Chapter 128: What Are You Trying to Do?
After hesitating for what felt like an eternity, Isabella took a deep breath and ultimately decided to keep the truth from Jay.
Jay's health was already fragile, and if he learned that their marriage had deteriorated to the point of divorce, Isabella genuinely feared it might trigger his vulnerable condition.
"William and I haven't had any problems. I just started a new job recently, and I've been exhausted these past few days, which is why—"
William suddenly interrupted Isabella mid-sentence, telling Jay the truth: "She's the one demanding a divorce, trying to get my attention with these dramatic tactics. What's there to hide about that?"
Since she'd been so resolute earlier about cutting ties completely, why was she putting on this hypocritical performance in front of Jay now? Out of pity for him?
William let out a cold snort, settling back in his chair across from Jay with his long legs crossed, looking somewhat aggrieved.
Isabella had been planning to ease into the conversation gradually, but who could have predicted William would suddenly lay everything bare?
The moment those words left his mouth, the study fell into complete silence. Isabella stared at William in disbelief.
Had he completely lost his mind?
Jay's breathing became labored as he clutched his chest, gasping for air with wide, shocked eyes.
"Grandfather, you were going to find out sooner or later anyway. Isabella claims she found a job, but she's really gotten involved with Richard and is planning to abandon the children and me to be with him."
William's eyebrows arched slightly—he was determined to air everything in front of Jay this time.
Isabella felt her heart hammering against her ribs, a vein pulsing at her temple as the sound of her own racing heartbeat filled her ears.
When it came to deflecting blame and shifting responsibility, William was truly without equal.
He made it sound as if Isabella's supposed infidelity was what had destroyed their marriage!
"I was originally planning to be discreet with Grandfather here, thinking some things shouldn't be said too explicitly, wanting to preserve your dignity. But since you brought up this topic first, I have no reservations left."
Isabella straightened in her seat, took a steadying breath, and quickly organized her thoughts.
"You know exactly how long you've been with Laura. Throughout all of that, I remained completely in the dark. Nathan has been so manipulated by Laura that he won't even acknowledge me as his real mother anymore—he calls Laura 'mom' now."
"And then there was that camping trip where you tricked me into going, only to abandon me alone on the mountain in the middle of the night. If I hadn't been incredibly lucky, I could have frozen to death up there. Did it ever cross your mind during any of that that I was still your wife?"
Revisiting these painful memories no longer caused Isabella the sharp anguish they once had—she'd already endured the worst of that pain.
What truly mortified Isabella was having to voice these humiliating details in front of Jay, watching the last vestiges of dignity crumble away.
After hearing Isabella's account, Jay's gaze toward William gradually turned ice-cold, filled with nothing but crushing disappointment.
He pointed a trembling finger at William and spat out an angry curse: "You—you absolute disgrace!"
When Jay first learned of Isabella's pregnancy and William's reluctance to acknowledge responsibility, he'd hoped that since William was still young, perhaps having a child would mature him and help him focus on building a family.
He never imagined that even with two children this old, William could still behave so despicably!
"You've dragged the Montagu family name through the mud! With a remarkable woman like Isabella right in front of you—what the hell are you trying to accomplish?"
Jay clutched his chest, his heart condition flaring to an unbearable degree. He snatched up a nearby book and hurled it at William.
"You worthless fool—get down on your knees this instant!"
After his emotional outburst, William realized he'd crossed a line and feared triggering Jay's medical condition. Without argument, he immediately dropped to his knees before Jay.
Learning the full extent of William's betrayals, Jay could no longer remain seated. He stood up and searched frantically around the study, unable to find anything adequate for his fury, before finally grabbing his walking cane and striking William hard across the shoulders and back.
The solid wooden cane connecting with William's body produced sickening, dull thuds.
For once, he showed some backbone—despite the obvious pain and Isabella watching from the sidelines wincing at each blow, William didn't make a single sound of protest.
After delivering more than ten brutal strikes, Jay's strength gave out. He leaned heavily against the desk with one hand while pressing the cane into Isabella's other hand.
His voice cracked with shame: "The Montagu family has failed you utterly, Isabella. As the head of this household, I failed to properly raise William, allowing him to betray and humiliate you. You've suffered because of our family's failures. Even if we crippled this worthless bastard today, it would be a mercy—at least then he couldn't chase after other women!"
Despite her deep resentment, Isabella had no desire to actually strike William herself. She gently pushed the cane back into Jay's hands.
"Grandfather, honestly, I'm past being angry about it."
Hatred was more persistent than love—hatred meant Isabella still cared. But Isabella had finally, completely released William from her heart. He no longer had the power to wound her.
After helping Jay settle back into his chair, Isabella stood beside him, feeling genuine warmth bloom in her chest.
The rest of the Montagu family had probably known about William and Laura's affair for ages, but not a single one of them saw anything wrong with it. Not one of them had spared a thought for Isabella's feelings.
In their elite social circle, it was perfectly acceptable—even expected—for men to maintain mistresses on the side.
William remained on his knees, jaw clenched and veins bulging on his forehead as beads of cold sweat formed and dripped from his sharply defined features.
Isabella regarded him with detached coldness.
That magazine-cover face combined with his vast wealth created an irresistible package for someone like Laura—few women could resist such powerful temptation.
"Isabella, I know you two didn't begin with a great love story, but I hoped that over time, genuine affection would develop. Even without passionate romance, after sharing a life for so many years, you should have built some real connection, some care for each other."
Jay's voice was heavy with regret—he truly hadn't anticipated William would prove so worthless, abandoning his wife and children to indulge in affairs!
"Get out. Isabella and I still have matters to discuss. Go downstairs and think long and hard about what kind of man you've become."
William said nothing, struggling to his feet with visible difficulty and nearly stumbling in the process.
His retreating figure moved with a pronounced limp—clearly, he'd taken quite a severe beating.
Isabella felt no satisfaction watching him go. If anything, the entire scene only reinforced how deeply broken their marriage had become and strengthened her resolve to see the divorce through to completion.