Isabella’s next move shocked everyone in the room.

She snatched the fruit knife from the table in one swift motion.

With her other hand, she seized Sophia by the hair.

A sharp cry echoed through the house.

Then Isabella surged forward, pressing the blade against Victoria’s throat.

The cold steel glinted under the lights, resting on the older woman’s delicate skin.

Victoria froze in terror.

All color drained from her face.

Her body turned icy.

She could feel the chilling metal against her neck.

“What did you do to my grandmother?” Isabella demanded, her voice shaking with rage.

Each word was bitten out through clenched teeth.

It was clear she was holding back a storm of pent-up fury and pain.

Her voice seemed to snap Victoria back to reality.

Doubt flickered in Victoria’s eyes before they narrowed with anger.

She glared at Isabella and shouted, “You’re insane! How dare you hold a knife to me? You wretched lunatic! My grandmother’s condition has nothing to do with me! It was her own—”

“Shut up!” Isabella’s voice cut through the air, sharp and grating. “Did you cause my grandmother’s heart attack?!”

Tears streamed down Sophia’s face as Isabella tightened her grip on her hair.

Sophia lifted her pleading eyes toward Ethan.

“Ethan… save me! Remember, it was I who…” she choked out, hoping to appeal to his sympathy.

Ethan’s frown deepened as he took in the chaotic scene.

Shock wasn’t a strong enough word for what he felt witnessing Isabella’s recklessness.

He could only stare at her with a mix of fear and concern.

“Isabella, calm down,” he said slowly, keeping his voice low and steady. “Let Sophia go. Put the knife down. We can talk this through.”

“Talk?!” Isabella snarled, then let out a cold, mocking laugh. “You expect me to talk to the people who tried to kill my grandmother? What do you take me for?!”

The knife trembled slightly in her hand.

It was a clear sign she might cut Victoria at any moment, intentionally or not.

“Isabella, listen to me…” Ethan raised his hands and took a step forward.

But Isabella’s fiery glare stopped him dead.

“Don’t come any closer!”

The air in the living room grew suffocating.

Everyone’s breathing turned shallow.

Isabella laughed again, just as cold and humorless as before.

She suddenly released Sophia.

Then she swung her arm and delivered a stinging slap across Sophia’s face.

The sound of the impact rang loudly in the silent room.

Caught off guard, Sophia stumbled backward with a gasp.

She cupped her stinging cheek, her head spinning.

Ethan felt a sharp pang in his chest seeing Sophia struck.

His eyes clouded with emotion as he turned back to Isabella.

The pain in his gaze felt like another knife twisting in Isabella’s heart.

Even now, after everything, he still cared about Sophia.

“Ethan,” Isabella said, her voice hollow and cold. “You’re still protecting her, aren’t you? What is she to you, really? Your true love? The one you always wanted? What does that make me? A toy you can use and discard whenever you please?”

“Ethan…” Sophia sobbed loudly. “My face… it hurts so much…”

Ethan’s expression was torn between worry and frustration. “I’m not protecting her, Isabella. I just—”

“Just what?” Isabella cut him off. “You just can’t stand to see her in pain? You just don’t want her upset? For once, Ethan, ask yourself—did you ever really care about me?”