Chapter 8 – A Family Built on Lies
By dawn, every major news outlet carried the same headline.
SOCIALITE ISABELLA ROSSI ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGED ASSAULT ON BILLIONAIRE'S PREGNANT WIFE.
The story spread faster than anyone expected.
Video clips from outside the hospital dominated television.
Commentators debated motives.
Reporters searched for witnesses.
But none of them had seen the surveillance footage.
Only investigators had.
Inside police headquarters, Isabella sat across from Detective Claire Donovan.
She no longer looked untouchable.
Her mascara had faded.
Dark circles framed her eyes.
Still...
She smiled.
Claire placed several photographs on the table.
Security stills.
Frame after frame.
The shove.
The kick.
Khloe collapsing.
Claire folded her hands.
"Would you like to change your statement?"
Isabella looked at the photographs without emotion.
"No."
"You still claim Khloe attacked first?"
"Yes."
Claire slid another photograph across the table.
It showed Richard Hawthorne handing Isabella the mysterious envelope before the assault.
"This was twenty-two minutes earlier."
"Who is he?"
Isabella's smile disappeared for the first time.
"I don't know."
Claire waited.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"My lawyer told me not to answer questions."
Claire stood.
"That's your right."
She gathered the photographs.
"But understand something."
"We already know you're lying."
As Claire reached the door, Isabella finally spoke.
"You'll never touch Richard."
Claire turned slowly.
"Why not?"
Isabella looked directly into her eyes.
"Because powerful men don't go to prison."
Claire held her gaze.
May you like
"They do."
"It just takes longer."
