Chapter 8 - THE TRUTH ABOUT ISABELLE
Isabelle's mother had been a genetic researcher.
Her real name wasn't Stanton.
It was Elena Bellini.
She had worked for the Moretti family's private laboratory.
She discovered the embryo program and tried to destroy it.
Maria had hunted her for years.
But Elena escaped.
She changed her name.
Married.
Had a daughter.
Isabelle.
And kept the secret until her death.
Inside the pendant was a microchip.
Dominic recovered it.
The data revealed everything.
Maria had created a genetic succession program involving several criminal families.
Daniel had discovered it.
He had stolen the final embryo.
But before he could expose Maria, someone betrayed him.
That person was Elena.
Daniel's sister.
The woman everyone thought was an ally.
Vincent confronted her.
"Why?"
Elena cried.
"Because Maria threatened my son."
"What son?"
Elena looked toward Michael.
"He was mine."
Michael froze.
"My mother..."
"Maria raised you."
Elena nodded.
"I gave you to her because I was trying to save you."
Michael looked shattered.
"You let me believe you abandoned me."
"I thought you were safer with her."
Vincent stared at Elena.
"You destroyed all of us."
"I know."
Then she handed him another file.
"There's one more truth."
Vincent opened it.
The DNA analysis.
Isabelle's baby.
The results were clear.
Vincent Moretti was the biological father.
Isabelle stared.
"No."
Vincent looked at her.
The room seemed to disappear.
Daniel had stolen Vincent's genetic material years earlier.
The embryo had been created without Vincent's knowledge.
Isabelle was carrying Vincent's child.
His expression changed completely.
"Isabelle..."
She backed away.
"You knew?"
"No."
"You're sure?"
"I swear."
She cried.
"I don't know what to believe anymore."
Vincent stepped closer.
"You don't have to believe me."
He stopped.
"You can watch what I do."
That sentence mattered.
He didn't demand trust.
He offered proof.
Then Maria appeared on every screen.
She had taken control of the estate's security system.
"Congratulations."
Vincent looked up.
Maria smiled.
"You finally discovered the truth."
The doors locked.
Gas began entering the room.
Isabelle coughed.
Vincent grabbed her.
"Michael!"
Michael smashed the emergency panel.
Nothing.
Maria's voice continued.
"Vincent, you always believed power meant controlling everyone."
She laughed.
"But love is much easier to control."
The gas thickened.
Isabelle collapsed.
Vincent caught her.
"Stay with me."
Her eyes fluttered.
"Vincent..."
"I'm here."
"I believe you."
Those four words nearly destroyed him.
He carried her toward the emergency exit.
Michael found the manual release.
The door opened.
Fresh air rushed inside.
They escaped.
May you like
But Maria was gone.
And so was Daniel.
