After the Secret Wedding Rise of My Queen

Chapter 249 Playing the Harp on Stage

"Who do you think you are? Just because you told me to repeat myself doesn't mean I will," Isabel said, rolling her eyes slightly, her voice thick with sarcasm.

Cindy's expression darkened, her face contorting in fury.

"Hah! I knew it you're too scared to say it again, you coward!"

Isabel raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk crossing her face. She studied Cindy for a moment before responding, "Fine. If you're so desperate to hear me point out your flaws, I'll do it.

"You're like a wall-no, more like a brick wall. Anyone who crashes into you is bound to get hurt."

Right after Isabel finished speaking, a quiet laugh escaped from the crowd.

A soft ripple of chuckles spread through the room, quickly turning into a wave of suppressed laughter.

Cindy's face flushed bright red with anger, her eyes burning with rage. Isabel's confident stance and perfect composure only seemed to make Cindy's resentment grow, as if the sight of her rival's poise stung even more than the words.

"Well? Still want me to repeat myself?" Isabel asked, her lips curling into a teasing smile.

Cindy's temper flared, her body visibly trembling with fury. Isabel's words felt like a public slap, her insinuation that Cindy had asked for such treatment only making it worse.

"Kaleb! Look at Isabel-she's gone too far this time! She used to never talk back to me. And now? Just look at her! You've got to put her in her place!"

Here we go again.

Isabel shook her head, her gaze icy as she looked at Cindy. "You and your mother are exactly alike. Whenever you're wrong, you run straight to Kaleb, expecting him to fight your battles. But have you thought this through? Kaleb and I don't owe each other anything anymore. Why should he defend you?"

Kaleb, who had been silent up until now, clenched his jaw and stared at Isabel, his expression a mix of confusion and thoughtfulness.

Isabel wasn't finished. "And let's say, hypothetically, that Kaleb and I were still together. It's the 21st century, not some old-world society where women have no voice or worth. If I married into your family, would you expect me to be treated like a servant? Would Kaleb have the right to control me just because he's a man? Do you even understand what respect means?"

Her words resonated with several women in the room.

personal history between Isabel and Kaleb, Cindy's earlier comment that Isabel had never dared speak back-left a

once been Kaleb's fiancée, and her position should have commanded respect, but instead, she had been mistreated. It made the others wonder just how much Isabel had suffered while being part of

was his sister, so they figured saying what was on their mind wouldn't be the best option and might

one spoke, the tension in the

"Well, Isabel, looks like your tongue has gotten sharper since we last met! But don't think I don't see through you. The only reason you're here today is because you knew it's the Johnson Group's big

words rang with

responding. She let her actions speak louder than words. She wasn't here for the Johnson Group's gala-she was there for the Bennett Group's

started to walk away,

you think you're going? Can't you read the signs? This floor is for the Bennett Group's gala! There's security at the door-you

the peacemaker, stepped forward,

Cindy, let's just let it go. So much has happened already-why dwell on the past? Life's too short to keep holding grudges," Eva said with a serene smile, gently stroking her round belly. "I'm a mother now, and I don't have the energy for all this drama. We should focus on living peacefully,

calm demeanor earned her appreciative nods from

wonder he chose her over Isabel even though she's prettier,"

to Eva, the words

Are they trying to

glare at the person who'd spoken, mentally making a note to

you're already

not stay a little longer? I'll

yel

harp for

said sweetly, flashing a

Eva playing the harp?

ignore Eva and walk away, but what Eva said made her stop in her tracks and sparked

before. Is she trying to challenge me, knowing

it. I am now a Zimmerman, and

She kept her eyes on Eva as the

Эле

strategically placed at the gala. Even if Isabel hadn't clashed with Cindy earlier, it seemed

trying to show off a new skill to