NovelUSAChapter 215 Richard forced a smile. "Isadora, your mother's not well. Why don't you move back in for a while? I'm sure she'd recover faster if you were around." Isadora's gaze instantly chilled as she looked at him.
"I'm not a doctor, Richard.standing there watching her isn't going to make her better, is it?" Her father's face darkened at her words. Realizing this tactic wouldn't work, he cut straight to the point. "Fine. Then at least help your old man out-set up a meeting with Victor. He's your boyfriend, isn't he? After all this time, don't you think it's the met your family?" Isadora gave a short, cold laugh.
"Sure, so you can talk business and grill him about career plans, right? Sorry to disappoint you, but Victor and I aren't exactly on speaking terms." That much was true.
She and Victor had just ended things, and were now negotiating a timeline for going their separate ways. Not that it would matter if she could help.
Even if she had that kind of influence, the last thing she wanted was to do any more favors for the Vaughan family.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBy now, Isadora understood exactly what kind of man Richard was-he'd always put his own interests above everything, even family. But she hadn't realized how far he'd go, or how many affairs he'd had behind everyone's back.
Richard hadn't always been the powerful man he was now; he started out broke, a nobody.
It was only after marrying Eleanor and with the support-and no small amount of startup cash-from her family, that Richard managed to build up what becthe Vaughan family empire.
But just as the Vaughan Mall started making a nfor itself, Eleanor's family business began to falter. Richard had called it a "merger," but in truth, he'd swallowed up Eleanor's family's small company and folded it into his own.
He was the textbook definition of selfish and ungrateful, a man who turned his back on those who helped him. Isadora had lost every last illusion she'd once held about her own father.
Richard's anger flared, his brows knitting together. "You ungrateful child! Do you even recognizeas your father anymore? As long as I'm your dad, you'll do as I say!" Isadora's voice stayed calm. "Leaving the Vaughan Group was proof enough that I want nothing more from you." With that, she ignored Richard's curses trailing behind her and walked out.
She drove in silence, her mind racing.
At a stoplight on a quiet corner, she saw a little girl-maybe five years old-trip on a stone and tumble to the ground.
The child burst into loud, heartfelt sobs.
Her mother, walking just steps away, immediately rushed over, scooped her up in her arms, and soothed her with laughter and gentle words.
They passed in front of Isadora's car, the sight illuminating the difference between their world and hers.
A memory surfaced-crossing the street as a child with her foster mother, Carla.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmShe remembered falling, scraping her knee, and looking up to see Carla, several paces ahead, turn at the commotion.
Carla frowned, her face icy, and then turned away, walking on without a word.
Isadora had picked herself up alone, limping on her injured foot falling further and further behind as the light changed and impatient horns blared. That day, her strongest memory was of Carla's cold, unyielding back and the paralyzing fear of being hit by a car.
Throughout her childhood, Carla had never hugged her, neve r, never evencheld her hand-treating her like nothing more than an unwanted burden. So Isadora learned to tiptoe through life in that house, always anxious not to upset her foster mother. Because if Carla was displeased, she'd pinch Isadora's arms and legs, over and over, until her skin burned.
No wonder that, when she was finally reunited with the Vaughan family Isadora was of Werwhelmed by a sense of hope-convinced she'd finally get the love she deserved. But every tshe watched Eleanor dote on Pearl Vaughan, Isadora felt a stab of jealousy and pain she couldn't shake.
Even now, with Eleanor finally trying to make amends, Isadora couldn't seem to let go of the past.
The memories burned behind her eyes, and she felt tears threatening to spill.
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