Chapter 568
Chapter 568:
A violent shudder moved through Belle’s body. The hallway felt freezing. Isolde was no longer simply the victim in this — she was the predator, and Belle was bleeding in the open.
“If you drop the charges,” Belle rushed forward, her words tumbling over one another, “and if you promise not to leak InnoTech’s financial situation to the press — I will agree to any condition you have. Anything p>
Isolde uncrossed her arms and tilted her head.
“Any condition?” she asked.
𝘑𝘰𝗶𝗻 𝘵hо𝗎𝗌𝖺𝗇𝗱𝘀 о𝖿 𝘧𝖺nѕ 𝘰n
Belle bit the inside of her cheek until she tasted copper. “Yes p>
Isolde took one slow step forward, closing the distance between them. The scent of clean soap mingled with the sterile hospital air.
“First,” Isolde said, her voice dropping to a quiet, lethal murmur. “A public apology. A full-page spread in the New York Times tomorrow morning, and posted across all your social media channels. You will admit that Cheryl Juarez committed an unprovoked, violent assault p>
Belle’s fists clenched at her sides. “That will destroy her reputation in every social circle she has p>
“She destroyed it herself when she raised her hand,” Isolde countered without missing a beat. “Second. I want Hector Juarez moved out of the VIP ward. Immediately p>
Belle gasped. “My uncle just had major surgery! Moving him could kill him p>
Isolde’s eyes darkened. The temperature in the hallway seemed to drop ten degrees.
“My uncle was fighting for his life with acute liver failure,” Isolde said, her voice dropping to something cold and precise. “And your family cut off his company’s supply chain — deliberately — trying to bankrupt him so he could not afford proper care in this hospital. Tell me, Belle. Is a Juarez life worth more than a Carson life p>
Belle opened her mouth. Nothing came out. Her throat had gone completely dry.
“Third,” Isolde said. “And this is the most important condition. I want you to admit the truth about Kaiden p>
Belle stopped breathing. Her heart slammed against her ribs. The blood roared in her ears. Did Isolde know about the DNA? Was she about to expose everything?
“I want you to admit,” Isolde continued evenly, “that Kaiden has been systematically bullying Effie at school. And I want him to stand in front of her and apologize p>
The breath rushed out of Belle in a single, shuddering wave. The relief was so overwhelming her knees nearly buckled. It was only about the bullying. The secret was still safe.
The relief was immediately replaced by a surge of maternal outrage. “Kaiden is just a child p>
“A child is a mirror of his parents,” Isolde said coldly. “If you cannot make him apologize, then this conversation is over. Enjoy visiting your mother through a glass partition this weekend p>
Isolde turned and reached for the door handle.
“Wait!” Belle cried.
She stared at Isolde’s rigid back. She thought of her mother sitting in a concrete cell, crying. She thought of the bank calling her phone every ten minutes.
“Fine,” Belle whispered. The humiliation burned her throat like acid. “I agree. All of it p>
Isolde stopped. She did not turn around.