Chapter 5 She Won't Allow It, Won't Allow Anything.

"Isabella," Hayden said, "I'll let the makeup slide this time."

He gave her a hard look. "But throwing food at Gabriel during dinner? Is that how you were raised?"

"Dad, you should punish her!" Gabriel snapped from the side.

Isabella chuckled softly. "Dad, you're only hearing Gabriel's version, saying I threw food at him. Why don't you ask what he did before that?"

Hayden paused, then with a stern expression, asked, "What did Gabriel do?"

"Dad!" Gabriel turned to Hayden immediately. "I was just serving Bianca food, and Isabella went nuts with jealousy. Her jealousy is off the charts!"

At first, he hadn't understood Isabella's sudden change in behavior, but after thinking it over all afternoon, he realized she must be jealous of Bianca.

That's just the kind of petty person she is!

"You were just serving Bianca food?" Isabella stared at Gabriel. "What about you constantly spinning the lazy Susan, making it impossible for me to eat properly? Why don't you mention that?"

"I did not!" Gabriel denied, pointing at Isabella and addressing Hayden. "Dad, don't listen to her nonsense."

"Dad, Chase was there during lunch. Ask him, and you'll know the truth," Isabella said confidently.

Hayden immediately called for Chase.

"Chase, what happened at lunch? Did Gabriel do anything out of line?"

Chase looked at Gabriel in silence, then at Isabella.

All afternoon at the office, he couldn't shake off Isabella's words: "Chase, your hypocritical demeanor disgusts me..."

He couldn't understand why her words affected him so much. He didn't even acknowledge this so-called sister, yet Isabella's disdain and coldness stung deeply.

Did she really see him as a hypocrite? Someone who couldn't distinguish right from wrong?

As the eldest son of the family, he had always been fair to his siblings. But since Isabella's return, he couldn't help but resent her for making Bianca's life difficult. Seeing Bianca grow thinner and sadder each day, it was hard not to blame Isabella.

So, every time he saw Gabriel bullying Isabella, he stayed silent.

"Why aren't you speaking?" Hayden looked at Chase, puzzled.

Chase snapped back to reality and sighed. "Gabriel did bully Isabella at the table."

Gabriel's eyes widened in disbelief. "Chase?"

What was happening?

"Dad, I have work to do. I'll be leaving now." Chase pretended not to notice Gabriel's pleading look.

"Go ahead."

As the study door opened and closed, Gabriel protested, "Dad, Isabella disrespected me first! That's why I acted that way!"

"Isabella is jealous of Bianca."

Since Isabella's return, he had seen her jealousy and cunning.

She always pretended to be good in front of them, trying to win their favor and push Bianca out.

He wouldn't let that happen!

Isabella smiled and said slowly, "Yes, I am jealous of Bianca. After all, she's your precious little darling."

"Isabella, stop with the sarcasm," Olivia said, irritated. "We didn't announce you're the Taylor family's daughter to avoid making Bianca's situation difficult."

"Her situation difficult?" Isabella scoffed. "What about me? Am I not in a tough spot? Or do you just not care?"

In her previous life, she didn't care about this identity. She didn't mind the Taylor family hiding her. She was happy just to be reunited with her parents and brothers. Really.

But now...

Why should she give up what's rightfully hers?

She wouldn't give up anything.

If Bianca wanted it, she'd have to fight for it. Isabella would see who would win: the girl with Taylor blood or the impostor.

"Bianca," Isabella suddenly looked at her, her already cold voice dropping even lower. "You're a fraud."

Bianca was stunned.

She looked at Isabella, who was pointing at her, and her hand clenched unconsciously.

What was Isabella doing?

Was she trying to take everything away from her?

No, she couldn't let that happen.

Bianca's eyes welled up with tears.

Seeing Bianca so upset, Gabriel exploded. "Isabella, what are you talking about? Bianca is not a fraud; she's my sister!"

How dare Isabella scare Bianca like this.

He wiped Bianca's tears away tenderly. "Bianca, don't cry. Isabella's words mean nothing. The Taylor family has only one daughter, and Isabella is nothing."

Tobias also looked at her lovingly. "Yes, Bianca, don't listen to Isabella's nonsense."

Isabella watched their sibling bond indifferently.

"What is this? You're not even Dad's biological child, yet you insist on taking the Taylor family's daughter's place. Is it because you're used to a life of luxury and don't want to go back to the mountains?"

"But what's the point of stealing my things?"

"If you love being rich so much, why didn't you choose better parents? Why steal from others?" Isabella continued relentlessly. "How shameless."

Bianca cried harder, gasping for breath. "I... I'm not. I just can't bear to leave Mom and Dad."

Gabriel couldn't wipe her tears fast enough and glared at Isabella. "Shut up!"

"You're not letting me speak about your deception?" Isabella sneered. "I didn't come down from the mountains to be a servant's daughter. I'm here to be wealthy. Otherwise, why would I come down?"

"If you won't let me be your daughter, fine. I'll leave."

"I'll leave, alright."

Isabella turned to leave, showing no attachment to the family.

Hayden's eyes widened for a moment, then he quickly called out, "Come back here!"

Isabella couldn't leave.

He valued bloodline immensely.

Bianca was good, but she carried another man's and woman's blood. She couldn't inherit his lineage.

The only girl with his blood was Isabella.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought her back immediately upon learning about the baby swap.

Isabella had one foot out the door when she heard Hayden's plea. A cold smile flickered in her eyes.

Many things hadn't happened yet. Hayden wasn't as disappointed in her as he would be in four years. As long as she had a shred of usefulness, he wouldn't let her return to the mountains.

Isabella turned back, her face lighting up with a naive, joyful expression. "Dad, do you agree to let me be your daughter?"