Chapter 6 Billionaire's Scandal

• Isabella clenched the phone in her hands, her father’s voice still echoing in her ears.
• “Now you sound like a Fontaine.”
• She stared at the screen, the weight of her decision pressing down on her chest like a stone. This wasn’t who she used to be. She had spent years trying to distance herself from the Fontaine name, from the reputation that came with it. But tonight… tonight, she had finally accepted it.
• Because if she didn’t fight back, she would be destroyed.
• A knock on the door made her stiffen.
• She took a sharp breath, shoving her phone under the pillow. “Come in.”
• The door opened, and Alicia stepped inside, her expression a mix of concern and suspicion. She shut the door behind her and folded her arms.
• “You look like you just made a deal with the devil,” Alicia said quietly.
• Isabella let out a dry chuckle. “Close enough.”
• Alicia’s eyes searched hers. “Isa… what did you do?”
• “I made a decision,” Isabella said, her voice steady. “One I should have made a long time ago.”
• Alicia frowned. “And does this decision involve your father?”
• Isabella didn’t answer. She didn’t have to.
• Alicia cursed under her breath and sat on the chair beside the bed. “Damn it, Isa. Do you even understand what you’ve just done? Your father isn’t the kind of man you call for favors unless you’re prepared to pay the price.”
• “I know,” Isabella murmured.
• “Do you?” Alicia challenged. “Because if you’re really back in the Fontaine game, there’s no getting out. You can’t just use your father when it’s convenient and expect him to disappear afterward. He will collect his debt, and trust me, you won’t like the terms.”
• Isabella looked away, staring at the IV in her arm. She knew Alicia was right. Her father never did anything out of goodwill. Every favor had a price. And yet, she had still made the call.
• She had no other choice.
• Alicia exhaled heavily. “What about Max? Does he know?”
• “No.”
• “And what do you think he’s going to do when he finds out?”
• Isabella hesitated. “He won’t.”
• Alicia scoffed. “You really believe that?”
• Isabella rubbed her temples. “Max has too much on his plate right now. He won’t dig into this unless I give him a reason to.”
• Alicia shook her head. “You underestimate him. Max never lets things go. If he senses something’s off, he’ll find out—whether you tell him or not.”
• Isabella swallowed hard. She knew Alicia was right.
• She just hoped Max wouldn’t find out the truth before she could fix this.
• The warehouse was cold and dark, the only light coming from a single overhead bulb that flickered every few seconds. Alex sat across from Adam, his expression unreadable as he studied the bruised man in front of him.
• Adam’s face was swollen, his lip split from earlier. But despite everything, he still managed to smirk.
• “You’re still here,” Adam mused. “I was hoping Max would show up instead.”
• Alex smirked. “You’re not worth Max’s time.”
• Adam leaned back against the chair, his hands still tied behind him. “Your loss. I actually have something he’d want to hear.”
• Alex narrowed his eyes. “Then tell me.”
• Adam chuckled. “And give up all the fun? Where’s the challenge in that?”
• Alex’s patience was wearing thin. He leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. “I don’t have time for your games, Adam. Either you start talking, or I make you talk.”
• Adam’s smirk didn’t falter. “Go ahead. Beat me. Kill me, even. But that won’t stop what’s coming.”
• Alex’s jaw tightened. “What the hell are you talking about?”
• Adam tilted his head. “You think I’m the only one? That I’m the mastermind behind all this?” He chuckled darkly. “You’re so damn blind, Alex. You and Max both. The real threat isn’t me.”
• Before Alex could respond, his phone buzzed. He pulled it out, frowning at the unknown number. He hesitated, then answered.
• A distorted voice came through the line.
• Alex stared at his phone, the unknown caller’s words echoing in his head.
• “You’re running out of time, Alex. The truth is closer than you think.”
• His grip on the phone tightened. Someone was watching. Someone who knew more than they were letting on.
• Slowly, he turned back to Adam, who was watching him with lazy amusement.
• “Let me guess,” Adam drawled, “a creepy mystery call? You must be so stressed right now.”
• Alex’s patience snapped. He lunged forward, grabbing Adam by the collar and jerking him forward. “Enough with the games. Who the hell are you working for?”
• Adam let out a low chuckle. “You’re asking the wrong questions, Alex.” His eyes glinted despite the bruises. “It’s not about who I work for. It’s about why this is happening in the first place.”
• Alex’s jaw clenched. He hated mind games, and Adam knew it.
• “You think this is about some petty revenge?” Adam continued. “It’s bigger than that. Bigger than me. Bigger than you.”
