Chapter 2 - The Silent Threat
Isabella felt the blood completely drain from her face as Clara walked away with the baby.
She desperately wanted to scream, but she knew an emotional outburst would instantly ruin her flawless reputation.
She maintained her artificial smile, graciously accepting compliments from diplomats while her mind raced with terrifying possibilities.
As soon as the final guest departed the estate, Isabella marched directly toward the secluded nursery wing.
She found Clara gently rocking Leo in the antique mahogany crib, humming a hauntingly unfamiliar lullaby.
Isabella locked the heavy nursery door behind her and fiercely demanded to know who had sent this woman.
Clara did not even bother to look up, continuing her slow, methodical rocking of the sleeping child.
She calmly stated that she was hired by Mr. Vance himself to ensure the absolute purity of the family line.
Isabella threatened to fire her immediately and have the estate security throw her out into the freezing rain.
Clara finally turned around, a wicked, condescending smile playing on her thin lips.
She confidently invited Isabella to search her personal belongings in the adjacent servant quarters if she wanted the truth.
Isabella stormed into the small adjoining bedroom, frantically tearing through Clara’s perfectly folded clothes and neat luggage.
Hidden beneath a false bottom in the leather suitcase, her shaking hands found a thick, unsealed manila envelope.
She pulled out a highly detailed, certified laboratory report from a private genetic testing facility.
The document definitively proved that Sebastian Vance had zero biological connection to the infant heir.
But it was the second piece of paper in the envelope that made Isabella drop to her knees in pure terror.
It was a crisp, high-resolution photograph of Isabella passionately kissing Julian, a struggling architect she had secretly loved.
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Attached to the photograph was a massive wire transfer receipt, showing that Sebastian had personally paid for the investigation.
Sebastian had known her darkest secret for months, and Clara was just the beginning of his punishment.
