Chapter 14 - The Cousins Who Could Not Go Back
Camille’s pregnancy became high-risk.
Stress.
Elevated blood pressure.
Doctors ordered reduced activity.
Isabella learned through counsel.
She told herself she did not care.
Then sent a private request that Camille receive independent medical care unrelated to the Laurent family.
Maria noticed.
“You can hate her and not want the baby harmed.”
“I know.”
“That’s progress.”
“Please stop grading me.”
Maria smiled.
The prosecution landscape became complicated.
Camille’s testimony directly implicated Julian and Charles.
But defense attorneys would attack her credibility because she expected consideration.
Julian’s recordings implicated Charles.
But Julian was also a charged defendant seeking leverage.
Maria’s ten-year deception would be used against her.
Isabella’s emotional conflicts would be used against her.
Everyone had flaws.
The case would have to survive them.
That frightened Isabella more than clean evidence.
Then Charles struck back civilly.
He filed a petition challenging Isabella’s suitability to become sole trustee at thirty-five.
Grounds:
evidence removal.
emotional instability.
reckless corporate decision-making.
conflicts arising from criminal investigation.
The evidence removal referred to something new.
Isabella frowned.
“What?”
Grace looked grim.
“Your father’s medical folder.”
“It’s with investigators.”
“Not that one.”
Charles alleged Isabella removed originals from Bellhaven years earlier to manipulate Victor’s estate.
False.
But he produced a signed inventory showing Isabella had checked out medical records shortly after Victor died.
She remembered.
“I took Dad’s hospice bills to contest insurance charges.”
“Did you return everything?”
“I thought so.”
“Thought?”
Isabella closed her eyes.
Another vulnerability.
Grace said, “We’ll reconstruct it.”
The trust litigation threatened to continue beyond Isabella’s birthday.
If the court imposed a temporary neutral trustee, she might not receive immediate control.
Charles could not control either.
But the company would remain unstable.
Julian’s lawyer then offered a proposal.
Full cooperation in the attempted-murder and Victor cases.
In exchange, prosecutors would consider sentencing concessions and dismiss certain lesser financial counts.
Not Isabella’s choice.
Yet investigators wanted her input on safety and factual issues.
She met Julian once more.
“What are you giving them?”
“Everything.”
“Why?”
“Charles tried to have me killed.”
She stared.
“When?”
“After Camille disappeared.”
“How?”
“Brake line on my car.”
“Can you prove it?”
“The mechanic can.”
Power reversed again.
Julian had become disposable too.
Isabella said, “You sound offended.”
He almost smiled.
“I suppose I am.”
“You planned my death.”
“I know.”
“Then discovered Charles could plan yours.”
“Yes.”
“Did that make murder feel different?”
Julian looked away.
“Yes.”
For the first time, Isabella saw not the polished fiancé.
Not the conspirator.
A coward discovering that the system he embraced had no loyalty.
Julian continued.
“I have an original recording of Charles and Reeves.”
“Which one?”
“Night before Victor died.”
Isabella’s breathing changed.
“What does it say?”
Julian looked at his attorney.
The recording was played.
Charles:
“He cannot sign Monday.”
Reeves:
“I already increased it.”
Charles:
“Then increase it again.”
Reeves:
“That could kill him.”
A pause.
Charles:
“Then you should make sure the paperwork is clean.”
Isabella closed her eyes.
No euphemism left.
No temporary incapacity.
No misunderstanding.
Her father’s death had been ordered.
Julian possessed the recording because Graham Cross had bugged Charles’s office.
Graham had been blackmailing Charles even before his own death.
The family empire was held together by mutual extortion.
Isabella whispered, “Why didn’t you give this to police years ago?”
Julian answered honestly.
“Because it made me valuable.”
She looked at him.
“That may be the most truthful thing you’ve ever said.”
He nodded.
Afterward, Isabella met Camille through counsel.
She placed a copy of the recording on the table.
Camille listened.
Her father ordering Victor’s lethal dose.
She broke down.
“He told me Uncle Victor died hating him.”
Isabella said nothing.
“He said Victor tried to cut us out because he was greedy.”
Nothing.
Camille looked at Isabella.
“I believed him.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t believe me.”
“I believe you wanted to.”
Camille flinched.
That was worse.
Camille whispered, “There’s no way back for us.”
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
Tears filled both women’s eyes.
Camille nodded.
“I know.”
Some betrayals could be understood.
Not undone.
Then Camille placed her hands over her stomach.
“If anything happens to me—”
“Stop.”
“Please.”
Isabella looked away.
“I will make sure your child has independent guardianship review and money protected from Charles and Julian if the court permits it.”
Camille sobbed.
“Why?”
Isabella’s eyes filled.
“Because the child did not hand anyone a locking strap.”
They both cried then.
May you like
Not reconciliation.
Grief for a relationship that had existed before greed, resentment, and Julian turned it into evidence.
