The Empire She Reclaimed, Heiress Rewritten

"Good morning, Miss," Nathan greeted, his tone flat yet polite, standing upright beside the black car waiting at the foot of the Montgomery family's main staircase.

Isabelle's steps halted instantly. Her hand, which had just touched the car door handle, clenched into a tight fist. She slowly turned toward the voice that made her blood boil.

"You?" she hissed, full of fury. "What are you doing here, huh?!"

Nathan didn't flinch. A faint smile appeared on his calm face. "As your father stated yesterday, I am now officially your personal bodyguard."

Instantly, Isabelle's eyes burned with heat. "Bastard!" she spat harshly. "I told you I DO NOT want you as my bodyguard!"

Her gaze swept sharply across the other guards standing around the courtyard. "Drag him out of here! NOW! Don't let him set foot in this house again!" she shouted, pointing at Nathan with a trembling finger.

But not a single guard moved. They merely lowered their heads, silent, as if frozen by a higher command.

"What are you doing?!" Isabelle screamed in disbelief. "Why are you just standing there?! Get him out!"

One of the senior guards finally spoke, his voice low but firm. "I'm sorry, Young Miss. We can't do that."

"What do you mean you can't?" Isabelle hissed, her tone cutting.

"Direct orders from Mr. Montgomery," the guard replied steadily. "Starting today, the entire security unit assigned to you is under the command of Mr. Nathan Blackwell. Mr. Montgomery has instructed us to follow his orders completely."

Isabelle stared at the man in disbelief. Her heart pounded erratically. Her gaze then shifted to Nathan, who now stood tall with his hands clasped behind his back, like a commander who had just seized control of an enemy stronghold. His eyes were calm, far too calm.

Isabelle's breath quickened, her mind spinning rapidly. The world felt as if it had turned upside down. "My father would never do this. No way," she muttered, more to herself than to anyone else.

But Nathan took a step closer instead. He bowed his head slightly, then spoke politely, "Apologies, Miss. But you have an important meeting scheduled at the office. I'll take you there now."

The smile on Nathan's face looked warm and professional, yet to Isabelle, it felt like a thousand needles piercing her chest. There was no warmth she could feel, only suffocating anger and bitterness wrapped in silence.

How could this be? Why was Nathan once again appearing in her life? Why, after all the suffering in her past life, could she still not break free from this man?

But she had no choice right now. With clenched jaw and head held high, Isabelle stepped into the car. Her posture was firm, even though a storm was raging in her chest. Nathan followed and took the driver's seat, starting the engine without saying a word.

Throughout the ride, Isabelle wrestled silently with her thoughts, while Nathan remained focused on the road, as if there wasn't a raging storm of emotions brewing behind him.

Isabelle stole a glance at him, quietly observing. She still couldn't believe the man who had destroyed her life was now sitting this close to her, in a position that could potentially be dangerous.

But suddenly, a thought crossed her mind, one that almost curved her lips into a faint smile. Maybe, this was actually the best path.

If her father held Nathan in such high regard for saving his life, it was certain the man would be offered a significant place within the family circle, or even within the company. Nathan might be offered a position as an internal staff member or a young executive at headquarters. And if that happened, it would be much harder to keep him under control.

But, as a personal bodyguard? That meant Nathan would always be near her. Within reach. Under her watch.

Isabelle slowly leaned back into her seat. Her gaze now fell upon Nathan, who sat behind the wheel, yet her eyes no longer held just anger, but calculation. She would play by the rules fate had laid out for her, but this time, with full control in her own hands.

If Nathan thought he could reclaim a place in her life, then he was gravely mistaken. She would allow him to stay, close, even, but only so he could witness his own downfall, from a distance far too near.

After dropping Isabelle off in front of the Montgomery Group's main lobby, Nathan quickly drove the car toward the parking area. But his mind was anything but calm. As soon as he parked, he rushed into the building, pushing through the main doors while offering quick greetings to the receptionist and security guards, who all gave him respectful nods, after all, every employee had been informed of who he was.

Isabelle was still standing in front of the executive elevator, ,an elevator reserved solely for the upper echelon of the company. Her gaze sharpened the moment she saw Nathan approach, slightly out of breath.

Her brows furrowed slightly, about to ask why he looked so rushed—until she quickly caught herself. She couldn't let her guard down. Couldn't show any opening. Especially not kindness. That would only make it easier for Nathan to drive in his poison once again.

The elevator doors opened, and Isabelle stepped in with her head held high. Emma followed right behind her.

But just as Nathan stepped into the elevator as well, Isabelle came to a halt. Her eyes instantly shot toward the man.

"Why are you getting in?" she asked sharply, her voice low but biting.

Nathan was about to respond, but Emma's voice came first."Excuse me, Miss, let me ... "

"Not you, Emma!" Isabelle snapped quickly. Her eyes never left Nathan.

She took a short breath. Her voice now cold, full of weight. "Please step out of this elevator, Mr. Blackwell."

But instead of complying, Nathan simply offered a calm smile. "Apologies, Miss. I'm your personal bodyguard. My duty is to remain by your side at all times, including in this elevator."

Isabelle clenched her fists. "This is an office! Do you think I'm stupid? Are you going to wait until I'm alone and then kill me in my office when the place is empty?" she snapped, her voice rising.

Nathan looked at her gently, without losing his composure. "I would never do that," he said. "I'm just an ordinary man, who happened to be given a chance by God to stand by your side. To protect you. I would never hurt you, Miss."

The words sounded sweet. But to Isabelle, every syllable felt like a slow bullet piercing her sanity.

Isabelle narrowed her eyes. "Watch your mouth. And don't ever speak to me unless I speak to you first."

Nathan gave a slight nod. "Of course, Miss."

The elevator began to ascend. Inside that small space, the tension hung thick like a dense fog. Emma stole glances at the two of them, feeling like she was caught in the middle of a battlefield between two people who seemed to share a history no one else knew.

Now seated in her office, Isabelle leaned back in her elegant chair, her eyes staring blankly out the large glass window behind her desk. Outside, tall buildings stood proudly under a gray sky. But her thoughts were far from there.

She was thinking, planning and strategizing. Nathan Blackwell, the man who should have disappeared from her life. The man who destroyed her in her previous life, had returned, and closer than she ever imagined.Not just as a shadow of the past, but as her personal bodyguard.Someone who would be by her side at every moment, every step, every breath.

What a cruel irony. But Isabelle was no longer the same woman she once was. She was no longer the naïve, pampered girl so easily swayed by sweet words. This time, she would take control.

Calmly, Isabelle crossed her legs, her fingers brushing her lips as a faint smile appeared. Her gaze sharpened as a plan began to form in her mind.

She knew one thing for certain about her father, Aldric Montgomery, he adored her deeply. And if anyone dared to hurt her, especially to make a grave mistake, her father wouldn't hesitate to cast them aside. Even if that person was Nathan.

That was why Isabelle only needed to make Nathan make a mistake.One fatal mistake that would push him away from her and her family for good.

Not directly. No, she wasn't a fool who would stage a drama so easy to read. She would play it elegantly. Slowly, but surely. She would corner Nathan, trap him in a situation that would stain his reputation, make him appear unworthy.

Or better yet, bring him to ruin. A faint smile curled at the corner of Isabelle's lips. Not a smile of joy, but a smile laced with calculation. A plan was forming. One that would destroy Nathan without her having to lay a single finger on him.

"Let the game begin, Nathan Blackwell," she whispered softly. "This time, I hold the chessboard. I'll be the one controlling your life. Breaking you, just like you broke me, in my previous life." She spoke with resolve, her gaze unwavering.