Can't Win Me Back (Isabella and Nathan)

Victoria hurriedly took a step back, flustered. "I can't drink," she said, her voice trembling.

A sharp, mocking laugh came from the crowd. "What, pretending to be high and mighty? Everyone knows that women at events like this usually have one of two roles: either they're the wives of CEOs, or assistants serving them. You're neither Mrs. Hill nor willing to help Mr. Hill out, so what are you even doing here?"

Victoria's face alternated between white and red in embarrassment.

Nathan stepped forward, coming to her defense. "My wife had an urgent matter and couldn't make it, so she asked her Sis to come in her place. Her Sis isn't feeling well and can't drink. Apologies for the confusion." "Oh, I see," Victoria let out a relieved breath.

But just then, the same voice that had mocked her earlier persisted. "Mr. Hill, is Mrs. Hill really unable to attend?"

Nathan's expression hardened as he shot a cold glance at the person asking. "What do you mean? Don't I know my wife's situation better than anyone?"

"Mrs. Hill was in high spirits today, picking out a dress at my boutique. She was clearly looking forward to tonight's event. Mr. Hill, you suddenly switched people. Aren't you worried Mrs. Hill might feel slighted?" The person kept pressing, challenging Nathan.

Nathan's mood soured, and he couldn't help but feel secretly angry at Isabella. She had simply gone to buy a dress, yet she had made it so public that everyone knew about it.

People around him started looking at Nathan with knowing, amused glances. In this circle, many had mistresses or kept young college girls on the side, but they knew how to behave at the right occasions. At events like this, showing off affection with one's legitimate spouse and creating a picture of a harmonious family was the most reasonable way to handle things in front of the media.

Nathan's actions, however, made him seem somewhat childish.

Seeing Nathan in a difficult spot, Victoria suddenly took the wine glass from someone's hand and downed it in one go.

She then smiled and explained, "Everyone, you're mistaken. Mrs. Hill just found out she's pregnant, so she couldn't attend this kind of event. I'm really here to help Mr. Hill with the toasts."

Her quick thinking dissolved the tense atmosphere in an instant. The murmurs around Nathan vanished, replaced by a chorus of congratulations: "Mr. Hill, congratulations! You're going to be a father!"

But suddenly, a glass shattered on the floor in the corner.

Everyone turned in surprise, only to see Theodore standing there, looking dazed. His usually aloof face now bore an expression of inexplicable indifference.

Noticing he had become the center of attention, he elegantly spoke up. "Apologies, my hand slipped."

The crowd chuckled softly.

"Young Master Sanchez is growing up, looking more handsome and poised by the day," one elder commented.

"You're right," another added, "Young Master Theodore is now an adult. In a couple of years, he'll probably be at the age for a marriage arrangement. I wonder which lucky young lady will win his favor." Nathan, eager to steer the conversation toward Theodore, said, "Young Master Sanchez, I have a Sis. She's eighteen, talented and beautiful. If you don't mind, I could introduce you two..." Theodore cast Nathan a mysterious look. His lips curled slightly, then, without missing a beat, he took two glasses of wine from the tray and walked over to Nathan.

He handed one of the glasses to Nathan and said with a polite smile, "Thank you for the kind offer, Mr. Hill. Allow me to offer a toast to you."

Nathan frowned at the full glass of liquor, looking reluctant.

Before he could protest, Theodore smoothly passed the glass to Victoria. "I see that Mr. Hill has a low tolerance for alcohol. Perhaps it would be better if you drank it on his behalf." Victoria's face looked worse than if she had been crying.

But since she had already admitted she was here to help Mr. Hill with the drinking, she had no choice but to raise her head and down the glass in one go.

Unexpectedly, Theodore filled her glass again. "Miss Moore, you have quite the tolerance for alcohol. This drink is for you."

Victoria was forced to drink another glass...

Theodore filled her glass once more. "This one's for you and Mr. Hill as well..."

Victoria didn't know whether it was the alcohol or the pressure, but her face suddenly turned a deep shade of green.

Nathan noticed something was wrong and quickly pushed her glass down. He turned to Theodore with an apologetic look. "Young Master Theodore, let's keep it light, shall we? Don't drink too much." Theodore nodded and relented, sparing Victoria.

However, no one saw the calculating gleam in Theodore's eyes. The alcohol he had handed to Victoria was the highest-proof liquor in the room. After two consecutive shots, he was sure she wouldn't be able to handle it.

As the night wore on, Victoria couldn't refuse toasts from several powerful figures. She had no choice but to drink a few more glasses, each one weighing heavier on her.

Before the banquet had even ended, her body started to show signs of distress. She kept running to the bathroom, vomiting uncontrollably, looking utterly miserable. "Nathan, I don't feel well. Can I leave early?" she whispered to Nathan.

Seeing her pale and distressed face, Nathan immediately decided to leave with her, concerned for her health.

That night, Theodore stepped into the void left by Nathan. He established deep friendships with several influential figures from prestigious families and successfully snatched a few of the fashion industry's most influential projects from Nathan.

After the event, Mr. Hill stormed over to Nathan's villa, smashing the fruit platter on the coffee table in a fury. He shouted angrily at Nathan: "Nathan, you've really outdone yourself this time. At such a crucial business event, you bring a sick woman? She can't even help you create the image of a loving couple, nor can she help you with the toasts. In the end, she's only dragged you down. What were you thinking? Did your brain short-circuit?"

"Now look, several major projects that were once set to sign with the Hill family have now ended up in the hands of the Sanchez family. the Hill Group's performance this year is likely to suffer a major setback."

Nathan lowered his head in silence, absorbing his father's furious words. He knew he had made a mistake.

Mr. Hill didn't let up, continuing to berate him. Finally, Nathan had no choice but to swear, "Dad, I made the mistake, and I'll fix it. I'll get those projects back."

Mr. Hill snorted coldly. "You're a married man. From now on, you need to keep your distance from that Victoria. Don't let anyone catch wind of an affair during your marriage."

Nathan's expression darkened.

Mr. Hill scolded him one last time, "Everything that happened at the banquet today feels like someone deliberately set you up. You've suffered heavy losses because of it. Be more careful with your actions and words, or you'll be played into someone's hands again." "I understand," Nathan replied.

After Mr. Hill left, Nathan sat on the couch in a daze for a long while, replaying the events of the night in his mind. He kept returning to two people.

One was Theodore. He was the one who had pressured Victoria into drinking excessively. He was also the biggest winner of the evening, which made Nathan suspect that he might have been behind the scheme to undermine him. But Theodore had only recently returned to the Sanchez family and was still very young, just eighteen. He had no previous conflict with Victoria, and his toasts had seemed more like a show of respect.

The other person was the fashionable woman in disguise. Guillermo had suspected her to be Isabella?

Nathan suddenly stood up from the sofa, his face darkening as he made his way upstairs. He kicked open Isabella's bedroom door, startling her with the sudden intrusion.