Isabella rose to her feet after shedding enough tears, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Despite the weight of her own emotions, she knew she had to be strong for her mother. She wiped away her tears, a futile attempt to conceal her inner turmoil.

Heaviness filled her heart, but she suppressed her emotions, something she had been doing all her life in this city, in his household, around this particular family, led by the man who was supposed to be her father and shield from the world's cruelty.

There was no use crying about her destiny, which wouldn't change anytime soon.

She knew she had to endure until she and her mother could escape this place, a day that seemed to slip further away with each passing moment.

Knowing Evelyn would cause an uproar and throw a tantrum if she didn't see her there, Isabella quickened her pace.

As soon as she walked inside the hall, everyone's gaze turned to her, and she gulped.

Nothing good was going to come out of it. She could feel it.

“Where were you?” Evelyn asked.

Macy scoffed.

“Where could she have gone? She knows how much you care for her. That's why she likes going MIA, so you worry about her. Such a pathetic way to grab attention, I swear,” Macy said.

Isabella looked down at her feet, feeling weirdly cold.

Her bangs fell softly on her forehead, and her teary eyes made her look beautiful in the light shining on her.

Even in the worn-out dress, she looked beautiful and innocent.

“I went…” Isabella started to give an excuse, but Evelyn cut her off.

“Alex had been looking for you. You were so excited about meeting him and put so much effort into getting ready today,” Evelyn trailed off.

Everyone looked at Isabella's appearance and noticed she indeed looked dressed up.

“What is so special about her way of dressing? She took the dress from you and copied your style. At this point, if Alex proposes a dance to her, won't it look like he wants to be with you but is actually settling for the cheapest version of you?” Laura smirked.

Evelyn looked at Isabella, who stood there and took their insults like a silent lamb, just like how she had acted all along.

“Guys, don't bully her. How often do I have to tell you not to badmouth her?” Evelyn asked in a soft voice, blinking her eyes innocently. Everyone's heart softened at her persona.

“Isabella,” Alex stepped forward.

The girl raised her gaze to meet his.

His expression was soft, even soothing, like she remembered he always had been.

A sense of self-mockery settled in her heart as she looked at his handsome face. Now that she knew the truth, she couldn't even imagine what he must've thought all the times she had come close to him, brought him drinks, and whatnot.

All those endless chats, their meetings on the terrace, his smiles, and how he cared for her—everything that made her happy suddenly felt disgusting.

Due to her crying earlier, her face glowed mesmerizingly, and her eyes were crystal clear yet glossy, giving her an angelic appearance. Alex froze for a second when, for the first time, he didn't see a smile on her face.

She wasn't blushing or looking at him nervously like she used to.

But how could this be possible? How would he end this for once and all and impress Evelyn with his performance if Isabella acted like this?

“Isabella—” Alex started, but Isabella smiled.

This time, her smile wasn't that of a girl with a crush but mocking herself inwardly for falling for a guy like this.

“Alex, you have always liked Evelyn; so what's the point of asking me for a dance?” Isabella asked.

Alex froze in his place.

“What do you—” he started again, and Isabella sighed.

“I always knew you liked my sister. The only reason you tried to get close to me was because of my sister. It's the last meeting before we leave for different paths; let's drop the act now,” Isabella said.

Though she didn't want to be harsh since it was her fault for not recognizing the truth about him and falling for his lies, she didn't want to give him the happiness of feeling like he won at the expense of her emotions either.

Isabella sighed before she looked at Evelyn.

“Are you blaming me, Isabella?” Evelyn asked, her eyes brimming with tears.

As soon as everyone saw this, they immediately scowled.

“What a cunning woman! You found some other man, and that's why you want to reject Alex, who has always been good to you, and to dodge the blame; you laid it at the feet of your sister, who always looks out for you,” Symphony scorned.

“You are such a bitch, Isabella,”

“Well, what can we expect from a girl born out of wedlock? Her mother probably taught her these techniques to hook a man.”

“Evelyn has always looked out for her, even when she and her mother ruined her life, but ungratefulness is in their blood.”

Everyone started murmuring around Isabella, and she bowed her head, tears rolling down her cheeks.

She didn't want to retaliate, but how could she bear it when they were cursing her sick mother, who was fighting for life and death every day?

“Is it my fault that Alex made a bet with his friends to make me fall in love with him?” Isabella asked, voicing her thoughts for the first time.

Everyone stopped talking.

