Cheated Once Cherished Forever: The Billionaire's Bride novel Chapter 169

"Amelia—" Theodore started to speak, but Isabella held him back.

Theodore did not want to see Isabella being cornered, but similarly, Isabella did not want to be a burden who needed his protection at every turn.

She stepped forward, and her gaze landed on Amelia's face. She said evenly, "If it had been up to me, I would've demanded a life for a life."

These words sent a shockwave through the living room, instantly igniting a storm of outrage.

"Are you out of your mind?" Someone slammed the table and stood up.

"Ethan is a Sinclair! How dare you mention his life in the same breath as the life of that penniless nobody?" A shrill female voice pierced the din, every syllable reeking of the family's sickening entitlement.

"This is outrageous! Theodore, I told you from the start that with your status, you shouldn't marry a woman with no background. Listen to what she just said. Is that appropriate?"

The crowd was filled with righteous indignation. The looks cast at Isabella contained anger, contempt, accusation, and disdain.

Only Amelia looked at Isabella with pure triumph.

Isabella remained impassive. So, this was what the so-called wealthy were like. To protect their own interests, they would trample on the lives of others.

"Then, what kind of woman do you think I should've married?" Theodore's voice held no warmth as he asked the question.

Everyone could hear the rage in his voice. He did not shout, yet his tone carried a biting chill that terrified them into silence.

Theodore scanned them one by one. Every word felt like a sledgehammer smashing their sense of superiority. "Someone like you? Someone who treats human life like dirt and thinks being a Sinclair makes you invulnerable?"

"Right after Jeffrey passed away, our family was unstable. If it weren't for my intervention, do you think the Sinclair family would be this stable now? You weren't home, so I understand you didn't see my sacrifices. But what about the rest of you?"

Her gaze landed on a stout woman. Amelia raised her voice and questioned, "Aunt, don't forget how many strings I pulled to cover up that incident with your son. It hasn't been that long, and you already forgot?"

Being called out, the stout aunt stammered, "A-Amelia, why bring that up out of nowhere? We've never thought about taking over the keys…"

Amelia smiled coldly and said, "As for the rest of you, think carefully about whether I've mistreated you over the years."

More than half the people in the living room dared not look Amelia in the eye. She had been building her network for years precisely for a day like this.

Theodore could not make a move against her for the time being. Isabella realized this too. She subconsciously looked at Alexander, only to see him looking down and texting someone. It was as if the tension in the room had nothing to do with him.