Falcon went straight to Issabella’s room. He found the girl gazing into the mirror, lost in thought. When she heard him come in, she stood up with wide eyes and stepped back.
“Uhmm… who are you?” she asked softly, her voice trembling.
Falcon gazed at her, his eyes scrutinizing her from head to toe. Maximus had told him all about her, and he was impressed by how this girl had survived them all.
“Your soon-to-be husband,” he responded, and her eyes flashed with fear.
She froze, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Uhmm… what do you want from me?” she asked.
“Isn’t it proper for a man to meet his bride before the wedding?” he asked, and she stayed quiet, her fingers nervously fidgeting.
Issabella watched as the mysterious man took a step closer, restraining herself from stepping away. His unique blue eyes could captivate anyone-they were intense, cold, and seemed to have seen many things.
Her heart raced in fear with each step he took toward her. He lifted his hand to touch her face, his touch gentle and cold.
He continued his last sentence. “And see what she has?”
Issabella’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Strip,” he ordered, and her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest. The admiration she had for him quickly turned into hatred.
“I will not marry you,” she declared firmly. She was done letting herself be used by her father over and over again.
This marriage will never work… she would never allow it.
The man’s lips suddenly curled into a cruel smile.
Issabella expected him to act like the other men who would rip her clothes apart, pin her to the bed, and use her until she was sore. But the man did something entirely different.
He simply turned and walked away.
___
An old man adjusted his glasses at the bridge of his nose and then slid the paper in front of Tatiana.
“Here is your mother’s will. I’m glad I found it,” the old man chuckled.
Catelyn had suggested finding this man-her mother’s lawyer.
“Your father and Yara loved each other. But Yara saw the dark side of Maximus and always tried to ignore it. I don’t know if Yara truly didn’t write her will, but you need to find out, Tatie.”
Catelyn’s words echoed in Tatiana’s head. She had then asked Hudson to find her mother’s lawyer, and within hours, he had located him.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Mrs. King,” the man said.
“What do you mean?” Tatiana asked.
“Your mother came to me years ago when she was very sick. She wanted to transfer her wealth to her husband but saw the darkness surrounding him. So instead, she…”
Tatiana’s eyes widened as they fell on the paper.
“She transferred the wealth to you and your sisters only. And when you grew up and came to me, I was to deliver it to you and your sisters.”
Tatiana’s lips parted in disbelief.
“All you need to do is sign, and it’ll all be yours,” the man smiled.
___
“Did you see the news?…”
“Yeah, I did. It’s unbelievable!…”
“Issabella Wallington is alive?!…”
The news about the brothel in Spain was revealed online, thanks to Stacy, who forced her sister to bring out the evidence.
Thankfully, Issabella’s picture and video were included. They revealed how the women were mistreated, sexually abused, and trafficked illegally.
So many reporters from different angles were invited to film the matter, causing a huge stir online.
Women could be seen crying and sharing their experiences-the torture, trauma, and depression they had endured. They confessed that many high-society individuals had sponsored this illegal business.
Salome also revealed that Issabella had been drugged, raped, and framed that night. Her death had been faked, and she had been alive the whole time, suffering.
Tatiana stared at the screen with Cassius sitting next to her. Both were sipping wine from their glasses.
Cassius kissed her forehead. “Good job, wife.”
___
[WALLINGTON MANSION]
“Why the hell didn’t you stop the fucking news?!” Maximus yelled over the phone, his breath ragged as he swept his hair back.
“We couldn’t. We tried to bribe the reporters, but they wouldn’t listen.”
Why would they? Their King had ordered them. They wouldn’t dare defy him, or they’d be banned from the entertainment world.
So, that’s how they wanted to play it, huh? They could reveal everything to the media, expose every bad thing he had done.
Once he allied with Silence, it would be game over. He’d be unstoppable…
He dialed Tatiana’s number. Surprisingly, she picked up faster than he had expected.
“Hello, little rebel… Tsk. You’re just like your dumb husband says. Do you really think you can use the entertainment world to stop me? It seems your fucking brain is running out of ideas. You can’t beat me, Tatiana… Give up. It’ll all be over soon.”
He waited for Tatiana to reply, but nothing came.
“Are you scared?” he scoffed.
Instead of her voice, he heard a tiny, soft voice.
“Nothing scares me. And oh… you should stop using bad words. Mummy said they’re not good.”
Maximus’s brows creased. “Who is this?”
“I’m Dylan King, and I’m cute… I answered the call by mistake. Who are you, mister?”
Dylan? Tatiana’s son. That was unexpected, but Maximus decided to play along.
“Your grandfather.”
“The good one or the bad one?”
Maximus blinked and cleared his throat. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve talked to my other grandpa before, and he sounded nice. You, on the other hand, seem like the one giving my parents trouble.”
Maximus chuckled. Strange, he couldn’t just end the call. Is this boy really going to be six?
“Your parents are the ones trying to destroy what I built, and I’m not going to let them.”
___
In a room, Dylan was seated on the bed, swinging his feet. His tiny hand held his mother’s phone against his ear.
“Why are you bad?” he asked the man who claimed to be his grandfather on the other side.
“The world made me, son.”
Dylan shook his head. “Blaming the world is not a point. Anytime I feel down or angry, I just eat cookies to relax myself.”
“I’m not a kid.”
“My mummy once broke a man’s nose because he taunted me. I think I’m going to do the same to you if you hurt my parents.”
The man laughed lightly on the other side, but Dylan’s face remained serious.
“What are you going to do, little one?” he asked.
“Oh… I’m gonna break your nose,” Dylan replied and ended the call.