Chapter 6 - THE MATRIARCH’S DEAL
Victoria denied everything.
“That note proves nothing,” she said from the hospital conference room. “Anyone could copy my handwriting.”
Marcus placed the schedule in front of her. “Why was your access code used?”
“I already told you. Staff use it.”
“Why did your security chief try to erase the footage?”
“I do not control every action Nolan takes.”
Gabriel leaned forward. “He says you paid him fifty thousand dollars.”
Victoria’s expression did not change, but her fingers tightened around her handbag.
Isabella sat beside her attorney, silent now.
Marcus turned to her. “Tell me the truth.”
Isabella’s eyes filled with tears again. “Your wife hates me.”
“Did you kick her?”
“She attacked first.”
Gabriel set a laptop on the table and pressed play.
The reflected footage appeared.
There was no sound, but no explanation could change what everyone saw.
Isabella lunged.
Khloe retreated.
Isabella kicked.
Marcus watched the clip twice. Then he stood.
“You could have killed my child.”
Isabella’s performance collapsed. “I was supposed to scare her!”
The room went still.
Victoria turned sharply. “Be quiet.”
Isabella pointed at her. “You said Khloe would leave if the pregnancy became dangerous. You said Marcus would blame the stress.”
Marcus looked at his mother as if seeing a stranger.
Victoria rose, cold and controlled. “This family needed protection.”
“From my wife?”
“From what she inherited.”
Marcus froze.
May you like
Khloe had never told him about any inheritance.
Isabella began bargaining immediately. She offered names, messages, and bank records if the police protected her from Victoria. Her attorney whispered for her to stop, but fear had replaced loyalty. “She will destroy me too,” Isabella said. “That is what she does when people become inconvenient.”
