By morning, Isabella's return was the headline of every socialite gossip circle.
["Leonard's ex-wife is back—and she brought arm candy!"]
["From ashes to queen: Isabella's stunning comeback!"]
Even Leonard's boardroom wasn't safe. His assistant hesitated before handing over the morning reports. "Sir… the photos from last night are trending."
He snatched the tablet, face darkening as he saw the image: Isabella, smiling radiantly in Samuel's arms, backlit by crystal chandeliers. She looked powerful. Untouchable. Dangerous.
Across the city, Isabella scrolled through the same photos while sipping her espresso.
Samuel entered her suite with a smirk. "You've got the city talking."
"That's just the start," she replied, not looking up. "They'll forget the whispers. I want them to kneel."
He laughed, impressed. "So, what's next?"
Isabella closed her tablet. "Leonard still owns majority shares in Hartwell Industries. I'm going to change that."
"You planning to buy him out?"
She shook her head. "No. I'm going to bleed him out. Legally. Elegantly. And slowly."