Chapter 10 - The Woman Behind the Mask
Isabella spent five nights in custody before a bail hearing.
Her attorneys arrived with experts.
Publicists.
Character witnesses.
A psychologist.
And a carefully manufactured story.
They presented Isabella as emotionally manipulated by Marcus for years.
They claimed she had been promised a future with him.
They argued Khloe had humiliated her publicly.
They described the assault as a tragic emotional breakdown.
Then Khloe’s attorney submitted the hospital footage.
The courtroom became silent.
Marcus sat beside Khloe’s empty seat.
She had not been medically cleared to attend.
Samuel sat behind him.
The video played.
Isabella watched herself shove Khloe.
She watched the glass break.
She watched Khloe fall.
Then she watched herself step forward and strike again.
The judge looked at Isabella.
“Counsel, your client’s self-defense argument appears inconsistent with this recording.”
Vincent Caruso stood.
“Your Honor, we request the court consider the broader emotional circumstances.”
“The court is considering the risk posed to an identifiable victim.”
Bail was set at twenty million dollars.
Home confinement.
Electronic monitoring.
No contact with Khloe or Marcus.
No access to hospital property.
No direct communication with witnesses.
Isabella’s father posted the bond before sunset.
That evening, Isabella entered her family’s Manhattan townhouse through a side door.
Dozens of reporters waited outside.
She said nothing.
Inside, her mother, Sofia Rossi, stood in the foyer.
“You have destroyed us.”
Isabella removed her coat.
“I was attacked first.”
“Stop lying to me.”
Isabella looked at her.
Sofia’s voice trembled with anger.
“I saw the video.”
“You saw one video.”
“I saw you kick a pregnant woman.”
Isabella’s face hardened.
“She took him.”
Sofia stared at her daughter.
“Marcus was never yours.”
Isabella slapped a vase from the entry table.
It shattered.
“You don’t know what he promised me.”
“What did he promise?”
Isabella said nothing.
Sofia stepped closer.
“What exactly did Marcus promise you?”
Silence.
That silence told the truth.
Nothing.
Sofia closed her eyes.
“This was never love.”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“I understand obsession.”
Isabella’s jaw tightened.
Then her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
“You talked too much.”
Isabella looked toward the hallway.
“Who is this?”
“You were supposed to create a scandal.”
Her face changed.
“Julian?”
The caller ignored the question.
“Now there is security footage, an injured investigator, and police looking for Caleb.”
“I can fix it.”
“No.”
“I can.”
“You already failed.”
The call disconnected.
Isabella stared at the screen.
For the first time, her anger toward Khloe was interrupted by something stronger.
Fear.
Across town, Marcus received a different call.
David’s voice was urgent.
“We found Caleb Dunn.”
“Where?”
“Airport hotel near Newark.”
“Police?”
“On the way.”
Marcus looked toward Khloe.
David continued.
“He had a passport under another name.”
“What else?”
“A laptop.”
Marcus waited.
David lowered his voice.
“And photographs of Khloe’s hospital room taken before the gala.”
Marcus’s blood ran cold.
“What kind of photographs?”
“Entry points.”
“Camera positions.”
“And emergency equipment.”
Marcus looked toward the monitor beside his sleeping wife.
May you like
This had never been impulsive.
The attack had been planned.
