Poof! Wife Status, ERASED

Chapter 24 We All Failed Her

After that night, Ethan Vanderbilt never came looking for her again.

The next time news of him surfaced was on the morning broadcast.

The last time Isabella Thompson's name had appeared alongside Ethan's was due to their extramarital affair.

This time, it was for attempted murder.

After being cast out of the Vanderbilt family and scorned by society, Isabella, consumed by hatred, disguised herself as a cleaner and sneaked into Ethan's home. In a fit of vengeance, she stabbed him multiple times.

Ethan fought back desperately, and the two ended up attacking each other.

In the end, Ethan succumbed to massive blood loss and died despite emergency treatment. Isabella barely survived, ending up in the ICU in a vegetative state.

As the police investigation unfolded, footage from the Vanderbilt mansion's security cameras was released to the public.

In the living room, Isabella pinned Ethan down on the couch, plunging the knife into his abdomen again and again.

Between each strike, she screamed hysterically, "It's all your fault! All of this is because of you!"

"If you hadn't given me the opportunity, I wouldn't have done those shameful things! I wouldn't have fallen this far! Sophia wouldn't have died!"

"We're both guilty! We all failed her! Let's burn in hell together!"

Once the video went viral, netizens rallied behind Sophia Roberts, condemning the tragedy that had befallen her years ago and calling it karmic justice.

As for Sophia Holt—now watching the news on TV—she remained unmoved, as if she were merely an observer.

"What are you watching?"

Before Christopher Holt could reach her, Sophia threw herself into his arms, as if only his embrace could soothe her.

She wasn't heartless. She had simply seen through the truth.

She had given Isabella countless chances. She could have chosen a different path, like Olivia Smith—building her own future with the resources and guidance Sophia had provided.

But Isabella refused. She didn't want to work hard. She only wanted shortcuts.

Sophia knew Isabella's remorse was nothing but crocodile tears.

Now that Isabella had truly hit rock bottom, with no one left to turn to, she had lashed out in desperation—hoping to manipulate public sympathy and salvage her ruined reputation.

But Sophia wouldn't be fooled again.

She took a bite of the strawberry Christopher offered and murmured, "Nothing important."

What surprised her, however, was that within days, Oceanview City was rocked by yet another scandal.

This time, it involved another familiar face.

After Daniel Vanderbilt—the Vanderbilt family's illegitimate son—took control of the family business, he brought Emily Vanderbilt back from Africa.

At first, it seemed like an act of kindness. But within days, Daniel drugged Emily and delivered her to the bed of a business partner—a pot-bellied man old enough to be her father.

Emily, who had always carried herself with pride, couldn't bear the humiliation. Upon waking, she climbed to the top floor of the hotel and jumped.

With both of her children dead, Margaret Vanderbilt was overcome with grief. She stormed into the old man's office and stabbed him repeatedly.

At the time, Daniel was signing a contract with Richard Vanderbilt. In a fit of rage, Margaret kicked Daniel so brutally that he was left permanently impotent.

By the time the police arrived, the office carpet was soaked in blood.

On the day she was sentenced to life in prison, Margaret bashed her head against the cell wall and died.

Watching the people she had once known turn into names on tombstones left Sophia unsettled for a long time.

Then the doorbell rang.

The housekeeper hurried over. "Madam, there's a woman at the door claiming to be your birth mother. She says she wants to see you."

Birth mother?

Sophia didn't let her in. After a moment of contemplation, she rose from the couch.

"Stay put." Christopher pulled her back into his arms.