Chapter 206

Isabella's wheelchair blocked Lucas's path. "Lucas, the doctor insisted you need complete rest and shouldn't experience any emotional distress. Claire is occupied with her date, so I'll be looking after you these next few days."

Lucas's gaze turned icy. "My life is none of your concern! What gives you the right to take care of me?"

Tears welled in Isabella's eyes. "Have you forgotten already? I saved your life! How can you say it's none of my concern?"

"Yes, you saved me. Are you planning to hold that over my head forever? Haven't I repaid that debt a hundred times over? Isabella, I don’t want to resort to force—just leave."

The hatred Lucas felt toward Isabella was so intense, his fingers twitched with the urge to wrap around her throat.

Claire must have misunderstood… That was why she wanted to leave him.

Isabella's tears streamed down her face, but Lucas refused to acknowledge them.

Then, Evelyn, who had been silent until now, spoke up sharply. "Isabella, was it because of you that Claire injured her leg in that stage accident? The one that ended her dancing career?"

At those words, Isabella froze, her tears halting mid-fall.

The accusation hung heavy in the air.

Isabella Rhodes recoiled as if struck. "What are you implying? That I would hurt Claire? Why would I ever—?"

Evelyn Carter didn’t blink. Her gaze was sharp enough to cut through lies.

"Because with Claire out of the way, you’d finally get what you wanted," Evelyn said coldly. "No longer just a backup dancer waiting in the wings. You’d take her spot on stage."

The logic was undeniable. Isabella had the most to gain from Claire’s accident.

"Ridiculous!" Isabella’s voice cracked.

She turned desperately to Lucas Bennett, who was watching her with growing suspicion.

"Lucas, don’t listen to her! She has no proof! This is just a twisted accusation!"

Evelyn’s lips curled. "No proof?" She pulled out her phone. "Then explain why the security footage shows you tampering with the harness wires that day."

The memory of the incident was still fresh.

Claire had been rehearsing an aerial routine, suspended high above the stage. The harness was supposed to keep her safe.

Until it didn’t.

One moment, Claire was soaring gracefully. The next, the wires snapped.

She plummeted.

Two stories. Straight down.

The sound of her body hitting the floor still echoed in Evelyn’s nightmares.

Claire had screamed.

Then silence.

Evelyn’s hands clenched into fists. "You knew exactly what you were doing."

Isabella’s face drained of color.

The truth was undeniable now.

Isabella Rhodes had been panicking at first, but the moment Evelyn Carter mentioned having surveillance footage, her nerves steadied instantly.

That was impossible.

When the "accident" had occurred, they had thoroughly checked every camera in the vicinity.

The system had conveniently malfunctioned that day—nothing had been recorded.

Because Isabella had been the one to pour scalding water onto the surveillance chip, frying it beyond repair.

That was why, in the end, the incident had been dismissed as an unfortunate accident, left unresolved with no further investigation.

Evelyn didn’t actually have the footage.

She was bluffing.

Testing Isabella.

And when she caught that split-second flicker of fear in Isabella’s eyes, Evelyn had her answer.

All these years, no one had ever suspected Isabella.

Not even Claire Dawson, the victim herself, who had believed it was just a tragic mishap.

Kind-hearted people didn’t assume malice where there might be none.

But now it was clear—Isabella hadn’t just tampered with the harness.

She had destroyed the evidence long ago.

That was why she was so calm now.

Lucas Bennett had no idea Evelyn was playing mind games.

He—

Lucas Bennett froze, his face paling at Evelyn Carter's revelation about Claire Dawson's injury being linked to Isabella Rhodes. His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the edge of the table.

"That wasn't an accident?" His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Where's the security footage? I need to see it now."

Isabella's nails dug into her palms. She knew Evelyn couldn't possibly have the evidence, so she forced a wounded expression. "Lucas, don't listen to her lies! She's setting me up. I would never hurt anyone!"

Lucas's jaw tightened. "She's Alexander Whitmore's wife. What possible reason would she have to frame you?"

Evelyn remained calm, pulling out her phone with deliberate slowness. Her fingers danced across the screen before she extended it toward Lucas.

"The original footage was corrupted," she said evenly. "But fortunately, I have connections at Horizon Enterprises. Their lead forensic technician happens to be an old friend."

The air grew thick with tension as Isabella's breath hitched.