That smile, bright and deceptively innocent, pierced Isabella’s eyes like a shard of glass.

Assuming Isabella was unaware of Sophia’s identity, Chloe leaned in helpfully, her voice hushed and curious. “Isabella, that’s the CEO’s rumored girlfriend, Sophia Reed.”

“They certainly appear close,” Isabella replied, her tone devoid of emotion.

“I heard Sophia had a heart episode last night. The CEO was so worried he rushed her to the hospital and stayed by her side all night. He only just returned this morning,” Chloe whispered, careful not to be overheard.

A sharp, hot spike of jealousy stabbed Isabella’s heart, spreading a cold, numbing ache.

So, her memories were nothing more than a foolish fantasy.

With unwavering devotion, Ethan had stayed with Sophia at the hospital, keeping vigil through the long, dark hours.

He couldn’t possibly have found the time to check on her at home. Despite the storm raging inside her, Isabella’s exterior remained a mask of calm. All she desired was to escape the scene.

Yet, unexpectedly, Sophia glided to her side. A practiced, saccharine smile was plastered on her face as she addressed Isabella.

“Good morning, Isabella. My apologies, but Ethan was overly concerned about me and spent the entire night at the hospital by my side. He’s just fetching me a glass of water now. It’s so rare to find a man so thoughtful.”

Isabella responded with an icy smirk, her voice a low, scornful whisper meant only for Sophia’s ears. “Tell me, Sophia, if the whole world knew you were the homewrecker in my marriage to Ethan, could you still parade around as the future Mrs. Blackwood?”

The Blackwood family prized their reputation above all else.

At Isabella’s pointed insinuation, Sophia’s face drained of all color, turning ghostly pale.

That miserable bitch, Isabella, actually had the audacity to threaten her! Seething, Sophia watched as Isabella turned sharply and strode away, not once glancing back.

Ethan, returning with a glass of water, looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of Isabella’s retreating figure.

A wave of inexplicable unease washed over him, leaving him restless and unsettled.

Like fine sand slipping through his fingers, Ethan felt something essential drifting irretrievably away.

He immediately buried the unsettling sensation deep within.

With a detached glance at Sophia, he stated in a flat, unyielding tone, “Alright, I’m returning to the office.”

Sophia gave a small, compliant nod, her expression perfectly docile.

Yet, as she watched Ethan’s imposing silhouette disappear down the corridor, her lips twisted into a smug, victorious smirk.

In her mind, it was clear—she still held a firm grip on his heart.

With just a touch of her cunning, she had ensnared him once again.

But beneath that triumph, a bitter seed of resentment toward Isabella, Ethan’s legal wife, took root. Sophia’s thoughts darkened.

If only Isabella hadn’t left for overseas, she never would have had the chance to wedge herself into Ethan’s life.

Now was the perfect moment—Sophia was dead set on ensuring Isabella ended up divorced and utterly discarded.

A new scheme brewing in the depths of her twisted heart, Sophia’s heels clicked authoritatively against the polished floor as she entered the secretarial office.

Her eyes sparkled with manipulative delight as she addressed the room, her voice dripping with condescension. “There’s a crucial dinner tonight, and I require two of you to accompany me. Who’s coming?” She scanned every face with a predatory grin.