Cheated Once Cherished Forever: The Billionaire's Bride novel Chapter 42

"Hello, Aunt Isabella." Alexander forced the words out through clenched teeth, one syllable at a time. His glare at Isabella was sharp enough to cut.

Isabella wished she could sink into the floor. How was she supposed to stand him calling her his aunt?

That was the head of the Sinclair family. One stomp of his foot and the whole of Solara would shake.

She didn't understand why Theodore had posed as an escort and married her. Maybe it was for fun, maybe there was some hidden conspiracy. Whatever the reason, someone as ordinary as her had no way of resisting.

"Isabella, Alex's your boss. If he ever slacks off at work, just tell me," Theodore joked.

The people around them laughed. It wasn't even funny, but since the words came from the man who held the power in the family, everyone played along. That was power, the kind someone like Isabella, raised in a regular home, could never dream of touching.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Sinclair. I'm Natalie Logan."

Natalie extended her hand. Isabella lifted her head and gave a polite smile. "Hello, Ms. Logan."

Natalie seemed warm and easygoing. She hadn't called her "Aunt Isabella" like Alexander did.

Isabella couldn't help glancing back and forth between the two of them. But when she caught the unfriendly look in Alexander's eyes, she became guilty and turned away.

Just then, a maid walked up to her and said, "Ms. Isabella, Ms. Amelia would like to see you."

Theodore immediately pulled Isabella behind him and said to the maid, "If Amelia has something to say, she can come to me. My wife's shy, and this is her first time back here. She should stay with me."

She wasn't the naive young lady she used to be.

"Amelia, Theodore's just worried that I'll get pushed around on my first visit. If you have something to say to me, you can say it right here. We're all family. There's no need for secrets."

Amelia's expression fell. Isabella was no longer someone she could control.

At that moment, Theodore, who had been silent, finally spoke. His voice carried authority, leaving no room for defiance.

"Since Isabella is my wife, I'll slowly be handing the family affairs over to her. I brought her here today so everyone could get to know her. From now on, if anything comes up in the family, go directly to her."

For a few seconds after he finished, the entire hall fell silent.