Isabella’s POV
Marcus’s text burned in my mind like a brand: of Victoria knows you have the note. She’s planning something. Get out while you still can.
I deleted it immediately, heart pounding so hard I felt dizzy. The mansion felt smaller, the walls closing in. Every creak of the floorboards, every distant voice made me flinch. I spent the rest of the night curled up in bed, clutching the hidden notes like they were both salvation and a death sentence.
Morning came too soon.
Charlie was already gone when I woke up, but a new dress had been laid out for me—a short, tight white cocktail dress that screamed “look at me.” A note from him sat on top:
Wear this. We have guests for lunch. Don’t disappoint me.
The humiliation started the moment I stepped into the dining room. Victoria was
