Filed to story: Unmasking the Billionaire: Don’t Mess with the Ex (Victoria & Carter) Book PDF Free
“Sweetie, say hello,” Isabella whispered, pulling Jenarth closer.
Jenarth looked at Victoria, then at Robert, before speaking with rehearsed politeness, “Hello, Ms. Lewis! Hello, Brother Robert!”
Brother?
Robert heard the address and studied Jenarth carefully.
“Carter mentioned Jenarth is six months younger than Robert, so he should address him as brother,” Isabella explained. “Ms. Lewis, Jenarth really wants to be good friends with Robert, and I hope we can be like sisters too.”
“Sisters? Not in this lifetime.” Victoria shrugged, regarding Isabella with utter disinterest. “Carter is trash to me, and anything associated with trash has nothing to do with me.”
“You…” Isabella appeared shocked by Victoria’s bluntness. “Ms. Lewis, that’s not what I meant, I…”
“Isabella, there’s no need for pretense with me. You’re only making me nauseated. Just focus on taking care of your precious Carter, and I sincerely wish you both all the happiness you deserve.”
Noting that Robert had finished eating, Victoria stood. “Robert, let’s go.”
“Okay, Mom.” Robert rose immediately.
“Ms. Lewis, that’s not what I meant, you’ve misunderstood me. I just hope you and Carter can reconcile…” Isabella suddenly reached out to grab Victoria’s hand.
Anticipating the move, Victoria deftly sidestepped before Isabella could make contact.
Caught off guard by Victoria’s swift evasion, Isabella missed her grasp. Seizing the opportunity, she deliberately let herself fall backward.
“Ah…!”
“Ouch…!”
As Isabella fell, her forehead struck the sharp edge of the table.
“Mom!” Jenarth’s cry rang out at the perfect moment.
“Victoria!” A man’s furious shout followed immediately.
The commotion echoed through the restaurant, drawing everyone’s attention. Even the staff hurried over to investigate.
Carter rushed to the scene, anxiously helping Isabella up from the floor. Seeing the red swelling on her forehead, his expression shifted to one of pure rage.
“Victoria, what have you done?”
Victoria stood motionless, observing the unfolding drama with eyes that grew increasingly frosty.
So much for Isabella’s innocent act – it hadn’t lasted long at all. She couldn’t even wait to start her manipulative games right in front of Victoria.
Victoria never laid a finger on her, yet she threw herself backward like a seasoned actress waiting for her cue. What a performance.
And Carter, the so-called observer – completely blind and clueless, unable to distinguish truth from fiction.
“I didn’t do anything.” Victoria’s retort was icy as she took Robert’s hand, preparing to leave.
“Victoria, what’s with that attitude?” Carter shouted, his public composure completely vanishing the moment he saw the swelling on Isabella’s forehead.
“Carter, it’s alright, it really wasn’t Ms. Lewis’ fault,” Isabella quickly interjected, grabbing his arm as if to calm him. “It’s my own weakness – I felt dizzy and lost my balance. Please don’t blame Ms. Lewis, this has nothing to do with her.”
“But Mommy, she pushed you! You just wanted to be friend with her, but she refused and got so angry she pushed you!”
A small, piercing voice suddenly cut through the restaurant’s tense atmosphere.
“Jenarth, don’t say such things,” Isabella quickly responded, struggling to rise from Carter’s supportive embrace. She pulled Jenarth close, her voice softening into a gentle murmur. “I’m fine. I just fell on my own.”
“But, Mommy…” Jenarth buried his face in Isabella’s arms, his voice trembling with feigned injustice. “You always taught me that when we make mistakes, we should admit them, apologize, and make things right. So why doesn’t Ms. Lewis have to say sorry or fix what she did?”
The child’s seemingly innocent words immediately drew hostile glances from nearby diners directed at Victoria.
“Who pushes someone during a meal? What if she’d been seriously hurt? This is completely unacceptable!”
“I heard it too. The woman who got pushed was trying to be friendly, wanting to make peace, and still got shoved. Does she have violent tendencies? Who would want to be friends with someone like that?”
“How could something like this happen at Eve Restaurant?”
“Don’t they have surveillance here? Someone should check the footage to see what really happened.”
“Yes, check the cameras – that will show us the truth.”
*****
The surrounding whispers grew louder, none of them favorable toward Victoria.
A staff member hurried over to explain that their table happened to be in a camera blind spot, so no footage existed of the incident.
“We sincerely apologize,” the staff member said before retreating, not daring to say more.
Carter took in Victoria’s cold expression and snapped, “Victoria, it’s one thing for you to take your frustrations out on me, but how could you lay hands on Isabella?”
“Carter, if I told you I didn’t do it, would you even believe me?” Victoria’s gaze remained steady, her voice like ice.
“You…” Carter met her calm eyes and suddenly realized this might be the last time she would ever ask him that question. This was his final chance.
“Mommy, your forehead is all swollen. Does it hurt?” Jenarth’s worried voice snapped Carter back to reality.
Seeing Isabella’s red, swollen forehead and Jenarth on the verge of tears, Carter didn’t hesitate. “Enough! You’re just doing all this to get my attention. Well, congratulations – you’ve got it.”
Victoria nearly laughed aloud. God, could someone please take out this trash?
These two were like reincarnated garbage – masters of pretense.
“Whatever issues exist between us, we’ll handle them privately. If you have problems, we can discuss them at home. Don’t make a public spectacle like this,” Carter said, positioning himself protectively in front of Isabella. “Now apologize to Isabella.”
“Carter, I’m really fine. Please don’t argue with Ms. Lewis because of me. I’d feel so guilty.” Isabella lowered her head, her voice choking up as if swallowing all her grievances.
“Isabella, you’re just too kind, always considering others,” Carter comforted her. “Since Victoria was in the wrong, I’ll have her apologize to you.”
Victoria looked up, her eyes locking with Carter’s as he spoke again, “Victoria, apologize to Isabella.”
“Carter, you jump to conclusions and assign blame without knowing the facts. I won’t even address that, since you’re clearly blind. But let me remind you – you have no right to order me around,” Victoria retorted, abandoning any pretense of politeness.
“You…” Carter stared at her, shocked by her unreasonable behavior. She had never been like this before.
“Big Jerk! You accused Mommy without even checking the facts! Even police investigate before blaming someone! You just decided it was all Mommy’s fault instead of realizing that scheming woman set her up! You’re either too quick to judge or just a hypocrite!” Robert’s voice suddenly cut through the tension.
Carter turned to stare at his son.
Big Jerk!
His own son dared to call him that? Not even “Dad”, but “Big Jerk”? And calling Isabella a scheming witch? So disrespectful! How had things deteriorated so much in just a few days?
