Isabella's pupils constricted sharply.

Her gaze locked onto the lanky man in work clothes standing in the center of the living room.

That sun-darkened face. Those calloused hands. And the scar above his left eyebrow.

No mistake.

It was the same worker who had deliberately dropped the steel barrel at the construction site.

A chill crawled up her spine.

Her fists clenched until her nails bit into her palms.

"Miss Valentine seems rather tense?" Ethan swirled his wine glass lazily.

Isabella snapped back to reality.

She forced a smile. "Ethan, who is this—"

"Don't recognize him?" Ethan's lips curled coldly. "Four days ago at the site, he nearly took your life."

Eleanor set down her chopsticks. "What's going on?"

Victor frowned. "Ethan, speak plainly."

Ethan rose and approached the worker. "This man is a steelworker from the Riverbend Project. Four days ago, someone paid him a hundred thousand to 'accidentally' drop a barrel when I passed by."

He emphasized the word "accidentally."

The worker trembled, head bowed. "M-Mr. Sullivan is right..."

"Who hired you?" Victor barked.

The man dropped to his knees. "The V-Valentines..."

"Lies!" Isabella shrieked, leaping to her feet. "You're slandering us!"

Tears welled instantly as she turned to Victor. "Uncle Sullivan, someone must be framing our family—"

Ethan scoffed. "Framing?"

He played a recording from his phone.

"Ten thousand when it's done. Make sure it looks convincing..." Victoria's voice rang unmistakably clear.

Silence swallowed the room.

Isabella's face drained of color.

She lunged at the worker. "You recorded us?"

Ethan intercepted her. "Lashing out now?"

Eleanor sighed. "So young, yet so calculating."

"It wasn't me!" Isabella wept dramatically. "My mother did this behind my back—"

Victor slammed the table. "Enough!"

He stood, face stormy, and strode out without a backward glance.

"Uncle Sullivan!" Isabella moved to follow but Ethan blocked her path.

"Finished performing?" His eyes were glacial.

Isabella bit her lip. "Ethan, let me explain—"

"Save it for the police." He dialed a number. "We have both witness and evidence. Proceed with the arrest."

Her legs gave way, collapsing beneath her.

At last, she realized—she'd walked straight into Ethan's trap.

Thirty minutes later, sirens wailed through Sullivan Manor.

Watching Isabella being led to the squad car, Sophia asked softly, "You knew all along?"

Ethan drew her close. "From the moment she pushed me away."

He tilted her chin up. "Still angry?"

Sophia turned her face aside. "You hugged her."

"It was an emergency." He pinched her cheek. "I promise—no one but you from now on."

Eleanor chuckled. "That's more like it."

Outside, the police car sped away.

Isabella pressed against the window, glaring at the illuminated manor until it vanished from sight.

She'd finally learned what it meant to be hoist by her own petard.