“Benjamin, handle this immediately. My personal affairs cannot interfere with my professional responsibilities,” Isabella stated, her tone firm but laced with urgency.

Benjamin knew exactly who she was and treated her with the deference she commanded.

“The group chat has been muted. We’re awaiting Mr. Blackwood’s instructions on how to proceed,” he assured her, his demeanor calm yet sympathetic.

Keeping Isabella’s identity as his wife concealed had always been part of Ethan’s strategy.

Though Benjamin understood Isabella’s predicament, his position prevented him from intervening directly.

Isabella nodded, maintaining her composure as she excused herself and moved through the office toward the break room.

There, she encountered the last thing she needed—a group of her usual critics, casually exchanging the latest gossip about her.

“Who would’ve guessed the quiet, reserved Isabella had such a scandalous side?”

“Right? She’s been trouble from the start. Clearly not as innocent as she appears.”

“Bold enough to play the seductress right under the real girlfriend’s nose. You have to admire her cunning.”

Isabella’s hand trembled slightly as she gripped her cup.

The irony cut deep—she, the legitimate wife, was now being vilified as the other woman.

Unable to defend herself without exposing more of her private life, she took a steadying breath, bracing herself against the slander.

“Isabella!”

She was about to walk away when a familiar voice called her name, halting her in her tracks.

“What’s wrong? Feeling upset?” Sophia’s voice dripped with mocking smugness as she approached.

The white dress she wore today amplified her deceptively innocent allure, making her appear as pristine as a freshly bloomed lily.

Isabella stopped dead, her gaze turning icy as she met Sophia’s eyes. “Was it you?” she demanded, her voice a mix of disbelief and accusation.

The thought of Sophia slandering her was incomprehensible.

Didn’t she fear Ethan might expose their marriage?

Sophia’s lips curled into a sly smile. Instead of answering directly, she leaned closer, her whisper laced with contempt. “I heard you’ve been in love with Ethan for a decade, but the funny thing is—he’s been in love with me just as long. So, tell me, when push comes to shove, do you think he’ll side with you at the brink of a divorce, or will he discard you like a used-up toy?”

A bitter, incredulous laugh escaped Isabella. She fixed Sophia with a steely look. “Are you so certain he’ll choose you? I’ve shared his bed for two years. Do you honestly believe his desires mean nothing?”

Isabella knew Ethan had never been truly intimate with Sophia, at least not before he confessed as much to her.

“You—”

Sophia’s face twisted with hurt and anger. Her hand flew up, poised to strike, but a sudden glimpse of a familiar black suit in her peripheral vision made her hesitate.

Quickly masking her fury with feigned sorrow, she lowered her hand and sighed, “It’s not Ethan’s fault—it’s all on me. Coming back was a mistake.”

“What nonsense are you spouting, Isabella?” Ethan’s voice suddenly cut through the tension.

He strode into the room just as Sophia’s words reached his ears. His gaze, heavy with disapproval, landed squarely on Isabella.