Next was footage of Isabella, freshly released from her grounding, standing on the sidelines and making snide remarks while Serena helped Silas counter the Short Attack.
Then came the debutante gala. She was wearing the knockoff Astral Symphony gown, weaving through the crowd and openly flaunting the dress as if it were YB Atelier's most exclusive masterpiece.
Following that was the footage of her sneaking around, stealing The Heart of the Sea, and slipping it into Black Jack's bag.
Then, she was seen arguing fiercely, turning red in the face as she actively guided the crowd to suspect Black Jack and doubt Serena's friends.
Finally, when the mercenaries attacked, the video showed her shoving Serena toward the gun barrels.
And then, like a complete fool, she was seen rushing forward, faking an attempt to take a bullet for her grandparents.
The grand finale was her groveling on the floor, pinning all the blame entirely on Agnes.
Her face was a mask of sheer ugliness, malice, and depravity.
Frame by frame, it was magnified on the massive screen.
Enlarged until her features looked twisted and grotesque.
Watching herself on the screen, Isabella felt the blood freeze in her veins as an icy chill washed over her.
Even she had to admit...
The person on the screen was disgustingly ugly.
She looked nothing like the flawless socialite she usually portrayed.
She looked like a rat scurrying in the gutter.
It made her dramatic performance in front of the Lancaster family seem comically absurd.
"It's fake... these are fake..." Isabella tried to argue, mumbling to herself. "It's the Vinton family! They want to frame me for Serena's sake! It's maliciously edited... yes, it's all edited!"
Smack!
Edward suddenly grabbed the thick file from the table and hurled it directly at Isabella's face.
The impact made Isabella cry out in pain.
How could they sever the adoption just like that?
Isabella shook her head frantically. "Mom, Dad, you can't do this to me... you can't!"
"Just because I was coerced and forced into making one mistake, you're throwing me away?"
"Serena is fine, isn't she? She's completely unhurt! I've already admitted I was wrong, why..."
Smack!
Another crisp slap echoed through the room.
Catherine's hand struck Isabella across the cheek.
She didn't hold back.
The vicious slap left Isabella's ears ringing.
Catherine's eyes were red, and the hand she used to strike Isabella was shaking uncontrollably. "You have the nerve to mention Serena?"

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