Chapter 158
Ethan's assistant arrived unexpectedly.
He looked flustered and said the CEO urgently needed an important document from the study.
Victoria didn't dare delay and immediately took him upstairs.
"Is this the one?"
The assistant nodded in confirmation.
"Get this to Ethan quickly. Don't let it hold up his work."
Isabella Langley strolled casually toward the guest room, pretending to pass by the study.
She noticed the door was slightly ajar.
After confirming the hallway was empty, she gently pushed the door open and slipped inside…
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves stood in neat rows, packed with files.
A pearwood tea table sat by the window, adorned with an elegant tea set.
To the left, a light-colored solid wood desk held a pen holder and a few scattered books.
This study was usually kept locked.
Only Martha was allowed in for weekly cleanings.
Isabella had always been forbidden from entering.
But now, here she was.
A smug smile curled her lips as she approached the desk.
Two manila folders lay on its surface.
Neither was sealed.
She picked one up at random and pulled out the documents inside.
They were filled with incomprehensible professional jargon and data.
She randomly pulled out one sheet and slipped it into the other folder.
Then she carefully returned everything to its original state.
Just then, Victoria's footsteps approached from down the hall. "Martha, where is Isabella? She was just in the living room. Where did she go?"
Isabella's heart jumped. She quickly slipped out of the study.
She leaned against the wall, pretending to scroll through videos on her phone.
Victoria frowned. "I thought you were going out for some sun? Why are you up here?"
Isabella smiled faintly. "It got too hot outside. I changed my mind. Pregnant women are sensitive to heat, didn't you know?"
Victoria was used to her sharp tone. Though annoyed, she didn't press the issue.
"Suit yourself. Just don't do anything to harm my grandson."
Isabella pursed her lips.
That evening, Ethan came home, a rare occurrence.
He didn't even change his shoes, heading straight upstairs to retrieve the files.
As he was about to leave, he paused.
The company folders, while standard issue, came from two different suppliers.
One was a slightly darker shade of manila, the other lighter.
He distinctly remembered placing the darker one on top of the lighter one.
Now their positions were reversed…
Someone had been in his study!
Downstairs, Victoria, seeing her son home, moved to go up and speak with him.
She stopped when she saw Ethan emerge from the study, his face dark.
"Mom, did you go into my study?"
Victoria nodded. "Your assistant came for the file yesterday. I let him in. Why?"
"Did you touch the two folders on the desk?"
"The desk? I only opened the drawer. I didn't touch anything else. I didn't see any folders."
Ethan held up the file in his hand. "This has been tampered with."
Isabella feigned surprise. "The study? Only Victoria and the assistant went in yesterday. The assistant wouldn't dare mess with things. That only leaves…"
Ethan looked at Victoria.
Her face paled. "Be quiet! I'm speaking with my son. This is none of your business!"
She turned back to Ethan. "I did go into the study, but the assistant waited outside the door. I only opened the drawer to get the file. I didn't touch anything else."
"Maybe Martha moved them while cleaning?"
Martha spoke up quickly. "The young master gave strict orders not to touch anything in the study during cleaning. I've always been very careful."
Ethan said, "It wasn't Martha. The study is only cleaned once a week. Yesterday wasn't the day."
Isabella slowly scooped a spoonful of bird's nest soup. "I don't even have a key. I couldn't get in. It seems the only possibility is Victoria."
Victoria trembled with rage. "How dare you?! Those are my son's documents! Why would I sabotage them? I'm not stupid. What good would that do me?"
Isabella shrugged. "Who knows? It certainly wasn't me. Besides, wasn't someone throwing a fit just the other day?"
It had been a minor incident, but bringing it up now made it seem significant.
Ethan had checked the files. Nothing was missing, but one page had been swapped.
It seemed like a petty act of mischief.
It wouldn't be out of character for Victoria.
Lately, he hadn't been home or answering her calls. It was plausible she was acting out her frustration.
"Let it go. The documents are still here. But Mom…" Ethan looked up, his voice cold. "Don't do this again. A mistake in the contract could cost millions."
With that, he strode out.
Victoria was crushed by the injustice. Her own son didn't believe her!
"No… Ethan, listen to me…"
"I'm going to the office. We'll talk later."
He clearly didn't want to hear her explanation.
Watching her son leave, Victoria felt the bitter taste of being wrongly accused with no way to clear her name.
Isabella, finding the flames not high enough, put down her spoon and pushed the bowl away.
"This bird's nest soup is terrible! Martha—make another serving!"
"Eat, eat, eat! Someone with your low-class taste has no right to eat bird's nest soup?!"
Victoria trembled with anger, recalling how Isabella had fanned the flames earlier, clearly trying to drive a wedge between mother and son.
It was utterly malicious!
Isabella frowned. "What do you mean? Who are you calling low-class? Do you even want your grandson anymore?!"
That only made Victoria angrier.
For the past two weeks, Isabella had done nothing but hold the "grandson" over her head.
For the sake of that unborn child, Victoria had endured countless grievances, running around like a pack mule being ordered about.
And the result?
Not an ounce of gratitude, and now this attempt to sow discord!
Her pent-up emotions finally exploded. She couldn't hold back anymore. "What utter nonsense! I've had enough! A grandson from someone like you? Perhaps it's better off not being born! Do whatever you want! See if I care!"
With that, Victoria stormed upstairs.
Soon, she came back down with a suitcase and summoned the driver, along with the housekeepers.
"Let's go. Back to the old house."