Chapter 262

The call was about to end when the other line finally connected.

"Ethan..." Isabella's voice trembled with obvious tears. "Please... help me."

Ethan's fingers tightened slightly around his phone, his eyes icy cold.

"What is it?"

"Those recordings Evelyn posted online..." Her voice shook violently. "Everyone's calling me a homewrecker now. Some are even threatening to kill me..."

In the past, hearing her cry like this would have shattered his heart.

But now, all he could see was Evelyn's pale face lying in that hospital bed.

"The Jacksons will protect you."

His indifferent response made her breath hitch. She bit her lip hard. "Ethan... have you really given up on me?"

"Isabella." His voice was glacial. "The moment you chose to leave three years ago, you should have known our ending."

"No!" Her voice rose sharply. "I never wanted to marry anyone else—"

"But for me, it ended three years ago."

A broken laugh escaped her. "So you've fallen for Evelyn now, haven't you?"

"Yes."

That single, decisive word shattered her last delusion.

She finally understood how laughable her self-deception had been.

"Fine. I see." Her voice steadied unnaturally. "But you still owe me Brocade. And those two conditions..."

"Brocade will be transferred to you tomorrow." He cut her off. "Contact Colin if you need anything. The conditions stand whenever you're ready."

A glint of triumph flashed in her eyes.

She knew it—he still couldn't let her go completely.

"But I have one condition."

"What?"

"Stay away from Evelyn." His tone turned lethal. "Or everything I've given you, I can take back."

Her nails dug into her palms.

"Understood."

The call ended abruptly.

Isabella slowly lowered the phone, her tears long dried.

Victoria rushed over. "What did Mr. Sullivan say?"

"He agreed."

Victoria exhaled in relief. "I knew he still cared—"

"Mom!" Isabella snapped. "Never mention him again."

"Why? He just helped you!"

"That was the last time." She stood, walking toward her bedroom without looking back. "We're even now."

The door closed behind her.

She sat before her vanity mirror for a long time.

The woman in the reflection had bloodshot eyes—but her lips curved in a chilling smile.

She'd once believed Ethan would always be hers. Now she saw how wrong she'd been.

But it didn't matter.

Evelyn would pay for this.

Meanwhile, Evelyn was finally permitted to leave Oceanview Mansion.

Returning to her villa at Elm Cove, she found the entrance restored to its original state.

Security footage showed the property management had sent cleaners. Every trace of those vile messages had vanished.

Her lips curled slightly.

That HOA fee was worth every penny.