Chapter 2: The Betrayal Web

Isabella’s point of view

My heart was beating so loudly that it was echoing in my ears as I looked at the pictures Daniel was holding. The pictures were unmistakable: me entering Tony's penthouse, his hand hovering around my waist, and his ownership-like look.

My mouth became parched. I had been being followed, observing. Reporting back to him.

As Daniel threw the pictures on the table, a sneer formed on his lips. "You honestly believed I wouldn't find out?" His fingers clenched around his whiskey glass, and his voice was unnervingly quiet. "I own you, Isabella. You don't get to move like some shady—

"Don't," I interrupted, my tone piercing.

His eyebrows raised in laughter. "Don't you?" He walked slowly in my direction. "You believe you can now tell me what to do?"

I pushed up my chin. My body shook, but this time it was anger, not fear, that was driving me.

I said, "You don't own me."

I knew I couldn't take the words back once I spoke them, even though they tasted strange on my tongue.

Daniel's laughter vanished as his jaw tightened. Whiskey dripped between his fingers as the glass in his palm broke. His look grew gloomy.

"You unappreciative little"

"Take action." My chin went up higher. "Hit me as you usually do. Daniel, show yourself that you are in charge.

He stopped.

Because I wasn't pleading this time. I wasn't trembling.

He noticed the change in my eyes for the first time. The blaze within me.

His voice was like ice as he said quietly, "You'll regret this."

I took a deep breath. "No, Daniel. You will.

I hardly had time to comprehend what had transpired when I was confronted by another nightmare.

Camilla.

With a contented grin on her face, she walked into my bedroom as if she owned it.

She cooed, her voice brimming with phony pity, "Oh, dear sister." "You ought to exercise more caution."

I kept my arms crossed so she couldn't see how scared I was. "What are you looking for?"

A folder was thrown upon the bed by her. Daniel showed you everything, and I have copies of it. Each picture. And when I expose them to the media, I can only image how much worse things will get.

I didn't react, but a lump started to grow in my throat. "Caroline, what do you want?"

She smiled more broadly. "Oh, not much. Simply put, everything you own.

I blinked. "What?"

Examining her manicured nails, she let out a dramatic sigh. Isabella, you see, the small inheritance your mother left you. I desire it.

I was struck with a cold awareness.

I said, "You're blackmailing me."

She smiled. "At last, she understands."

I balled my fists up. "Why?"

She laughed. "You have been playing the ideal little victim for so long, do you even realize it? Isabella, poor, defenseless. Needing to be saved constantly. She sneered. "You never deserved that money as much as I did."

I was filled with rage. "You're my sister."

Her face grew serious. "And you were foolish to ever put your trust in me."

My eyes ached with tears, but I fought the need to cry.

Camilla's voice was dangerously quiet as she leaned in. "Darling, you have two options. Give your inheritance to someone else, or watch your life fall apart.

She gave me a derisive pat on the cheek and turned to go.

My fists trembled as I peered after her.

I had been deceived by my sister.

I vowed for the first time in my life that I would never again be weak.

In Tony's dark office, I sat with my fingers gripping the chair's leather armrest. I felt like I was being choked by the weight of Daniel's threats and Camilla's betrayal. The thing that disturbed me the most, though, was Tony, who was reclining in his chair and examining me with his dark eyes as though he already knew everything.

"You're quiet," he said in a pleasant but unintelligible voice. "This time, what did he do?"

I paused. I didn't want to come across as Daniel's constant accusation of being a vulnerable woman. However, this was no longer solely about me. That was demonstrated by Camilla.

"They're blackmailing me." My pulse was erratic, yet my voice was steady. "My sister."

Although Tony's face remained the same, I could see his jaw slightly bend. His eyes never left mine as he swirled a glass of whiskey in his palm.

He said, "Tell me everything."

So I did. I informed him about Daniel's threats, Camilla's demands, and the pictures. I didn't omit anything.

With a quiet clink, Tony put his glass down and breathed. "I thought Daniel would eventually do a stunt like this. However, your sister? He gave a quiet laugh, but it was devoid of humor. "What a fascinating twist."

My fingernails sank into my hand. "I'm not sure what to do."

Tony put his elbows on the desk and leaned forward. "Then you need to learn how to defend yourself."

I tensed up. "How?"

His ebony eyes captured mine. "By understanding that you are more powerful than you believe."

I scowled. "I don't"

"You've been conditioned for years to think you're weak by Daniel and Camilla, that you must be restrained. His head cocked slightly. "But you don't."

I took a deep breath. I was horrified by the idea of actually standing up to them.

However, Tony then made a statement that made me shudder.

He whispered, "I already knew Daniel was corrupt." "I only needed the ideal opportunity to ruin him."

My breath caught. "What?"

Tony drummed his fingers on the desk. Isabella, your husband is more than simply a violent jerk. He is dishonest; he bribes officials, forges contracts, and launders money. Something evil curled his lips. "And I have evidence."

My ears throbbed with my heartbeat. "Why haven't you taken action if you've known all along?"

"Because it's all about timing." His eyes sparkled. "And you've given me a reason to do something now."

It should have made me feel better. Ought should have felt justified.

Rather, though, a shiver went down my back.

Because I had a feeling that this fight was far from being ended.

Tony's subsequent remarks drove my world into a tailspin.

"There's another issue," he whispered. "One that we cannot overlook."

I didn't breathe. "What?"

His look was unreadable as he leaned back.

"Natalia has returned."

The name was a slap in the face.

Tony's ex, Natalia.

The one who had almost destroyed him.

She was now on her way to me.

I was surprised to meet her so quickly.

Late at night, a mysterious text message from an unidentified number arrived:

Presidential Suite, Park Hyatt. Come by yourself.

I ought to have disregarded it.

I ought to have informed Tony.

However, I had a gut feeling that I had to listen to her.

And so I ended up with my stomach in knots, standing at the door of a luxurious hotel suite.

I rapped once.

Almost instantly, the door flew open.

There she was.

Natalia.

She was gorgeous, tall, dark-haired, and wearing a pricey silk robe that did little to hide her contours. She sipped her wine slowly, a sneer curling her scarlet lips.

She purred and moved aside, saying, "Well, well." "The well-known Isabella."

After a moment of hesitation, I entered the building. Behind me, the door clicked shut.

"I'm not sure what you're looking for," I stated firmly. "However, I wasn't here to play games."

She is sauntering toward me, she laughed softly. “Oh, darling. You’re already in the game.”

My fingers curled into fists. “If this is about Tony—”

“It’s always about Tony,” she interrupted, tilting her head. “And you’re playing with fire, little girl.”

I took a deep breath. "What are you looking for?"

Her smirk vanished.

“I want you to walk away.”

My stomach grew constricted.

She moved closer, slowly. "Are you aware of the fate of the last woman who believed she could take what was rightfully mine?"

My skin pricked.

With her fingers grazing my shoulder, Natalia said, "She vanished." "No one. No proof. Simply gone.

A cold feeling went through me.

With a smooth voice, she went on, "Tony isn't who you think he is." "He poses a threat. He’s ruthless. And if you stay in his world, it will consume you.”