Chapter 6: Isabella’s Price
Isabella refused to speak for twelve hours.
Then her attorney requested a meeting with prosecutors.
She offered information about Victor in exchange for reduced charges.
Khloe insisted on watching from behind one-way glass.
Julian objected.
“You were attacked less than a day ago.”
“That is why I need to hear her.”
Isabella entered the interview room wearing hospital-issued clothing. Police had taken her crimson gown as evidence.
Without diamonds, makeup, and carefully arranged hair, she looked younger.
Not innocent.
Just ordinary.
Detective Naomi Grant placed photographs on the table.
The first showed Khloe’s bruises.
The second showed the broken glass.
The third showed Isabella’s heel striking Khloe’s side on video.
“You are facing aggravated assault against a pregnant woman, attempted unlawful restraint, and conspiracy,” Naomi said.
Isabella looked at her attorney.
He nodded.
“I did not plan to hurt the baby.”
“You kicked her.”
“I lost control.”
“You told her she should disappear.”
“I was angry.”
“Because Marcus rejected you?”
Isabella’s eyes moved toward the mirror.
She knew Khloe was watching.
“Because Khloe had no idea what everyone sacrificed to put her in that position.”
Naomi leaned back.
“What did you sacrifice?”
“My father’s company.”
“Which company?”
“Rossi Clinical Systems.”
Gabriel Rossi’s family had developed diagnostic equipment used in Helena’s research.
After Gabriel died in the laboratory explosion, Victor purchased the company for a fraction of its value.
Isabella grew up believing Helena and Daniel had caused her family’s collapse.
“Victor paid for my education,” she said. “He gave me a place at Thorne Global.”
“He used you.”
“He recognized me.”
The distinction mattered to Isabella.
Victor had built loyalty by finding people’s deepest injury and naming exploitation as rescue.
“When did you learn about the Aurelia Trust?” Naomi asked.
“Ten years ago.”
“When Marcus first met Khloe?”
“Before.”
“Did you help arrange their relationship?”
“Yes.”
Khloe’s stomach tightened.
Isabella selected the charity event where Marcus and Khloe met. She prepared Marcus with information about Khloe’s interests, grief, and family history.
Their first conversation about art therapy for children had felt spontaneous.
It had been designed.
“Did Marcus know?” Naomi asked.
“He knew who she was and that the trust existed. He did not know every detail.”
“Did he receive money?”
“Yes.”
“Did you?”
“Two million.”
“For helping arrange a marriage?”
“For strategic services.”
Even now, Isabella hid behind professional language.
“What was the original plan after the child was born?”
“Victor expected Marcus to persuade Khloe to assign voting control voluntarily.”
“And if she refused?”
Isabella looked down.
“Then the incapacity provision.”
“Who created the forged medical authorization?”
“Simon.”
“On Victor’s order?”
“Yes.”
“Did Marcus know?”
“He knew Victor was preparing legal options. He did not know Simon had forged Khloe’s signature until yesterday.”
“Why did Marcus bring the documents to the suite?”
“He wanted me to identify who prepared them.”
“Why not go directly to police?”
“Because Marcus believed Victor had people inside law enforcement.”
Naomi placed another photograph down.
It showed Dr. Simon Vale entering Victor’s estate two nights earlier.
“What was supposed to happen at the hospital?”
Isabella hesitated.
Her attorney touched her arm.
“Answer carefully.”
“Simon planned to report fetal distress during Khloe’s checkup.”
“Was the distress real?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Khloe would be sedated. The baby would be delivered. Simon would certify temporary cognitive impairment caused by trauma and medication.”
“Marcus would become temporary guardian.”
“Yes.”
“And sign control to Victor.”
“Yes.”
“What was your role?”
“To keep Khloe emotionally agitated so the notes would support instability.”
“You attacked her.”
“That was not planned.”
Naomi’s voice hardened.
“You expect us to believe you followed a pregnant woman into a locked room, threatened her, shoved her, and kicked her without intending violence?”
“I intended to frighten her.”
“That is violence.”
Isabella’s composure cracked.
“She had everything.”
“No,” Naomi said. “She had what you helped people steal access to.”
Isabella looked toward the mirror.
“Marcus was supposed to leave her after activation.”
“Did he promise you that?”
“Yes.”
“Recently?”
A pause.
“Years ago.”
“Before he fell in love with her.”
Isabella’s eyes filled with tears.
Khloe felt no satisfaction.
Isabella had spent years maintaining a future that had already ended.
Victor kept that fantasy alive because it made her useful.
“What secret was Victor hiding about the child?” Naomi asked.
Isabella’s face changed.
“What do you mean?”
“He altered the baby’s sex in the medical records.”
“That was Simon.”
“On whose order?”
Isabella looked toward her attorney.
He shook his head slightly.
Naomi waited.
Finally, Isabella spoke.
“Victor ordered genetic testing.”
“Without Khloe’s consent?”
“Yes.”
“What did it show?”
“I never saw the full report.”
“What did Victor tell you?”
Isabella’s voice dropped.
“The child carries Helena’s marker.”
“What marker?”
“A genetic sequence connected to the Aurelia technology.”
Behind the glass, Julian leaned forward.
Khloe felt the baby move.
“Explain,” Naomi said.
“Helena designed part of the platform using her own immune-cell line. She embedded a biological verification requirement into the patent system.”
“A living password?”
“In simple terms.”
“And Khloe’s daughter inherited it.”
“Yes.”
The patent’s most valuable manufacturing protocols could be unlocked only using a verified genetic sequence from Helena’s female line.
Without Khloe or her daughter, Victor possessed the company but not full control of the technology.
That was why a female heir mattered.
That was why the baby had been tested secretly.
That was why Victor needed custody, not merely shares.
Isabella looked toward the mirror.
“He does not only want the child’s inheritance.”
May you like
Khloe’s blood turned cold.
“He needs her body.”