Alex and Evelyn froze. They didn't need anyone to tell them that Isabella probably heard their conversation earlier.

“What do you mean, Isabella? I always thought you were a decent girl. I didn't want to ruin your decency and, thus, kept my control even when you threw yourself at me. Are you avenging us because I complained to your sister and asked her to keep you in check?” Alex asked.

He wanted to do and say anything to escape the guilt trip, so he didn't think twice before ruining Isabella's character.

Isabella's pupils dilated when she heard his words.

Did she throw herself at him?

This time, she couldn't control herself. She was bored with everything and tried to keep her character clean, even when put in a spot so many times because of her weakness.

How could she allow someone with an ugly character to badmouth her to this level?

Without thinking twice, she raised her hand and slapped Alex.

“You disgust me, Alex. How could you stoop so low?” Isabella asked, tears streaming down her face.

Everyone was shocked. They looked at Alex, who seemed equally surprised. It was as if someone had knocked some sense into him, and he realized what he was doing.

Seeing the betrayal and a look of pure hurt and pain in Isabella's eyes, he was about to apologize and explain when Evelyn held her hand.

“Isabella, quickly apologize. Why are you throwing a tantrum? It's okay. We are at an age where we slip sometimes. We are all mature enough to understand. Don't make such a big deal out of it,” Evelyn said.

Her words added fuel to the fire, thus confirming what Alex said earlier was true.

Isabella wanted to complain, but the grip on her wrist, tightening each second and promising her nothing good, kept her from retaliating.

This could turn bad for her and her mother if she persisted and left with no choice; she sighed with regret.

“I…I am sorry,” Isabella said. She was about to turn and leave when someone deliberately bumped into her, emptying her glass of champagne on her dress.

“Oops, I guess dirty people don't deserve to look clean,” The girl said, and everyone chuckled.

Isabella stood there, the champagne dripping from her dress.

Since the teachers had left earlier to let the students celebrate, no one could stop them. Then again, she suffered all this even when they were present. So it didn't matter.

“Let's go for a dance. I don't want this night to be spoiled because of a cheap slut,” Laura didn't control her mouth and pulled Evelyn away.

Isabella was left alone and sad in the space, just like her life and destiny were pitiful and pathetic.

She had no place here from the very beginning, and thus, she turned on her heels to leave.

She had walked only a few steps when her phone rang, and she looked at it with furrowed brows.

“Hello?” she said.

“Hello, Isabella?” The head maid, someone who pitied them as human beings and took the responsibility to care for her mother whenever she was out, said,

“Yes–”

“Something is happening to your mother, Isabella. Come home quickly,” The head maid said.

Isabella froze in her place for a second.

“W-what happened?” She stammered.

“I don't know. Just come quickly,” The head maid ended the call.

Isabella looked at the phone before she rushed out of the school.

It was nighttime, and no taxi was available, but then again, it wasn't like she could really afford one.

She ran in the direction of the house, a route all too familiar as she had to run back to the house almost every other day.

The thunderclaps once again echoed in the sky, and Isabella dreaded the worst.

It started pouring heavily. Her dress stuck to her body like a second skin as she ran as fast as possible.

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her limbs were hurting, and the weakness from the blood donation was already making her feel on the verge of death, but something inside her told her to keep going.

“The weather is atrociously stormy today,” Zaniel commented as they stood on the terrace of one of the hotels.

He looked at his friend, who was deep in thought, and raised his brows.

“You must be happy. Isn't this your favorite weather?” Zaniel asked.

Lucian looked at his friend.

“I like the clear sky that appears after the storm,” he answered as he saw Isabella running at some distance, his brows lifted in mere amusement.

Isabella reached the house, drenched from head to toe.

“Why are you looking like a peasant who—” Her stepmother started, but Isabella wouldn't wait to hear her.

She rushed straight to their room, where she had left her mother sleeping.

She opened the door with a bang, looked at her mother, who was sleeping peacefully, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Isabella turned to the head maid.

“You scared me. Why would you say things like—” Isabella stopped speaking when she saw the housemaid barely controlling her tears.

She gulped, taking a deep breath.

She walked to her mother's side.

“Why are you exaggerating? She is just asleep. Did she not move when you called out to her?” Isabella said, placing her hand on her mother's forehead.

Her heart thumped loudly against her chest when she felt her cold body.

Her mother, who always complained about how hot she felt because of the medicines, had suddenly become cold.