Chapter 175 Let Isabella Lose Face
News about the Taylor family throwing a birthday party for Isabella and Bianca spread quickly.
"Bianca, I'm coming to your birthday too!"
"Bianca, what do you like? I'll buy you a birthday gift."
In the international class, a group of people chattered around Bianca.
Amid all the congratulations and well-wishes, a harsh, mocking laugh rang out, particularly noticeable.
Sofia walked into the classroom with a few other girls and glanced at Bianca.
"I really don't know what you're so proud of. Everyone knows Isabella is the real daughter of the Taylor family. This birthday party is clearly for Isabella. Some people have been taking someone else's place for so many years, and now they're still trying to ride on someone else's birthday party. How ridiculous."
Ever since the calligraphy competition incident, Sofia had been annoyed with Bianca.
Her family background was just as good as Bianca's, and besides, Bianca was a fake heiress anyway, so she had nothing to fear. Looking at Bianca's disgusting face, she couldn't help but mock her.
"Exactly." The girl next to Sofia sneered, "Some people cheated and got a zero score, and were even called out by the president of the Calligraphy Association. I wonder if she reflected on it when she got home?"
Abigail's expression changed. "Sofia, what are you saying?"
"What? Am I wrong?" Sofia smirked and said, "Bianca studied calligraphy for six or seven years, but she's still not as good as a girl from the countryside. How useless."
"No talent is one thing, but to use such shady tricks—I really don't know why you guys are still supporting this two-faced person."
Everyone used to like Bianca, thinking she was nice, kind, beautiful, and good at everything—like a princess.
Now?
What Bianca did was truly shocking.
Hearing Sofia's words, the other girls finally dared to speak their minds.
"Bianca stole something, how can she be a good person?"
"I think she was just pretending all along."
"..."
"All of you, shut up!" Abigail pushed through the students blocking her way, walked up to Sofia and her group, and said coldly, "Sofia, Bianca is my best friend. Say one more word about her and see what happens!"
Sofia laughed. "What? She can do it but we can't talk about it? She usually acts all kind and innocent, but behind the scenes she does things that hurt others to benefit herself. She treats Isabella this way, and she'll treat others the same way. Abigail, if you stay with her, you'll get hurt sooner or later."
"What's it to you? How ridiculous. Who I'm friends with is my business." Abigail completely ignored what Sofia said, raising her eyebrows defiantly at her.
Just then, the class bell rang.
Luckily the bell rang.
Otherwise Abigail and Sofia's group might have gotten into a fight.
Abigail returned to her seat. "Bianca, don't pay attention to what they say. They're just a bunch of fair-weather friends. They see you're not a real rich girl, so they dare to bully you."
What happened at the calligraphy competition had spread throughout the school, and Bianca's reputation was really bad now.
But she didn't care.
The friends she chose would be friends for life.
"Thank you, Abigail. You're so good to me." Bianca bit her lip, looking at Abigail with gratitude in her eyes.
"We can't let Isabella keep being in the spotlight like this." A flash of resentment crossed Abigail's eyes. "Bianca, you should know that there can only be one king of the hill. The current situation is very unfavorable to you. Between you and Isabella, only one can stay in the Taylor family."
Abigail grabbed Bianca's hand. "Bianca, I don't want to see you kicked out by the Taylor family."
"But I..." Bianca said in a weak voice, "I don't know what to do anymore."
Abigail's eyes darted around. "Isn't your and Isabella's birthday party in a couple of days? I have a good idea that can make Isabella lose all face."
"What are you going to do?" Bianca asked curiously.
Abigail whispered in her ear, telling her the plan in detail.
After hearing it, Bianca's expression changed dramatically. "Isn't that a bit much?"
"Bianca, you're just too soft-hearted, but the current situation doesn't allow you to be soft anymore. If you still want to stay at Taylor Villa, then listen to me."
"On Isabella's birthday, she'll become a laughingstock in the entire upper-class circle."
Bianca's eyes couldn't help but flash with excitement, but her words carried a hint of reluctance. "But sister is still mom and dad's daughter. I really don't want her to be..."
"Being kind to your enemy is being cruel to yourself. Isabella has caused you to be criticized so badly, you shouldn't leave her any room either."
"Between you and her, you shouldn't worry about saving face."
Bianca was silent for a few seconds, then finally pretended to reluctantly agree to the plan.
——
Louis hadn't come to school for half a month straight.
Zachary couldn't reach him, and only found out today that the Cox family had gone bankrupt.
Hearing this news, he frowned.
"How so sudden?"
Not long ago, Louis had made that big public confession to Isabella, and now suddenly the Cox family went bankrupt.
"I heard they offended someone they shouldn't have," someone said.
"But that's the Cox family."
The Cox family's clothing business was huge, as everyone knew. The villa Louis's family lived in, even half the families in the international class couldn't afford it.
Although Zachary disapproved of Louis confessing to Isabella, he had some friendship with Louis.
So during break time, he tried calling Louis again, wanting to ask if there was anything he could help with.
After several attempts, the call finally went through.
"Louis?"
"Zachary." Louis's voice came through the phone, sounding somewhat tired.
"What's wrong? I heard your family... had some trouble." Zachary asked with concern, "Is there anything I can help with?"
"No need, Zachary, thanks for the offer."
Louis paused, then said, "I'm at the airport, about to go abroad."
"Abroad?" Zachary was confused. "Why so sudden? Are you coming back?"
"No, I can't stay in the country anymore. My dad plans to go abroad to look for opportunities, and we'll settle overseas from now on."
"Okay, if you need anything, you can reach out to me."
Louis replied "okay" and was about to hang up.
But he couldn't help saying, "Zachary, don't offend Isabella."
Zachary was stunned. "What?"
He hadn't heard wrong—he actually heard Isabella's name from Louis's mouth.
"Why would you say that? Why bring up Isabella out of nowhere..."
Before Zachary could finish, the other end had already hung up.
Zachary looked at the darkened phone screen, his expression dazed.
Louis said not to offend Isabella—what did that mean?
Could the Cox family's troubles be related to Isabella?
How was that possible?