6: Perhaps She Was Wronged
After thirty minutes of tense vigilance, Isabellaâs gaze never left Earl. The panther continued its rest,
occasionally flicking its ears, aware of her presence from the moment she was brought in, expecting
another noisy intrusion.
Gradually relaxing her stiff nerves, Isabella sighed lightly. Lifting her eyes, she met the pantherâs pale yellow gaze.
It was awake! Her heart skipped a beat, her body freezing in place, not daring to move.
The few meters separating her from the panther felt insurmountably close in the confined space, knowing any attempt to flee would result in
1/5
Setting
76.25
Chapter 6: Perhaps Sheâ¦
being swiftly overtaken.
Understanding the predatory nature of such animals, Isabella decided against futile attempts to escape, knowing it would only enhance the pantherâs enjoyment of the hunt.
Resigning herself to fate, she sat down, silently praying for a quick end that might leave her intact.
To her surprise, Earl didnât roar or show aggression upon approaching. Instead, it examined her curiously, sniffing her scent, detecting a
familiar aromaâAlexanderâs scent.
Realizing any harm to Isabella might incur Alexanderâs wrath, Earl laid down beside her, its displeasure evident.
Unbeknownst to Isabella, sharing a vehicle with Alexander had
inadvertently spared her life,
2/5
Setting
1625
Chapter 6: Perhaps Sheâ¦
convincing the panther of her association with its owner.
Relieved that the massive beast seemed docile, Isabella allowed herself to relax slightly. Earl nestled close, resting its head on her leg. The soft, smooth fur felt surprisingly comforting, akin to a giant, albeit far more dangerous, house cat.
Gathering her courage, Isabella reached out to gently stroke the pantherâs head. To her surprise, the beast didnât seem to mind her touch; in fact, it leaned into her hand, appearing to enjoy the affection.
Back in the study, Alexanderâs gaze deepened as he watched the scene unfold on the screen, a flicker of
annoyance crossing his face.
Sebastian, having just ended a phone call, approached with a slightly
embarrassed look. âBoss, the
3/5
Setting
1625
Chapter 6: Perhaps Sheâ¦
company called. Those stocks we
invested in with the two billion have
all risenâ¦â
âWhich stocks?â
Alexanderâs mind was far from
financial matters, especially since Ascot Groupâs portfolio was routinely successful. The daily fluctuations of
the stock market held little interest
for him at that moment.
âThe funds that went into the stock
market, sir. Those stocks have now increased in value several times
over.â
A heavy silence fellâ¦
Sebastian dared not speak further, still somewhat incredulous at the news himself. The stocks, initially deemed worthless and on the verge of delisting, had seen no potential for growth.
4/5
Setting
Chapter 6: Perhaps Sheâ¦
Yet, Ascot Groupâs influence was
undeniable. Once the market
learned of their substantial
investment, investors blindly followed suit, revitalizing those stocks and driving their prices up.
To the outside world, the hacking of Ascot Groupâs servers was known, but no one believed anyone would dare tamper with Alexanderâs
money.
Thus, the two billion investment was seen as another strategic move by Alexander, whose financial acumen was beyond doubt.
As Sebastian watched his bossâs expression darken, he glanced back at the screen, where Isabella seemed to be proving her innocence in an unexpected way.
It appeared Alexander might have wronged Ms. Sterling after all.
5/5