Chapter 18 - Isabella’s Last Truth
Three days later, Isabella requested to speak with Khloe.
Khloe almost refused.
Then Isabella’s attorney sent one sentence through Detective Price.
There is something Marcus still doesn’t know.
Khloe agreed.
The meeting happened behind glass.
Isabella wore no makeup.
No diamonds.
No designer dress.
Without the armor, she looked younger.
And smaller.
Khloe felt no sympathy.
“You have five minutes.”
Isabella nodded.
“I deserve what happens to me.”
Khloe said nothing.
“I told myself Marcus loved me.”
“He didn’t.”
“He wanted escape.”
“I wanted his life.”
Isabella’s eyes filled.
“I hated you because you had everything I thought I deserved.”
“You almost killed my baby.”
“I know.”
“No apology fixes that.”
“I know.”
Khloe leaned back.
“Then why am I here?”
Isabella took a breath.
“Because Richard did not introduce me to Voss.”
“Marcus did.”
Khloe stiffened.
Isabella continued quickly.
“Not for the conspiracy.”
“Months before that.”
“Marcus introduced us at a fundraiser.”
“Voss realized what was happening between us.”
“He began asking questions.”
“Then he used it.”
Khloe frowned.
“What doesn’t Marcus know?”
Isabella looked toward the camera.
“Voss had been investigating Marcus before the affair started.”
“Why?”
“Because Richard asked him to.”
“For years, Richard was terrified Marcus would eventually discover the stolen money.”
“So he had Voss build a file.”
“Drugs.”
“Women.”
“Financial mistakes.”
“Anything that could destroy Marcus if he turned against him.”
Khloe’s stomach tightened.
“And you became part of the file.”
“Yes.”
“Voss encouraged the affair.”
“He created opportunities.”
“He told me Marcus’s marriage was already dead.”
“That doesn’t excuse me.”
“No.”
“It doesn’t.”
Isabella nodded.
Then she slid a paper toward the glass.
Detective Price handed Khloe a copy.
A photograph.
Marcus stood inside a restaurant with Dr. Voss.
The timestamp was nearly two years old.
Beside them stood Richard.
Khloe looked closer.
There was a fourth person at the table.
Gabriel Mercer.
Khloe’s heart stopped.
“My uncle?”
Isabella nodded.
“I found that on Voss’s phone.”
“Gabriel told you he suspected Richard after your father died.”
“Yes.”
“Then ask him why he was meeting privately with Richard two years ago.”
Khloe stared at the photograph.
Isabella leaned closer to the glass.
“And ask him why Suite 1704 was the only Mercer security camera that had already been activated.”
Khloe looked up.
A chill moved through her.
Gabriel had called it a coincidence.
May you like
Suddenly, she was no longer sure.
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