Chapter 29

Suddenly, the Clyde Group's official website was attacked. "How could this happen?" Amelia exclaimed, surprised by the online intrusion. Rosy, enraged, slapped Amelia. "Look what you've done! You're shaming us!" she snapped. The online incident would undoubtedly affect the Clyde Group.

"Mom, how could you hit me?" Amelia cried, covering her face. She'd always been Rosy's favorite; this was a first. Lucian intervened, "Mom, don't hit Amelia. She can explain!"

Amelia's eyes darted around before she offered an explanation. "It wasn't my fault. I met Roy Galvez at the hotel today. Knowing I'm Miss Clyde, she asked for money to help her family. I refused, we argued, and I cursed at her. But the video online is taken out of context. Mom, I didn't mean it." Tears welled in Amelia's eyes, softening Rosy and Caius's hearts.

Rosy apologized, comforting Amelia. Caius, furious, declared, "The Galvezes are going too far! This must be Isabel's doing. Though she's no longer our daughter, she still wants our money!"

Rosy's gaze hardened. "I'll call that shameless woman right now! How dare she still covet our money!" She dialed Isabel's old number.

Isabel, at home, was stunned by the caller ID. After hesitating, she answered.

Rosy, before Isabel could speak, erupted, "Isabel Galvez, do you and your family have no shame? You're poor, yet you still want to leech off us! We won't give you a single penny! Don't even think about taking advantage of us again. We raised Amelia, but we raised you too, so we're even. If you dare ask for our money again, I'll teach you a lesson!"

Isabel retorted, "What the hell are you talking about? Are you going through menopause?" She hung up, immediately blocking Rosy's number, though a tinge of disappointment lingered. She realized she should never have held out hope for the Clyde family; they were her enemies.

"Isabel, I'm home! Where's Mom?" Roy arrived, happily carrying something. "Mom went to the fields. Why are you so happy?" Isabel asked, curious about Roy's unusually cheerful demeanor.

Roy, unlike her earlier sadness about the cake, beamed. "I got paid! My performance was good last month, and I got three thousand dollars. I bought pastries for everyone. Try them!" Roy distributed the pastries. "Some for Blake too. I'll take some to Dad first."

Isabel took pastries to Blake's room. "Have some pastries. Roy got paid and asked me to bring you some." Blake took a bite and smiled, "It's delicious." He then surprised Isabel by raising his hand and offering her a piece. "Have a try yourself."

Isabel was astonished. "Blake, you can move your hand?" He replied, "Yes, I can move my hands now, Isabel. It's all thanks to your antidote. After taking it, I feel more in my limbs." Isabel was overjoyed. She took a bite, finding the taste average but cherishing the gesture.

Roy suddenly entered. "Isabel, this is for you!" she said, handing Isabel a thick stack of cash. "What is this for?" Isabel asked.

"Isabel, I got paid three thousand. You're a student, you must need money. So here's two thousand for you." Isabel was touched, knowing Roy's money was hard-earned. She refused.

Roy explained, "Do you think it's too little? I still have to give one thousand to Mom and Simon is also in school."

Isabel shook her head. "Roy, that's not what I meant. I have money. I do part-time jobs. Keep the money yourself!"

Roy insisted, "How can that work? You're my little sister. I'll support you!"

Isabel explained, "No, Roy. Have you forgotten about Miss Flynn? She's my friend and introduced me to a part-time job. This morning at the hotel, I was going to work."

Roy relented. "Alright then. If you need anything, just tell me. I'll give all this money to Mom for safekeeping!"

"Okay! You can keep a portion, and give the rest to Mom!" Isabel suggested. She was touched by Roy's kindness but also felt distressed about her own hard work.

That evening, Hannah prepared a sumptuous meal. Blake, now able to sit up and move his upper limbs, joined them for dinner. Afterwards, Isabel went to Roy's room.

Roy was sketching under a desk lamp. "Roy, what are you doing?" Isabel asked, approaching.

"I'm bored, so I'm just drawing for fun," Roy replied, inviting Isabel to sit. Isabel examined Roy's sketches—drafts of clothing designs. She saw Roy's effort and talent.

"Roy, you like to design clothes!" Isabel exclaimed.

Roy modestly replied, "No! I was just drawing for fun. They're too scratchy to be called designs."

Isabel disagreed. "Roy, you're so modest. Since you like design, why didn't you go to design school?"

Roy sighed, reflecting on the past. "Although I like design, we weren't well-off. Jack even gave up university to support the family. I couldn't be selfish." She'd kept her hobby to herself to ease the family's burden.

Isabel realized Roy always considered others. She offered suggestions to refine Roy's design. Roy, her eyes lighting up, revised it accordingly. "It's much better, Isabel. I didn't expect you to know design."