Chapter 3

Isabella stepped forward just in time to support Davina, her tone soft and gentle. "Davina, I'm sure Victoria has her reasons. Please don't be too hard on her." The rest of the Chambers family didn't bother hiding their annoyance. Aside from Old Mrs. Chambers, none of them ever truly accepted Victoria. To them, Isabella was the only one worthy of Theodore. Even Amelia Brooks couldn't help but sneer, "Ever since she married Elijah while she was abroad and Grace vanished, and now the moment he died, she turns around and gets with you? What kind of heartless woman..." She stopped mid-sentence, the rest of the words dying in her throat when she caught sight of Theodore's cold, dark stare. His gaze was sharp, his expression unreadable, and the mood in the room instantly dropped several degrees. Just then, the weakened voice of Old Mrs. Chambers cut through the silence. "I'm still alive, aren't I? What's all this fuss about?" Everyone turned toward the bed at once. "How are you feeling? Should we get the doctor?" Carlos Chambers quickly asked, eyes full of concern. But she ignored him. Her gaze went right past everyone else and landed on Victoria. Finally, a faint smile touched her wrinkled face. She slowly lifted her hand. "Victoria, come here." Even Isabella, who was usually the center of attention, found herself overlooked. Behind her sunglasses, her expression shifted slightly—obviously displeased. Victoria walked over. The moment she was close, Old Mrs. Chambers grasped her hand tightly, then motioned for Theodore to come closer too. She clasped their hands together, her eyes full of warmth and hope. "I've had one foot in the grave more times than I can count lately, but I'm still here—waiting on you two to give me a great-grandbaby! You two better put in the effort, got it? " Victoria stared at the floor, not knowing how to tell her about the divorce. That wish...wasn't going to come true. She just stayed quiet, letting the words hang in the air. Davina clenched her fists. "She's not fit to carry a Chambers child!" She stepped forward, clearly ready to pull Victoria away, but Carlos subtly stopped her with a press of the hand and a shake of the head—now wasn't the time. Then came the shocker—something no one in the room saw coming. Old Mrs. Chambers reached under her pillow and pulled out an exquisitely crafted velvet box. Her fingers trembled as she opened it. Inside lay a gemstone brooch, its surface glimmering with rich, vibrant hues. The setting was delicate yet intricate, and the jewel itself flawless—radiant, translucent, and breathtakingly refined. This wasn't just any bracelet. It was the Chambers family heirloom—worth a fortune now. "This is my gift to you," Old Mrs. Chambers said firmly. "To me, you're the only granddaughter-in-law who counts." It was a pointed message—and clearly meant for Isabella to hear. The room fell into silence. Reactions varied. Davina looked like she'd just witnessed betrayal. After all those years of catering to the old woman, not once was she offered the heirloom. And Victoria? In just three years, she'd managed to earn the ultimate token of favor. Davina shot her a look filled with venom. What a calculating woman. Isabella bit her crimson lip. Seeing Theodore remain silent, a wave of anxiety flooded her chest. "I'm really sorry, but I should get going. There's something I need to take care of." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and left. Theodore didn't hesitate for a second. He pulled his hand away and strode out after her. The sudden emptiness at her side hit Victoria hard. Theodore noticed the smallest changes in Isabella—the fleeting tension in her gaze, the silence that lingered just a moment too long. But her? She had to keep pretending, had to swallow every rising lump in her throat. Old Mrs. Chambers saw her grandson bolt like that and was furious. "Theodore!" She coughed violently, her anger barely contained.Everyone took the chance to chime in. "Mom, have you forgotten who she really is? How could you hand over our family heirloom to her? She's not even worthy of laying a finger on it!" "Exactly! Don't let her go out there embarrassing the Chambers name. You're just too soft-hearted and got fooled by someone like her." The noise bubbled around her. Old Mrs. Chambers frowned, and with just one cold glance, silenced everyone. "This is my decision. If any of you got a problem with it, keep it to yourself." The room quieted down. Victoria spoke up on her own accord. "Grandma, this is way too valuable, I really can't accept it. Please keep it." "Nonsense. No matter how valuable it is, what matters is that I want you to have it." Without sparing a glance at the others, Old Mrs. Chambers took the brooch and fastened it to Victoria's dress with quiet finality. Victoria barely had time to protest, the cool metal was already resting above her heart, its vivid shine impossible to ignore. ... Around the corner in the hallway, two figures stood closely together. Victoria stopped without thinking, frozen in her tracks. Isabella trembled slightly, her voice shaky and soft as she cried, all her frustration pouring out. "Your grandma gave the heirloom to her... But what about me? Am I just the one who came between you and her? If you've made up your mind to choose her, then you can just go back to her..." Smart people know how to pull back just enough to push harder. Theodore gently ruffled her hair, his eyes shadowed with something deep, though the emotion quickly faded. He said calmly, "Victoria and I are divorced. After things settle down with Grandma, I'll go public with our relationship." Hearing that, the tension in Isabella's shoulders eased a little. So he did care—only about her. With joy lighting up her face, she threw her arms around Theodore and leaned her chin on his shoulder. She glanced at Victoria from afar, the faintest smirk playing on her lips. Victoria held her head high as she walked away, teeth clenched. Every step echoed with the weight of words she refused to say, her fury pulsing just beneath her skin. This time, she was done with Theodore. The moment she reached the ground floor, her phone rang. A familiar number flashed on the screen. She gripped her phone tightly, hesitating before finally picking up. She didn't speak first, just waited for the voice on the other end. "Gina's funeral is coming up. Bring Theodore with you." The voice was low, hoarse, carrying the weight of sorrow—it hurt just to hear it. Victoria didn't want to go. But now, she hesitated. There was silence, then William Ellis sighed. "I know you've already heard what happened to Gina. Your mother... she's barely holding on. You're all she has left now. Come see her, okay?" Victoria wanted to say something comforting, but the words stuck, and all she could manage was a stiff, "Take care." "The funeral will be the day after tomorrow, nine in the morning. I'll text you the location." "Okay." In the end, she just couldn't say no. But now another problem—how was she supposed to bring Theodore to the funeral? After a minute of quiet frustration, she sighed and headed to Theodore's place. She figured he was having some romantic dinner with Isabella. He wouldn't let her feel neglected, right? Probably brought her here just to spite Victoria. So, she grabbed the divorce papers and came to drop them off—then she'd be gone. With that thought, she pushed open the door. The sight stunned her. The living room lights were dim, the warm glow casting a soft, ambiguous mood. She froze in place, immediately sensing something was off. Just as she turned to leave— "Victoria." A voice stopped her, and she had no choice but to look back.