and now you're seducing his nephew?"

Selena emphasized the word "nephew," eager to throw dirt on Isabelle.

"No... I think you've misunderstood something," Isabelle said, finding Selena's rage almost comical. "Alexander was just telling me how much we have in common. You have a sister named Isabelle too, but sadly, she's passed away."

This statement was like gasoline on the already blazing fire of Selena's jealousy and confusion.

Her eyes turned red as she glared at Isabelle, whose perfect pearl necklace and beautiful face only made Selena angrier.

"You b***h!"

Selena shoved Isabelle hard but felt it wasn't enough.

As Isabelle staggered back, regaining her footing and preparing to fight back, Selena grabbed the necklace around Isabelle's neck. Her strength was so great that Isabelle thought she might be strangled.

Isabelle clawed at Selena's hands, struggling fiercely.

"Selena!" Alexander shouted, rushing to stop his hysterical wife.

But Selena, with her face twisted in rage, raised her hand high, aiming for Isabelle's cheek.

"Stop it."

Nicholas appeared behind Selena and caught her hand in the air.

His eyes were cold as he looked down at her. He tightened his grip before shoving her away.

Selena stumbled a few steps back and was caught by Alexander. She rubbed her arm, which was now red from Nicholas' grip.

"Uncle Nicholas..."

Selena felt utterly wronged. In her mind, Isabelle was the one trying to cuckold Nicholas. Why was she now being scolded?!

Isabelle, finally free, coughed violently while covering her sore neck.

'When did Nicholas get here?'

She stared at Nicholas in a trace. She had initially planned to let herself get slapped to play the victim.

"Alex, discipline your wife," Nicholas warned with an icy tone.