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.

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

isn't some backup plan. She's remarkable in her own right.

and Randell, standing off to the side,

thought so highly of

Randell nodded in agreement.

she'd managed to

smile. It was true-badmouthing someone behind their back had a way of backfiring, and now she wasn't sure

lips in mock apology. "Effie, I'm sorry. I really should learn to hold

with a gentle smile,

Aunt Marcia. Most people aren't aware of their own

you have plenty of room to improve. Keep it

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

keep from bursting

would've guessed Effie could shut Marcia down so effortlessly

her temper now, she'd only look childish and unreasonable. All she could do was