Fated Marriage Spoiled by My Ice Billionaire novel Chapter 176

Chapter 176 How Close?

Chapter 176 How Close?

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Celeste nodded. “I understand, Collin. I’ll make sure the police wrap this up quickly to clear Isabelle’s name.”

Satisfied, Collin turned and left.

The moment his back was turned, the lips of all three people in the room pressed into tight lines.

Collin was the founder of Dorfman Boutique. With Griffin’s strong backing and past collaborations with the government, he held the highest prestige among his peers in their circle.

And Griffin was his mentor. If Celeste wanted to study under Griffin, Collin’s opinion would be decisive. They couldn’t afford to offend him.

Celeste was seething.

Isabelle, just a small–time designer, has so many men backing her up?

She also couldn’t understand why Damian would marry a woman he had no prior connection to in just a few months and be so deeply devoted to her.

Lying in bed, Celeste thought about her recent actions.

If I were really with Damian, these underhanded tricks of mine would be unworthy.

On that point alone, I might have already lost completely.

Just moments ago, she’d expected Isabelle to be scared, to cower, to compromise, or to cry. But Isabelle hadn’t shown any of that. She’d been utterly calm.

She’s a formidable opponent.

A bitter smile touched Celeste’s lips. She’d thought that her years by Damian’s side, the fact that he had no other women and never smiled at anyone else, plus the support of both families, would naturally move their relationship forward. But she was a step too late.

It surprised her that Isabelle had won over the Cross family.

She must have something special about her.

A flat, empty feeling settled over her. She turned her face away, unsure if she should even

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18:29 Thu, May 21

Chapter 176 How Close?

keep trying.

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Downstairs, Damian pulled Isabelle toward the exit, where they ran into Brian and several bodyguards–clearly called by Damian.

At least it’s over now.

Brian wore a bright red overcoat with a matching scarf. Given it was the day after Christmas, he looked like he was heading to a celebration.

“Mr. Cross, Mrs. Cross,” Brian said with a slight nod. He didn’t seem particularly cheerful, but his professional demeanor was intact.

Isabelle didn’t want to talk. She was still angry–angry that Damian hadn’t told her anything.

He said he’d “handle it, but that felt like he was just accepting the blame on my behalf, without even giving me a chance to explain.

That doesn’t feel cool to me at all.

What makes him think I’m so unreasonable and domineering?

She wanted to lash out.

Meanwhile, Damian was wrestling with a growing sense of crisis.

A voice in his head kept warning him, “Collin is dangerous. Your position isn’t secure.”

He also sensed Isabelle’s anger, but he assumed it was because he’d shown jealousy toward Collin, not because he’d kept the explosion from her.

Brian watched the two of them, faces stony, slide into the back seat of the car.

This doesn’t look good. Overtime, here I come.

He sighed, waved to the other guards to take the last car, and took the passenger seat up front. Another guard was driving today.

The car headed to the police station.

Isabelle went inside to give a brief statement, while Brian and Damian stayed in the car to talk.

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Chapter 176 How Close?

“Did you find it?” Damian asked.

Brian nodded, pulling up a chart on his tablet showing the gas usage timeline.

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The gas had been turned on before Celeste called Damian. It was turned off about fifteen minutes later.

Which meant Isabelle didn’t turn it on. It took them about fifteen minutes to get to Celeste’s house.

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