Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Chapter 454

No sooner had Isabel finished speaking than a sharp slap landed on her face- Marcia's hand, hard and merciless.

The blow was so forceful it whipped Isabel's head to the side, and her cheek stung as if it had been set on fire. "Isabel, how could you be so shameless?" Marcia spat. "You actually encouraged my daughter to come to such a dangerous place? If anything had happened to her, I swear I wouldn't let you off so easily!"

Isabel pressed a trembling hand to her swelling cheek, unable to speak for a long moment. "I'm sorry, Marcia. I never thought it would turn out like this. I almost—"

But Marcia's glare showed no hint of pity. Isabel's show of misery only made her more furious.

"You deserved it!" Marcia snapped. "Someone like you ought to rot in hell. You're filthy—and no wonder my sister-in-law would rather have Effie as a daughter-in- law than even look at you!"

The words struck Isabel at her core, and fat tears rolled down her cheeks, shining like raindrops on a windowpane. She looked so pitiful it was almost hard to watch.

"That's enough. Let it go," Lindy interjected, stepping between them.

She didn't approve of what Isabel had done-far from it--but she'd watched Isabel grow up and didn't see her as worthless as Marcia painted her to be. After all, it wasn't Isabel's choice to be born into her circumstances.

If Isabel could have chosen, Lindy thought, she surely wouldn't have chosen a life like this.

it, as if Effie was only a second-best option, left a

gently to her side, Lindy looked Marcia in the eye. "You're wrong. Effie isn't some backup plan. She's remarkable in her own right. If anything,

standing off to the side, gaped

thought so

Randell nodded in agreement.

wryly that she'd managed to get caught

gaze, offered an awkward smile. It was true-badmouthing someone behind their back had a

apology. "Effie, I'm sorry. I really

a gentle

Most people aren't aware of their own shortcomings. The

you have plenty of room to

Was Effie genuinely naive, or just playing dumb? The way she had turned the words around left Marcia

keep from bursting

shut Marcia

look childish and