Chapter 4

Isabelle woke up a full day later. The wounds on her back had been treated, and she no longer felt pain. Noah sat beside her, casually smoking. Through the wafting smoke, he coldly said, "Amber is upset. You need to make it up to her." Isabelle stared at him blankly. "What do you mean, Mr. Ashford?" Hearing her formal address, Noah's expression darkened. He stubbed out his cigarette and traced her lips with a finger dusted with ash. "Darling, don't be stubborn with me," he threatened. A sudden chill ran through Isabelle's body as Charles' warning echoed in her mind. "Noah only likes obedient dogs. If you're set on staying, you'd better get used to being one." At the time, she thought Charles was just trying to break them apart. Now, she understood. Noah's love was possessive and selfish. He controlled everything, and she could only depend on him. She lowered her gaze, hiding the fear in her eyes, and nodded obediently. "Got it." Noah smiled approvingly. Then, he gently applied medicine to her back. "Prepare a violin piece for Amber. She wants a solo," he said. Wherever his fingers touched, her skin went ice-cold. As night fell, Isabelle arrived at the event in a long-sleeved champagne-colored gown. She also wore glittering jewelry. The driver had dropped her off at one of the Ashford Corporation's grandest hotels, where nearly the entire upper circle of the capital had gathered. Most of the women wore sleek, minimal dresses and soft, natural-looking makeup. In contrast, Isabelle's elaborate outfit made her stand out. As soon as she appeared, the room filled with whispers. People looked at her with disdain, pity, and mockery. "Is she here to perform or what? A beggar will always be a beggar. She's trying to cover herself in jewels but still can't fit in." "Mr. Ashford just dumped her. This is just a desperate attempt for attention. She looks like a clown." "She couldn't compare to Ms. Scott even if she tried. What an ugly little duckling." Their words weighed down on her like a heavy fog. She remembered attending events with Noah in the past. Once, someone had mocked her for being a former beggar, and Noah had that person's mouth sewn shut. He even declared that anyone who dared insult her would be erased from Thornbridge. These socialites were masters at adapting to power. Now that they saw Noah no longer cared for her, they mocked her without restraint. It wasn't until Noah arrived with Amber that the whispers abruptly ceased. Isabelle followed their gaze and saw Amber standing at the entrance in a light-colored spaghetti-strap dress, with her hair pulled into a high ponytail. She walked in proudly. Suddenly, Isabelle understood why Noah treated Amber so differently. Amber reminded him of the girl she used to be. When Isabelle first entered the Ashford family, she had been just as carefree and radiant. Back then, she had never once felt ashamed of having grown up as a beggar. However, Noah was the one who said he disliked her bold and carefree ways. After they married, he made her tone herself down and become obedient. Isabelle's eyes dimmed. A strange heaviness settled in her chest. When she saw everyone fawning over Amber, she turned to leave. Just then, Amber's haughty voice rang out behind her. "Mr. Ashford, didn't you say you had something planned for me tonight?" Everyone around them watched Noah's expression carefully. No one had ever dared speak to him that way. Even Isabelle had always been cautious and obedient in front of him back when she was still in his favor. But now, Noah didn't seem the least bit bothered. He wore a faint smile, indulging Amber's arrogance as if it meant nothing to him. He nodded and pulled Amber into the seat beside him. With a snap of his fingers, someone immediately stepped forward with a violin and brought it to Isabelle. She turned around, took the violin from the staff, and met the stares of everyone in the room. Gripping the violin tightly, she looked past the crowd and locked eyes with Noah. Her heart grew even more numb. She had once loved the violin. She dreamed of joining an orchestra, but Noah said no one else could ever hear her play. Everything about her, including her music, belonged to him alone. At that moment, Isabelle let out a bitter laugh, realizing that all it took to break Noah's so-called principles was someone like Amber. She took a deep breath and began playing an Adagio in G minor. The mournful notes echoed through the air like the sound of a breaking heart. That performance marked the end of her and Noah. From that moment on, she would no longer love him. Noah frowned. He felt an odd wave of frustration and unease as he watched Isabelle. Her entire being was wrapped in grief, and he could not bear it. "That's enough," Amber suddenly said, cutting her off. "It's way too depressing. You're ruining the mood. You were the one who asked for the divorce. I didn't force you. There's no need to act so pitiful." She feigned blunt honesty as she mocked Isabelle. Ignoring the taunt in Amber's eyes, Isabelle looked down and said nothing. Amber clenched her fists and turned to Noah with frustration in her eyes. "Mr. Ashford, did you bring her here just to humiliate me?" she asked. It was loud enough for everyone to hear. Everyone fell silent, waiting to see how Noah would react. He had never tolerated disrespect from anyone.