Chapter 148 So Called Mother
ISABEL'S POV
I slowly pushed myself up from the bed, letting out a tired sigh as my feet touched the cold floor. My body stretched on its own, muscles loosening as I raised my arms briefly above my head. I reached over to the small table beside the bed and grabbed my phone without even checking the time.
Without waiting for any invitation, I stepped out of the room and headed straight for the kitchen. It wasn’t like this was my first time crashing here anyway. Melissa and James were used to it by now. Their place had become a temporary shelter, one I tolerated because it served its purpose.
As I walked down the hallway, my phone buzzed lightly in my hand.
I stopped.
The name on the screen made my lips curl slightly.
Mom.
My so-called mother.
I stared at the screen for a second longer than necessary before unlocking the phone. She had promised me she would do whatever it took to get me back into that house, but till today, there had been no real result. Just long messages, emotional talks, and empty reassurance.
Still, I opened the message.
“Isabel my dear, I hope you’re doing well. The past few days I’ve been trying to convince your father to let you back in, but he keeps disagreeing. They still don’t believe that you have changed, and I want them to see it with their own eyes since they wouldn’t believe me. And since they wouldn’t let you come to the house to see it, I’d like you to come to the ceremony event that Quinn's Group is having tomorrow. Your sister Anna is the host. They agreed that you can come, so I want you to be on your best behavior, okay?”
I rolled my eyes immediately.
It took me almost five whole minutes to finish reading the message. This woman had a special talent, turning a simple text into something that looked like a work CV. Paragraphs upon paragraphs, emotions stuffed into every line.
And why was she talking to me like I was some ten-year-old kid?
Be on your best behavior.
Please.
I let out a small sigh as I leaned against the wall, staring blankly at the screen.
This had scattered a whole lot in my plan.
My plan needed me to be back in that house. That was the whole point. That was where everything would fall perfectly into place.
If not, how was I supposed to show Anna the tape?
The tape was supposed to be shown to her privately. Somewhere she wouldn’t have an audience. Somewhere she wouldn’t have space to pretend or act strong. Somewhere she wouldn’t be able to escape from what she was about to see.
Well, yes, Anna would be at the event tomorrow. That much was certain. But she was the host.
Which meant the chances of her being free were nearly impossible.
She would be busy overseeing everything — checking schedules, talking to guests, and making sure the event ran smoothly. She wouldn’t even have the time to spare a glance at the video I wanted her to see.
And the chances of Ryan showing up at the event too were very low.
I didn’t really need Ryan to be there.
But it would be so much more fun if he was.
That woman had one job.
Just convince them.
Just get me back into that house.
I exhaled slowly, irritation crawling up my chest.
Then—
Something clicked.
My head snapped up slightly, my eyes narrowing as a new thought formed.
Originally, I wanted to show Anna the tape quietly. Just the two of us. Watch her world fall apart right in front of me. Watch her struggle to breathe while trying to process everything she thought she knew.
But since they hadn’t agreed for me to come back yet…
The plan wasn’t destroyed.
Hell.
It had just gotten way better.
Why show Anna the video alone when I could show it to everyone?
Why limit it to one pair of eyes when I could let the entire hall see it?
The guests. The partners. The executives. The important people Anna desperately tried to impress.
Why not let all of them watch her perfect life shatter at the same time?
A slow smile crept onto my face.
Then it widened.
Wow.
This was brilliant.
Way better than my first plan.
Much better.
She would be far more embarrassed when the video suddenly popped up for everyone to see. And no matter how busy she was, the moment she realized the video was about her, she would drop whatever she was doing and come running.
She wouldn’t have a choice.
She would have to watch it.
Suddenly, the anger I had been feeling toward my mother vanished completely, replaced by something much sweeter.
Excitement.
Pure excitement.
My fingers tightened around my phone as my mind raced through the possibilities. The shock on Anna’s face. The whispers among the guests. The sudden tension in the room. The way her confidence would crack right there in front of everyone.
And Ryan.
If Ryan was there?
Even better.
Now that I had come back to stay with Melissa and James, I didn’t need to pretend anymore. I didn’t need to prove myself to anyone. I didn’t need to act nice, remorseful, or changed.
All I needed was the right moment.
And tomorrow’s event?
It was perfect.
I was going to make Anna see that tape.
I was going to make her see Ryan as the villain once that video played.
The thought alone sent a thrill through me.
I pushed myself off the wall, energy suddenly filling my steps. I didn’t even bother making breakfast for myself first. There was something more important to do.
I needed to tell Melissa.
Immediately.
I turned around and rushed back down the hallway, practically floating on my feet.
The sound echoed slightly, but I didn’t care.