“Isabella,” Hayden said, “I’ll let it slide this time.”

He gave her a hard look. “But throwing food at Gabriel during dinner? Is that how you were raised?”

“Dad, you should punish her!” Gabriel snapped from the side.

Isabella chuckled softly. “Dad, you’re only hearing Gabriel’s version, saying I threw food at him. Why don’t you ask what he did before that?”

Hayden paused, then with a stern expression, asked, “What did Gabriel do?”

“Dad!” Gabriel turned to Hayden immediately. “I was just serving Bianca food, and Isabella went nuts with jealousy. Her jealousy is off the charts!”

At first, he hadn’t understood Isabella’s sudden change in behavior, but after thinking it over all afternoon, he realized she must be jealous of Bianca.

That was how petty she was.

“You were just serving Bianca food?” Isabella stared at Gabriel. “What about your annoying stunt with Susan, making it impossible for me to eat properly? Why don’t you mention that?”

“I did nothing of such!” Gabriel denied, pointing at Isabella and addressing Hayden. “Dad, don’t listen to her nonsense.”

“Dad, Chase was there during lunch. Ask him, and you’ll know the truth,” Isabella said confidently.

Hayden immediately called for Chase.

“Chase, what happened at lunch? Did Gabriel do anything out of line?”

Chase looked at Gabriel in silence, then at Isabella.

All afternoon at the office, he couldn’t shake off Isabella’s words, “Chase, your hypocritical demeanor disgusts me…”

He couldn’t understand why her words affected him so much. He didn’t even acknowledge this so-called sister, yet Isabella’s disdain and coldness stung deeply.

Did she really see him as a hypocrite? Someone who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong?

As the eldest son of the family, he had always been fair to his siblings. But since Isabella’s return, he couldn’t help but resent her for making Bianca’s life difficult. Seeing Bianca grow thinner and sadder each day, it was hard not to blame Isabella.

So, every time he saw Gabriel bullying Isabella, he stayed silent.

“Why aren’t you speaking?” Hayden looked at Chase, puzzled.

Chase snapped back to reality and sighed. “Gabriel did bully Isabella at the table.”

Gabriel’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Chase?”

What was happening?

“Dad, I have work to do. I’ll be leaving now.” Chase pretended not to notice Gabriel’s pleading look.

“Go ahead.”

As the study door opened and closed, Gabriel protested, “Dad, Isabella disrespected me first! That’s why I acted that way! Isabella is jealous of Bianca.”

Since Isabella’s return, he had seen her jealousy and cunning.

She always pretended to be good in front of them, trying to win their favor and push Bianca out.

He wouldn’t let that happen!

Isabella smiled and said slowly, “Yes, I am jealous of Bianca. After all, she’s your precious little darling.”

“Isabella, stop with the sarcasm,” Olivia said, irritated. “We didn’t announce you’re the Taylor family’s daughter to avoid making Bianca’s situation difficult.”

“Her situation difficult?” Isabella scoffed. “What about me? Am I not in a tough spot? Or do you just not care?”

In her previous life, she didn’t care about this identity. She didn’t mind the Taylor family hiding her. She was happy just to be reunited with her parents and brothers. Really.

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