“She had no real option but to comply with Mr. Blackwood’s instruction.” Vanessa let out a low laugh.

Sophia’s soft laughter followed, laced with unmistakable satisfaction. “Perfect. This time, make certain she has no way out. I want her ruined beyond repair.”

“Don’t worry, Miss Reed,” Vanessa assured quickly. “I’ll handle every detail personally. She’ll be trapped.”

“Good,” Sophia replied, her voice dripping with contentment. “What about the Eternal Promise design drafts? Has she submitted them yet?”

“They’re right here on my desk,” Vanessa confirmed without delay.

“Excellent,” Sophia drawled, her tone relaxed yet threatening. “Remember, her reputation must be utterly destroyed.”

Ending the call, Vanessa set her phone down, a malicious smile twisting her lips. She picked up the drafts from her desk, her gaze sharp and calculating. She was eager to see how Isabella would try to wriggle out of this one.

Back in her office, Isabella ran her fingers lightly over the intricate, gold-embossed details of the invitation. A faint, knowing smile touched her lips.

“Design Visionaries? They’re truly reaching,” she murmured to herself.

Did they honestly think she was blind to their schemes? They wanted her to humiliate herself publicly at the event and destroy her credibility for good.

But their plans were about to backfire. Little did they know, she had secured her own invitation to Design Visionaries.

After wrapping up her work, Isabella gathered her things and left the office. She headed toward the entrance of the Blackwood Enterprises building, intending to hail a cab. Having returned to the country recently, she hadn’t bought a car yet. With an early finish today, she decided it was the perfect opportunity to look at some potential apartments.

The evening air carried a crisp, early autumn chill. Isabella tightened her coat and gazed into the distance. Just then, a man approached her. It was Benjamin.

“Miss Scott, Mr. Blackwood requests your presence.”

Isabella glanced toward the parked Maybach nearby. “That won’t be necessary,” she responded coolly. “I have other plans.”

Benjamin looked uneasy. “But Mr. Blackwood was very specific—”

“Mr. Clark,” Isabella cut him off. “My time after work is my own. It is not subject to Mr. Blackwood’s approval.”

With that, she turned, walked to the curb, flagged down a taxi, and left in a cloud of dust. Benjamin stood watching the cab disappear, then sighed helplessly. He pulled out his phone and called Ethan.

“Mr. Blackwood, Miss Scott refused.”

In the back seat of the Maybach, Ethan’s expression turned to ice. “Find out where Isabella went.”

Benjamin nodded. “Yes, Mr. Blackwood.”

Ending the call, he stared out at the flowing traffic, his lips pressed into a tight, frustrated line.

Later, at a real estate agency, Isabella pointed to a photo of a property, her brow furrowed. “The lighting in this one is poor, and it’s too far from Liam’s school,” she noted.

The agent quickly offered another option. “What about this one? It’s well-ventilated, newly renovated, located in an excellent community. It’s also very close to an elementary school and several kindergartens.”

Isabella’s eyes lingered on the photo of the two-bedroom apartment, appreciating its simple, elegant decor. It was quite appealing. But she still shook her head. “It’s slightly above my budget.”

The agent tried to persuade her further, but Isabella had already stood up. “I’ll consider it.”