Arrived 226

Selene expresses her frustration over their small scale in facing big capital but refuses to give up without a fight, while Lana offers to help by drafting a lawyer’s letter to demand compensation. Meanwhile, Isabelle faces a series of mysterious and frightening attacks, including her car being scratched, security cameras malfunctioning, a violent assault in a mall restroom, and a near acid attack. These incidents leave her terrified and unwilling to leave her home, prompting her to call Isaac for help.

Isaac responds by sending people to investigate, but before they can make progress, damaging stories about Isabelle’s businesses surface online. These revelations expose fake certifications, expired medicines, malpractice, and accidents, leading victims to come forward. Isabelle’s personal information is leaked, intensifying public outrage and resulting in physical attacks against her by extremist groups. Overwhelmed by the backlash, Isabelle pleads with Isaac to find the culprits and protect her.

Isaac, however, loses patience and harshly criticizes Isabelle for her reckless investments and the chaos she has caused, including dragging Monroe Corp into the scandal. This confrontation leaves Isabelle feeling ashamed and betrayed, questioning Isaac’s promise to always support her. Shortly after, she calls Nathaniel for comfort, only to face cold rejection as he worries about the impact on Hartwell Group and distances himself from her troubles. Despite Nathaniel’s attempts to soften his stance, Isabelle realizes she cannot rely on either her brother or her fiancé in this crisis, deepening her sense of isolation.

Selene clenched her jaw tightly, frustration evident in her voice. “Exactly. We’re still too small to take on big capital head-on. But I can’t just sit back and let this go without a fight.”

Lana exhaled deeply, her expression softening. “I’ll draft a lawyer’s letter for you. At the very least, we can demand some compensation from her.”

In the days that followed, strange and unsettling events began to plague Isabelle whenever she stepped outside her home. Her car was mysteriously scratched, the marks appearing overnight without explanation. When she hurried to check the security cameras for clues, she found they were inexplicably malfunctioning—no footage had been recorded at all.

One afternoon at the mall, Isabelle was ambushed in the restroom. A bag was suddenly pulled over her head, and she was roughly beaten. Had it not been for the quick intervention of her bodyguard, she might have been abducted. The memory of that terrifying moment left her shaken to the core.

On another occasion, someone attempted to throw acid at her. She barely managed to dodge in time, escaping with only a narrow miss from permanent disfigurement. The fear gripping her heart grew heavier with each attack.

Huddled inside her home, Isabelle refused to leave, trembling with anxiety. She called Isaac in tears, her voice breaking as she confessed, “Someone’s targeting me. I’m scared, Isaac. Please, you have to do something.”

Isaac acted swiftly, dispatching people to investigate the incidents. But before his team could make much progress, a series of explosive stories erupted online.

Every business Isabelle had invested in—from beauty salons and gyms to music centers and even pet hospitals—was exposed in a devastating light. Fake staff certifications were revealed, expired and counterfeit medicines were found, and reports of malpractice and accidents surfaced.

Victims who had previously been silenced by hush money began stepping forward, emboldened by the growing public outcry. More and more people shared their harrowing experiences openly.

To make matters worse, Isabelle’s personal information was leaked across social media, intensifying the backlash. The internet was ablaze with fury. She was vilified as a ruthless capitalist, and extremist groups went so far as to track her down and physically attack her.

When Isabelle saw the news spreading like wildfire, her whole body trembled with a mixture of rage and despair. She immediately called Isaac, her voice sharp and panicked.

“What on earth are you doing? Look at the internet! Everyone’s tearing me apart. I’m losing my mind! I can’t even step outside without fear. Someone is clearly targeting me—you have to find whoever’s behind this and clear my name! And call the police! I want those who hurt me arrested and punished! They need to know that I, Isabelle, am not someone to be trifled with!”

Isaac, already overwhelmed with his own problems, felt his anger flare in response to her outburst. For the first time, he lost his patience with his sister.

