Chapter 19
When they arrived at the police station, Isabella was placed in solitary confinement.
Layla, with her freshly treated face, stood outside the door, chin held high in arrogance. "Scared now, aren't you? Weren't you just boasting that you'd be fine even if you got caught? Where's your bravado now? Show me what you've got!"
The person who hit her was Olivia.
But Olivia's status was untouchable, while Isabella was just a country girl kicked out by the Brown Family.
She could do whatever she wanted to Isabella.
Isabella sat straight, eyes closed, resting.
She hadn't had a moment's peace since morning and now felt utterly exhausted.
Seeing Isabella completely ignore her, Layla's face twisted in mockery. "You're still pretending? Do you think Mr. Brown will come here for you? Dream on. He likes Bianca. He's probably comforting her at a hotel right now. But if you kneel before me and slap yourself, maybe I'll put in a good word for you. How about it?"
Using her connections, Layla deliberately humiliated Isabella.
Isabella slowly opened her eyes at the words. She wore a black coat, exuding a natural aura of authority and laziness. "I don't need a reason to hit you. If you think I'll kneel before you, you're dreaming."
"You..." Layla couldn't stand Isabella's haughty demeanor, especially since she was just a country girl.
It made her very uncomfortable.
She took out her phone and started recording Isabella through the glass window, a cold smirk on her lips. "You think you're safe because you haven't divorced Mr. Brown yet? If I post a video of you being detained online, do you think the Brown Family will still want you?"
Isabella shot her a cold glance. "I advise you not to ask for trouble."
"Scared now?" Seeing Isabella's change in expression, Layla became even more smug. "You dare threaten me? Do you know where you are? This is my brother Mason's territory. You could be locked up for years!"
Layla paused, bringing the phone closer to Isabella. "And this video, I'll make sure everyone knows you're just a woman who got into Mr. Brown's bed through manipulation, only to be thrown out like trash. You were just a nanny for the Brown Family for a few years, and you think you're Mrs. Brown? A country girl will always be a country girl."
"You better be ready to face the consequences." Isabella was truly angry now.
She was planning to divorce Michael.
But her status and public image were not something anyone could tarnish.
Isabella's icy gaze made Layla shiver.
She quickly dismissed the thought, thinking it was impossible. Isabella was just a country girl; how could she have such an authoritative presence?
Feeling embarrassed, Layla's face turned red.
She had someone open the door and asked Mason for two burly men to come in.
She couldn't retaliate against Olivia, but if Isabella wanted to take all the blame, she'd make sure she paid a thousandfold.
The two men pinned Isabella to the chair.
Layla glared and slapped her hard.
The sound echoed in the quiet room.
Isabella didn't resist, just smirked coldly.
She wanted to see how clueless Layla could be.
The sharp pain reminded Isabella of the fight at The Velvet Lounge earlier.
To help Olivia, she hadn't come out unscathed, but Michael hadn't even spared her a glance when he arrived.
He didn't ask if she was hurt but blamed her for tarnishing the Brown Family's and his dignity.
He turned and left with Bianca in his arms.
She had never held a place in his heart.
He only loved Bianca.
Meanwhile, at The Velvet Lounge, Olivia had dispersed the crowd and paid to keep the incident quiet after Isabella left.
Although Isabella had told her not to interfere, she couldn't just sit still.
Isabella was clearly agitated by Michael.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone with the police.
The emotions Isabella hid were not as indifferent as they appeared.
Michael was the man she had loved for years. Seeing him leave with Bianca in front of her, anyone would have been agitated.
Olivia thought for a moment and couldn't resist calling Michael.
After all, Isabella was still his legal wife, and he had sent her to the police station for Bianca. That was too much!
The call connected quickly, and Michael's deep, impatient voice came through. "What is it?"
He clearly guessed it was Olivia.
Olivia's anger flared. "Isabella is in the police station because of you, and you don't care at all? You're a terrible man. Isabella is so unlucky to have married you."
"Olivia, watch your words." Michael's tone was calm, but his displeasure was evident.
"You abandoned Isabella for that shameless Bianca, and you expect me to speak nicely? I'm telling you, if you keep bullying Isabella, you'll face consequences soon. You'll regret it." Olivia was furious.
She should have stopped Isabella from marrying Michael in the first place.
"Really?" Michael's tone remained the same, but his voice grew colder. "Then why didn't you think of that when you took her to The Velvet Lounge to find male models?"
Isabella had been much happier after leaving the Brown Family.
Divorcing him made her so happy.
If she had just come to him like before and begged, he would have taken her away.
But she refused.
Olivia felt Michael was so unreasonable. "How dare you mention male models? If you hadn't neglected her, Isabella wouldn't have gone out to find other men. Do you not understand how you've treated her these past three years?"
She took a deep breath. "Michael, I'll say it one last time. Isabella is at the police station. If you still consider her your wife, go get her. Otherwise..."
"She's divorcing me. Do I need to save her?" Michael's chest felt tight, and his face reflected in the floor-to-ceiling window was dark. "I won't help her unless she comes to me and begs."
"You, Michael, are you out of your mind? You're the one at fault..."
The call was abruptly ended.
Olivia stared at her phone, fuming. She wasn't really worried about Isabella getting into trouble; Isabella could handle herself.
She just wanted to make things a bit easier for Isabella.
Michael was someone Isabella had cared about for over a decade.
How could she just forget him?
But she never expected Michael to be such a jerk.
Michael hung up and returned to the couch to continue drinking.
Even Ethan, sitting on the couch nearby, could feel the low pressure emanating from him.
He had just been speaking coldly, but now he seemed depressed.
Ethan sighed. "I really don't get you. What are you thinking? You indulge Bianca but won't divorce Isabella, and now you've sent Isabella to the police station?"