Chapter 129: Grandfather's Agreement
The study fell silent except for Jay's labored breathing after William's departure. Only Isabella and Jay remained, the weight of revealed truths settling between them.
"Isabella, please sit down." Jay let out another weary sigh, composing himself before gesturing to the chair across from him.
"From the moment I first met you, I knew you were brilliant. I believed marrying you would be the Montagu family's greatest fortune."
Isabella had achieved remarkable success in her field at such a young age, earning her professor's highest praise and invitations from the most prestigious research laboratories. In Jay's long lifetime of meeting exceptional people, Isabella stood out as truly extraordinary.
"You've raised Nathan and Olivia beautifully—they're both so well-mannered and thoughtful."
Jay's praise felt almost mocking to Isabella now. If he could see Nathan's current behavior, he'd be thoroughly disappointed. Looking at what felt like a failed case study, Isabella questioned whether her entire approach to parenting had been fundamentally flawed.
"Couldn't you possibly give William one more chance? He made terrible mistakes and broke your heart. I have absolutely no right to defend his actions, but Isabella, I can guarantee you one thing—as long as I remain in Seaside City, as long as I draw breath, William won't dare hurt you again. No one will be able to threaten your position in this family!"
Despite the beating and harsh words, William was still Jay's grandson. No matter how furious he became, family loyalty would ultimately prevail.
Isabella clasped her hands together on the desk, genuinely moved by Jay's passionate defense of her.
But that was all it was—a moment of warmth that couldn't change reality.
"From the day I graduated college and married William, I've sacrificed everything—my career, my ambitions, years of my life devoted entirely to this family. I convinced myself that if I just did everything perfectly, I'd earn everyone's respect and appreciation."
Isabella's assumptions had proven devastatingly wrong. In families like the Montagus, no one would ever value her contributions.
"I thought staying home to raise my children properly was the right choice, but in everyone else's eyes, I was just a freeloader living off the Montagu wealth—a worthless homemaker whose every sacrifice was dismissed as meaningless. Grandfather, I never received what I deserved. I couldn't even get basic respect!"
What wounded Isabella most deeply was Nathan's accusation that she was "just a housewife," while Laura was elevated as some kind of heroic career woman.
It felt like her heart was shattering into pieces.
"I failed to raise my own son properly—Nathan thinks his mother is worthless. My insistence on this divorce, on finding work, has one purpose: proving my own value."
Was Isabella truly worthless without William? Only at Infinity Ventures Corporation did she feel her time translated into measurable compensation, where her contributions actually mattered. She was no longer the ignored, even scorned, housewife.
Jay felt the despair radiating from Isabella, understanding with devastating clarity that this situation was beyond repair.
Perhaps William and Isabella truly had no future together.
With a heavy sigh, he finally stopped fighting the inevitable: "Isabella, you've always been a remarkable young woman in my eyes. If this is your decision, then I'll support the divorce. I believe you'll prove your worth magnificently."
As for William—no matter how much he might regret this later, he'd never find another woman this exceptional.
Isabella felt tears prick her eyes, once again overwhelmed by Jay's respect and understanding.
"Please go now. I need some time alone to process all this." Jay closed his eyes wearily, waving her away with exhausted finality.
Returning home to such explosive news required adjustment time.
When the elevator doors opened, Isabella immediately spotted William waiting in the main hall. His injuries were on his back, forcing him to sit rigidly upright—leaning back would aggravate his wounds.
"My words might not matter to you, but surely you'll listen to Grandfather? Stop playing these childish games. Our divorce will devastate Nathan and Olivia, and it won't benefit you either."
William's tone carried an almost paternal concern, as if he were reasoning with a stubborn teenager.
His eyes remained fixed on Isabella, seemingly confident about the outcome. No matter how angry Jay had been, he was still William's grandfather—surely he wouldn't side with an outsider over family?
"If you're willing to settle down and resume being Mrs. Montagu, I can let bygones be bygones. We'll pretend Richard never said those things, and as long as you stop associating with questionable people, we can continue our life together."
This was perhaps the most patient William had ever been with Isabella. In her memory, he was typically either coldly indifferent or openly irritated when they spoke.
Ironically, facing divorce had brought out his most reasonable side.
But what was his real motivation for salvaging this loveless marriage? If he truly cared about the children's well-being, why had he cheated in the first place?
Isabella stood motionless before William, her expression blank. "You're the one who destroyed our family. You have no right to talk about 'continuing our life together.' From the beginning, you've been completely in the wrong. You chose to be with Laura and let my child call another woman 'mom'—did you spare even one thought for my feelings then?"
Isabella knew with absolute certainty that if she ever dared let Olivia call Richard 'daddy,' William's volatile temper would explode, destroying everything in sight.
When consequences don't affect someone personally, they can afford to be utterly dismissive.
"What more do you want to prove?" William still seemed oblivious to Isabella's meaning, his brow furrowing with renewed frustration.
Isabella was clearly the wronged party, yet William consistently treated her like she was throwing a tantrum.
"I just finished talking with Grandfather. He's agreed to our divorce. Soon we'll be officially free of each other."
Isabella delivered this bombshell with devastating casualness.