“Isabelle, what’s wrong with you? Those stories online—they’re all true! You threw money around without understanding what you were doing, and now look at the mess you’ve created! Do you realize how many scandals you’ve caused? You’ve dragged Monroe Corp into this disaster too—our PR department is drowning trying to clean up after you! You’re not a child anymore. Can’t you stop obsessing over love and start focusing on your work? If you don’t want to make money, fine—spend it. But stop investing in things you don’t understand! Now I have to fix your mess, and you still have the nerve to complain?”

Isabelle’s cheeks burned with shame and humiliation.

“How can you yell at me like that? Didn’t you promise you’d always have my back? Was that all a lie?”

Isaac let out a cold, bitter laugh. “Yes, I said I’d protect you. But there are limits. Look at the chaos you’ve caused. Do you think any of this is easy to fix?”

He ended the call abruptly.

Isabelle nearly smashed her phone against the wall in fury.

Just then, her phone rang again. It was Nathaniel.

She hoped he would finally offer some comfort. With tears streaming down her face, she poured out her pain, “Nathaniel, I’ve been bullied so badly lately. You have to help me…”

But she had misjudged his feelings.

His voice was cold and cutting. “Isabelle, look at yourself. With all these scandals exploding, if I marry you, won’t Hartwell Group be dragged down along with you?”

Isabelle froze, disbelief washing over her.

When Nathaniel was in trouble, she had thrown herself into helping him without hesitation.

Now that she was the one in crisis, he was ready to abandon her?

Through her tears, she sneered bitterly. “So I mean nothing to you? Have you forgotten everything I’ve done for you? You’re really that ungrateful? Fine. If you won’t marry me, don’t expect the Monroe family to lift a finger for Hartwell Group ever again!”

Nathaniel knew he couldn’t truly sever ties with her. Hartwell Group was too deeply mired in crisis to survive without Monroe backing.

His harsh words were meant only to frighten her, to keep her under control.

But Isabelle was no Estella.

Raised with a fierce pride, she wasn’t intimidated by his threats.

Nathaniel had no choice but to soften his tone.

“Don’t misunderstand me. I was upset and spoke without thinking. Of course the wedding won’t be canceled. But with these scandals hanging over you, I’m worried about Hartwell Group getting dragged down. Why don’t you talk to your brother first and get this sorted out quickly? Then we can move forward with the wedding.”

Isabelle took a shaky breath.

Her own brother had refused to stand by her.

And Nathaniel? She realized she couldn’t count on him either.

Isabelle’s world had crumbled around her, leaving her isolated and vulnerable. The relentless attacks, both physical and reputational, exposed the fragility beneath her once confident exterior. Her brother’s harsh words and Nathaniel’s cold distance only deepened the wounds, forcing her to confront the painful reality that support she once took for granted was no longer guaranteed. Yet, beneath the despair, a flicker of resilience remained, hinting at the strength she would need to reclaim her place and dignity.

This chapter lays bare the harsh consequences of ambition untempered by caution, and the loneliness that can accompany betrayal from those closest to us. Isabelle’s journey is a poignant reminder that love and loyalty are not always unconditional, especially when power and reputation are at stake. As the storm rages around her, the emotional turmoil underscores the complexity of human relationships and the painful growth that often arises from hardship.

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the emotional turmoil that Isabelle faces as her world continues to unravel. With her brother Isaac’s harsh words still ringing in her ears and Nathaniel’s cold pragmatism casting doubt on their future, Isabelle must confront the painful reality that the people she once trusted may not be the allies she hoped for. How will she navigate this growing isolation, and will she find the inner strength to fight back against the mounting attacks?

Meanwhile, the fallout from the scandals threatens to spiral further out of control, stirring tensions that could reshape alliances and power dynamics. The question lingers: who is truly behind the relentless targeting of Isabelle, and what are their ultimate motives? As the lines between friend and foe blur, readers will be drawn into a web of intrigue and emotional conflict that tests loyalties and challenges the very foundation of Isabelle’s life.

Cedella

Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.