After the Secret Wedding Rise of My Queen novel Chapter 249

Chapter 249 Playing the Harp on Stage
"Who do you think you are? Just because you told me to repeat myself doesn't mean I will," Isabel said, rolling her eyes slightly, her voice thick with sarcasm.

Cindy's expression darkened, her face contorting in fury.

"Hah! I knew it—you're too scared to say it again, you coward!"

Isabel raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk crossing her face. She studied Cindy for a moment before responding, "Fine. If you're so desperate to hear me point out your flaws, I'll do it.

"You're like a wall—no, more like a brick wall. Anyone who crashes into you is bound to get hurt."

Right after Isabel finished speaking, a quiet laugh escaped from the crowd.

A soft ripple of chuckles spread through the room, quickly turning into a wave of suppressed laughter.

Cindy's face flushed bright red with anger, her eyes burning with rage. Isabel's confident stance and perfect composure only seemed to make Cindy's resentment grow, as if the sight of her rival's poise stung even more than the words.

"Well? Still want me to repeat myself?" Isabel asked, her lips curling into a teasing smile.

Cindy's temper flared, her body visibly trembling with fury. Isabel's words felt like a public slap, her insinuation that Cindy had asked for such treatment only making it worse.

"Kaleb! Look at Isabel—she's gone too far this time! She used to never talk back to me. And now? Just look at her! You've got to put her in her place!"

Here we go again.

Isabel shook her head, her gaze icy as she looked at Cindy. "You and your mother are exactly alike. Whenever you're wrong, you run straight to Kaleb, expecting him to fight your battles. But have you thought this through? Kaleb and I don't owe each other anything anymore. Why should he defend you?"

Kaleb, who had been silent up until now, clenched his jaw and stared at Isabel, his expression a mix of confusion and thoughtfulness.

Isabel wasn't finished. "And let's say, hypothetically, that Kaleb and I were still together. It's the 21st century, not some old-world society where women have no voice or worth. If I married into your family, would you expect me to be treated like a servant? Would Kaleb have the right to control me just because he's a man? Do you even understand what respect means?"

Her words resonated with several women in the room.

Regardless of the personal history between Isabel and Kaleb, Cindy's earlier comment—that Isabel had never dared speak back—left a disturbing impression.

Isabel had once been Kaleb's fiancée, and her position should have commanded respect, but instead, she had been mistreated. It made the others wonder just how much Isabel had suffered while being part of the Johnson family.

However, nobody dared to say anything. After all, Kaleb was their boss, and Cindy was his sister, so they figured saying what was on their mind wouldn't be the best option and might get them fired.

Though no one spoke, the tension in the room was palpable.

Cindy let out a bitter laugh, her voice dripping with mockery. "Well, Isabel, looks like your tongue has gotten sharper since we last met! But don't think I don't see through you. The only reason you're here today is because you knew it's the Johnson Group's big gala. You're just trying to weasel your way back into my brother's life!"

Cindy's self-righteous words rang with arrogance.

Isabel didn't bother responding. She let her actions speak louder than words. She wasn't here for the Johnson Group's gala—she was there for the Bennett Group's event.

With that, Isabel turned and started to walk away, heading upstairs.

"Hey! Isabel, where do you think you're going? Can't you read the signs? This floor is for the Bennett Group's gala! There's security at the door—you can't just sneak in," Cindy called out, hands on her hips, her voice thick with derision.

Eva, always the peacemaker, stepped forward, her voice warm and conciliatory.

"Come on, Isabel, Cindy, let's just let it go. So much has happened already—why dwell on the past? Life's too short to keep holding grudges," Eva said with a serene smile, gently stroking her round belly. "I'm a mother now, and I don't have the energy for all this drama. We should focus on living peacefully, not on fighting."

Eva's calm demeanor earned her appreciative nods from the crowd.