• Alex shoved him back into the chair. “Then enlighten me.”
• Adam smirked, licking the blood off his cracked lip. “Not today.”
• Alex’s fingers twitched toward his gun holster. He could force the answers out of him—he’d done worse to men who deserved it. But Adam wanted him to lose control, and Alex wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.
• Instead, he stood up, pulling out his phone again.
• “You’re cocky,” he said, dialing a number. “I wonder if you’ll still be smiling when Max gets here.”
• For the first time, Adam’s smirk faltered.
• Alex noticed. Good.
• The line rang twice before Max picked up.
• “Speak,” Max’s voice came through, cold and sharp.
• Alex kept his eyes locked on Adam. “You need to get here. Now.”
• There was a pause. “Did he talk?”
• “Not yet,” Alex admitted. “But he will.”
• Max exhaled slowly. “I’m on my way.”
• Alex slid the phone back into his pocket and crouched down to Adam’s level. “Enjoy the next few minutes of freedom. Because when Max gets here, you’re going to wish you had talked to me instead.”
• The Hospital
• Isabella hadn’t moved from her bed since Alicia left. She was staring at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts.
• Her phone buzzed again.
• Another message.
• “Tick tock, Isabella. Time’s running out.”
• A shiver ran down her spine as she opened the text message.
• Isabella knew she made the right choice calling her father. She had no doubt he would find out who was behind this, and when he did, there would be hell to pay.
• A knock at the door made her sit up.
• She expected Alicia—or maybe even a nurse—but when the door opened, it was Max.
• Her breath hitched.
• He stepped inside, his gaze sharp as he closed the door behind him. The tension in the room instantly thickened.
• “Max…” she started, but the words died in her throat.
• He stood at the edge of the bed, his eyes scanning her face like he was trying to piece something together.
• “Who is it?” His voice was calm, but the steel underneath it was unmistakable.
• She frowned. “Who is who?”
• “The person threatening you,” he clarified. “The one sending you those messages.”
• Her stomach twisted. He knew.
• Isabella forced herself to stay composed. “I don’t know.”
• Max scoffed, crossing his arms. “Lying to me is a bad idea, Isabella.”
• She swallowed. “I’m not lying.”
• He reached into his pocket and pulled out her phone.
• Her blood ran cold.
• “How did you get that?” she whispered.
• Max didn’t answer. Instead, he turned the screen toward her, showing the latest message.
• Tick tock, Isabella. Time’s running out.
• Her pulse hammered.
• “Still going to tell me you don’t know who it is?” Max asked, his voice dangerously quiet.
• She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
• Max exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Damn it, Isabella.”
• She clenched the sheets beneath her fingers. “Max, I—”
• He held up a hand, stopping her. His face was unreadable, but she could feel the storm brewing behind his eyes.
• “You have two choices,” he said finally. “Either you tell me the truth right now… or I find it out myself.”
• Her throat felt tight.
• She knew Max. If he started digging, he wouldn’t stop until he uncovered everything.
• And if he found out she had called her father…
• The air in the room felt suffocating.
• Then, before she could respond, Max’s phone rang.
• He pulled it out, frowning at the caller ID.
• It was Alex.
• He hesitated, then answered. “Talk.”
• Alex’s voice was clipped. “You need to get here. Now.”
• Max’s eyes darkened. “What happened?”
• “I’ve got Adam,” Alex said. “But there’s something bigger going on, Max. Someone else is pulling the strings.”
• Max’s jaw tightened. “I’m on my way.”
• He hung up, slipping his phone into his pocket.
• Isabella saw the shift in his expression—something had changed.
• “What’s going on?” she asked.
• Max hesitated, like he was debating whether to tell her. Then, finally, he shook his head. “I’ll handle it.”
• He turned to leave.
• “Max, wait—”
• He paused at the door, glancing back at her.
• His gaze softened—just for a second. But then it was gone, replaced by the cold, calculating man she had seen so many times before.
• “Stay here,” he ordered.
• Isabella sat there, her heart pounding.
• She had the sinking feeling that whatever was happening…
• It was only just starting and she was definitely ready for it.
• Across the street, hidden in the shadows, two men watched as Max left the hospital.
• The taller one smirked. “He took the bait.”
• His companion exhaled smoke, flicking his cigarette onto the pavement. “They always do.”
• The taller man glanced back at Isabella’s window. “And her?”
• A slow grin spread across the smoker’s face. “She made her choice. Now we watch her burn.”