The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 82

Chapter 82

Isabelle walked up to Natalie, her lips curled into a gentle, graceful smile. Her voice was just right, clear enough for everyone nearby to catch, but not so loud as to seem deliberate.

Isabelle said softly, “Natalie, have you been doing okay lately?” Her tone was warm, almost sisterly, but there wa curiosity behind it.

As soon as her words landed, the crowd around them began murmuring and exchanging glances.

“Wait. are they sisters?”

“Who’s the girl in the white dress?”

“No idea, she doesn’t look familiar.”

“I think she’s from Seaside City. Wasn’t she Avery Young’s apprentice?”

“Oh, now that you mention it, I think I remember. Isn’t she from the Grant family in Seaside City?”

A few of the young heirs from Seaside City recognized her.

“That’s right, she’s the daughter the Grant family just recently brought back! So, does that mean the other girl is the adopted daughter they kicked out a few days ago?” one of them whispered, sounding both surprised and gossipy

“The adopted daughter they kicked out?”

“Why did they kick her out?”

The crowd instantly got excited at the juicy gossip and started asking questions right away.

“I don’t know all the details, but the Grant family announced in front of everyone that they’re cutting all ties with their adopted daughter.”

“And honestly, aside from being pretty, she’s got nothing going for her. She skips class, gets into fights, and is basically just a troublemaker at school.”

“She used to live out in the countryside with Mrs. Grant and never even went to school. She can’t even read or write

“Yeah, look at Isabelle. Same age, but even though she wasn’t raised in a rich family, she’s super accomplished now

“She’s the youngest apprentice the old master ever took on!”

Isabelle listened to the whispers and gossip swirling around her, secretly feeling quite satisfied. Still, she wore her mask of sisterly affection, acting as if she truly cared for Natalie.

Evan watched Isabelle’s dramatic, phony performance, his frown so tight it looked like he could pinch a fly between his

brows.

He’d seen people fake it before, but never anyone who could lay it on this thick

Her eyes were practically blazing with anger, yet she still managed to flash that fake “sisterly affection smile Honestly, the Oscars owe her a trophy.

“Is it really that hard to talk like a normal person?? Evan cut in, sounding impatient and a little arcAMDC-

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Chapter 82

“What, did you swallow a slipper or something?” he teased, his tone dripping with mockery.

Isabelle’s smile froze on her face.

The whole crowd went dead silent for a split second.

Then someone couldn’t hold it in and let out a snort of laughter.

Isabelle’s face went from pale to bright red, then to a deep shade of blue, her expression changing colors like a painter’s palette.

She bit back her frustration, barely holding onto her smile as she turned to Evan,

“Evan, what’s that supposed to mean? I’m just concerned about my sister Natalie, that’s all…” she said, trying to keep her

composure.

“Sister?” Evan cut her off, a mocking half–smile tugging at his lips.

“You’re calling her your sister? Did she ever say you could?” he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Isabelle was caught off guard, her words stuck in her throat as embarrassment flashed across her face.

Evan kept going, “Didn’t the Grant family announce in front of everyone that you two have nothing to do with each other? Now you’re suddenly calling her your sister. What’s that supposed to mean?”

As he spoke, Evan swept a cold glance over the people who’d been gossiping just moments ago.

“And you lot,” he drawled, his tone lazy but sharp, “does her skipping class or getting into fights mess with your lives or something?”

The gossips who’d been running their mouths immediately ducked their heads, not daring to make a sound under his glare.

Evan let out a mocking laugh. “You all gossip like you’re the town’s news station. What, you think you’re all anchors now?”

Isabelle’s skin not covered by makeup was turning a deep, almost purple shade. If she hadn’t slathered on so much foundation, her face would look just like a slab of liver, dark, embarrassed, and impossible to miss.

Her gaze flickered nervously, finally settling on Natalie standing right in front of her.

Natalie looked calm, but Isabelle could see the mocking glint in her eyes, like she was watching a circus act.

Isabelle’s breathing grew heavier, her fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of her dress.

‘Why does this bitch always have that holier–than–thou attitude?‘ Isabelle fumed inwardly.

‘She should be the one being shamed and humiliated, not me!’ she thought bitterly.

Isabelle instinctively straightened her back, thinking to herself, ‘Evan’s only sticking up for her because he has no clue about her dirty secrets.

Just wait till everyone finds out she’s a thief, no way Evan will keep defending her then!

“Evan, why are you sticking up for her? Do you even know why she was kicked out of the Grant family?

Isabelle finally forced the words out, her voice thick with frustration and defiance.

Chapter 82

Evan raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing even more pronounced.

“Why?”

He drawled, clearly amused, “I’m all ears. Go ahead, enlighten me.*

Isabelle took a deep breath, about to spill everything….

“Wait.” Evan suddenly cut in.

He lifted his hand, stopping her cold.

Isabelle froze.

Evan tilted his head, giving her an earnest look that was anything but sincere.

“Before you start, maybe jot down a draft first? I’m afraid if your story gets too ridiculous, I’ll end up laughing out loud, and that wouldn’t be very polite,” Evan said, keeping a straight face.

The crowd tried not to burst out laughing again.

Isabelle’s face flushed bright red, her lips quivering with embarrassment and anger.

“Evan! You can’t do this! She stole things!” Isabelle blurted out, her voice trembling with outrage.

“Hahaha…”

Almost as soon as Isabelle finished talking, Evan was already cracking up, holding his stomach and laughing like crazy.

As soon as Evan started laughing, the whole crowd burst out laughing too.

“Hahahahaha…” The laughter just kept rolling, nobody could stop.

“Man, this is too funny!”

“I don’t even know why I’m laughing, it’s just hilarious!”

Isabelle was totally caught off guard. She just stood there, frozen, watching everyone around her laughing their heads off. completely at a loss for what to do.

“Why, why are you all laughing?!” Isabelle demanded, her voice trembling with both anger and confusion.

Isabelle yelled, her voice shaking with panic, “I’m serious, she really stole things!”

But that only made everyone laugh even harder.

Natalie lowered her lashes, a faint, almost lazy smile tugging at her lips as she watched the scene unfold, looking like she had all the time in the world to enjoy Isabelle’s embarrassment.

“Feeling pretty pleased with yourself, huh? After all, everyone’s staring at you now,” Natalie sard, her tone cool and

unhurried.

Natalie’s voice was quiet and even.

The moment Natalie spoke, Evan stopped laughing, and the rest of the crowd instantly fell silent too.

was any thing but sincere.

He’d been chilling on the third Soor s

In wasn tonnil he were c

He bolted down from the thard Beer pra and Wughing like crazy

Cursing and pushing his against the railing, looking perfectly fr

tugging at her lips as she watched the scene unfold, looking like she had

* was famous for his killer looks. His sharp buzz cut made his features pop, with those bold brows, piercing eyes, a dary nose. That fine, og sick always on his lips gave him that bad–boy charm everyone loved.

His Mark T–drowed off his broad shoulders and dem waist, and just standing there, he was the center of attention Dan Hale’s star power, it was Natalie who stole the show. Everyone’s attention was on her.

In the mider of all these glammed up partygoers, her look stood out for being so understated.

Mood there, war ufted and aloof, as if all the excitement around her had nothing to do with her.