Chapter 23
924 Words
The physician looked at him steadily.
"Because she believes she won't make it through the year."
"She's afraid that once she's gone, you'll be alone."
"She thinks this granddaughter-in-law is the only person she can leave behind to look after you."
Owen froze.
A storm of emotion flickered in his eyes before he forced it back into stillness.
After a long moment, he turned and walked silently toward the main house.
Meanwhile, Isabel was enduring the worst dinner of her life.
Because of her, the family had lost 2% of its shares.
Carter's mother, Melissa, made no effort to hide her disgust.
"The only reason I agreed to my son marrying you, rather than a girl from a truly powerful family, was for those shares."
"Isn't Ruby that man's illegitimate daughter?" Melissa said coldly, pointedly ignoring Sheila.
"So how did she manage to charm the old woman when you couldn't?"
Isabel's fingers curled beneath the table.
"I... I'm not like Ruby. I'm not good at playing those kinds of games."
Across from her, Sheila, unusually silent, kept her eyes fixed on her plate.
Every instinct screamed at her to snap back, to tear into Melissa.
That word had landed like a knife.
She had spent years planning, scheming, maneuvering to secure everything for her daughter, only to see it all hanging by a thread.
Isabel's position was precarious, and Sheila knew that one wrong word from her could push her straight over the edge.
In that moment, her hatred for Ruby burned hotter than ever.
Melissa sneered at Isabel.
"I don't care how you do it. You will win those shares back for me. If you don't, forget about ever marrying into the Knight family."
Bitterness burned at the back of Isabel's throat.
By the time dinner finally dragged to an end, she was barely holding herself together.
She rose, ready to leave.
When the doors opened and Owen walked in, his presence filled the room instantly.
The moment his eyes fell on the feast on the table, his expression turned cold.
Melissa caught his look and fell silent.
Carter's father, Richard, cleared his throat.
"Owen, what are you doing here?"
Owen ignored him.
His gaze went straight to Isabel.
"The engagement wasn't called off, so she's considered part of the Knight family. Correct?"
"Yes," Melissa answered, confused.
"Then she follows our rules," Owen said flatly.
"She disrespected an elder. Today, the punishment is to kneel in the family chapel for one night."
He didn't explain further.
He simply lifted a hand, and two bodyguards stepped forward.
"Miss Anderson," one of them said, "please come with us."
Isabel froze.
Sheila, on the other hand, couldn't process it.
"Mr. Knight, please. No, don't do this."
She pleaded, her voice breaking.
"I apologize on her behalf. We're very sorry. She's just a child. We didn't know any better. And that Ruby, she dragged us into her schemes."
Owen's expression darkened.
The audacity to still shift the blame.
"Are you marrying into this family?" he asked coldly.
"No," Sheila answered, faltering.
"Then stay out of it."
His voice was final.
"Anyone who wishes to be part of the Knight family must respect our rules."
Sheila dropped to her knees in front of him.
"Please, Mr. Knight, give her another chance."
Owen didn't even look at her.
With no choice left, Sheila fell silent.
She turned to Melissa and Richard for help, but neither of them met her eyes.
Isabel looked at Carter next.
Surely he would say something for his future wife.
But one glance at his face told her the truth.
Even he didn't dare defy Owen.
Spineless coward, she sneered internally.
If he weren't a Knight, I wouldn't have even given him a second glance.
With no other option, Isabel followed the bodyguards.
Just before she stepped out of the dining room, she heard Carter ask hesitantly,
"Where's Ruby? Did she leave?"
"She's my guest," Owen said sharply. "She's staying here tonight."
The finality in his voice made Isabel's stomach twist.
The guards escorted her to the family chapel.
Just as she was about to step inside, one of them stopped her.
"Since you haven't officially married into the family, you're not permitted inside the Knight Chapel."
"You'll kneel outside."
"Outside?" she cried. "It's freezing."
"Madam, please step aside," one of the guards warned.
She opened her mouth to argue, but the guards merely clasped their hands behind their backs and waited.
"Miss Anderson," they said evenly, "if you please."
It was October.
The night air cut like ice.
The cold sank through Isabel's knees the moment she knelt, biting straight into her bones.
Sheila instinctively moved to help her, perhaps to place something beneath her knees, but the bodyguards stood rigid, watching without blinking.
Isabel's thoughts spiraled.
Ruby was probably curled up in a warm bed right now.
She ground her teeth and shot Sheila a venomous look.
"Look what your daughter has done."
Sheila's lips trembled.
"I know, Izzie. That brat has gone too far. But don't worry, I'll teach her her place."
Isabel's gaze hardened.
That witch may be staying for a night, she thought.
But I'm going to be here for a lifetime.
The thought steadied her.
Soon she would meet Dr. N.
Soon she would have leverage of her own.
And when she did, Ruby would pay for every second of this humiliation.
Just wait, you witch.
Because of you, I'm on my knees tonight.
I swear, if I don't tear your little world apart, I'll change my name. :::
- Writer
