Chapter 4 Billionaire's Scandal

• Just as Isabella opened her phone and saw the text message, her body gave out, and she collapsed. An unknown number had sent her explicit photos of herself with Adam.
• “Isa! Isa!”
• Maximilian rushed into the room just in time, catching her limp form before she hit the floor. His pulse pounded as he scanned the phone screen, his eyes widening at the images.
• “What the hell?” he breathed, shock flashing across his face. His mind raced. Adam is locked up. His phone is with me. So who’s behind this? A sickening realization crawled up his spine.
• Without another word, Max lifted Isabella and rushed her to the hospital.
• AT THE HOSPITAL
• “What happened to her?” Alicia’s worried voice broke through the tense air as she met Max in the hospital corridor.
• “I don’t know,” Max muttered, running a hand through his hair. “I came home and found her unconscious.”
• Alicia sighed, glancing at Isabella’s pale face. “Oh, Isa, I told you to take it easy.” She gently rubbed Isabella’s forehead.
• A few hours later, Isabella stirred. Her eyelashes fluttered open, and she let out a soft groan as her headache throbbed.
• “Max…” she muttered weakly.
• “You’re awake.” Max sat up beside her, watching her closely. “How do you feel?”
• “I… I don’t know.” Her voice trembled. “It feels like my whole world is crumbling.” Tears pooled in her eyes.
• Max exhaled sharply, his frustration bleeding through. “So, what now? Do you have a plan?” His jaw clenched. “Because naked pictures of you are about to hit the media. Do you have any idea what that will do to me? To my family? The company? To you?” His voice was tight with barely contained anger. “It’ll ruin everything.”
• “I’m sorry,” Isabella whispered. “I never meant for any of this to happen. But I’ll fix it.”
• Max scoffed. “Fix it? And how exactly do you plan to do that?”
• She met his gaze, determination flashing behind her tired eyes. “I started this. I’ll end it. Don’t worry.”
• Max narrowed his eyes. “Don’t do anything reckless.” He hesitated before adding, “Adam is being held at the old house by Alex.”
• Isabella stilled. “Then… if his phone isn’t with him, that means someone else sent me those pictures.” Her stomach twisted.
• “There’s another player in this game,” Max said grimly. “And we need to find out who.”
• AT THE OLD HOUSE
• Adam sat slumped in a chair, his hands bound, his face bloodied from Alex’s relentless beatings. Blood dripped from his mouth as he let out a weak chuckle.
• “You know… I wasn’t always like this,” Adam said, his voice hoarse. “Nobody is born a villain.”
• Alex, standing across from him, folded his arms. “Why are you telling me this?”
• Adam smirked. “Because I’m bored.”
• Alex rolled his eyes, but Adam continued. “Maximilian and I were once inseparable. In high school, I would’ve taken a bullet for him. And then… she walked in.” His gaze darkened.
• HIGH SCHOOL DAYS
• “My name is Adam Francisco. Nice to meet you.”
• The boy with the brightest smile extended his hand. Isabella returned the gesture, her own smile warm. “Isabella Fontaine. My pleasure.”
• Adam chuckled nervously. “Who wouldn’t recognize a Fontaine?”
• “I didn’t know we were that well-known.” Isabella teased. “And you’re a Francisco—your family has its own legacy.”
• Across the room, Maximilian sat alone, arms crossed. He didn’t like her. Another Fontaine… He could practically hear his father’s voice warning him about their family’s rivalry in the business world.
• Later that day, Isabella bumped into him in the hallway. “Hey,” she greeted.
• Max barely spared her a glance. “What do you want?”
• She frowned. “Do we have a problem? You act like I did something to you.”
• “Mind your business and stay away from me.” With that, he walked off.
• Despite the initial tension, Isabella and Adam grew close. Adam fell hard, convinced she was the one. But she only had eyes for Max.
• “You like her?” Max asked one afternoon.
• Adam grinned. “Yeah. A lot.”
• Max scoffed. “I don’t. Her family and mine? We’re not meant to mix.”
• “That’s ridiculous,” Adam argued. “At least be friends with her.”
• Max shrugged. “Not my problem. If you like her, tell her.”
• But before Adam could confess, things changed.
• One night, Adam showed up at Isabella’s house, holding a bouquet of red roses. He had finally mustered the courage to tell her how he felt.
• The front door was slightly open. He stepped inside, calling her name. No answer.
• Then he heard it.
• A soft moan. Followed by a familiar name.
• Adam’s heart plummeted as he walked toward the source of the sound. He didn’t need to see it to know.
• “Max…” Isabella’s voice, filled with pleasure, sent a knife straight through his chest.
• Adam turned and walked out, his hands trembling. Outside, he clenched his jaw, staring at the roses. A second later, he tossed them into the trash.
• Adam snapped back to the present, his lips curling into a bitter smile. “So tell me, Alex… was I wrong to turn against them?”
• Alex’s eyes darkened. “What they did to you was cruel. But it doesn’t justify the things you’ve done now.”
• Adam’s expression hardened. “I’m just getting started. I won’t stop until I’ve had my revenge.”
• AT THE HOSPITAL
• “Congratulations,” the doctor said with a smile.
• Isabella frowned. “On what?”
• The doctor’s eyes softened. “You’re pregnant, Miss Fontaine.”
• A stunned silence filled the room. Isabella’s breath hitched as the news settled in. Pregnant?
• She forced a smile. “Are you sure?”
• “We’ll keep you here for a few days for observation.”
• Isabella nodded absently, her thoughts spiraling. Who’s the father?
• Max? Or Adam?
• Her heart pounded in her chest. If the baby wasn’t Max’s… she was doomed.
• But one thing was clear—she was done playing the victim. She had spent too long being weak. If Adam thought he could destroy her, he was wrong. She was a Fontaine.
• And she would make him regret ever crossing her.