After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 1224

Isabella remained silent.

Her mind drifted back to what Ethan had just told her—that their shared secret made them the only ones who truly understood each other.

As long as York was still out there, she and Ethan were indeed tied to the same ticking time bomb. They were both targets in York's sadistic game, and being near her would only put Harold in the crossfire.

Since York had already made his first move, it was highly likely he would continue attacking the Carter family just to force Harold into dumping her.

York's sheer malice was one thing, but whether Harold's love was bulletproof enough to weather this storm was an entirely different question.

Isabella honestly didn't know if her relationship with Harold could survive this level of manufactured chaos.

"The Carter family has always been great to you, and Harold is genuinely in love with you. They're still investigating. The truth will come out, and I know Harold won't doubt you," Laura said, trying to soothe her friend's anxiety.

"Whatever happens, happens. Has Natalie been formally booked yet?"

"Yeah, she's definitely not getting out. Jordan went down to the precinct, found out what she did, and stormed out with a face like thunder. He probably headed straight to the Gates family. You know her parents are going to move heaven and earth to bail her out."

Isabella let out a dark scoff. "When you commit a felony, all the money and influence in the world won't save you. The law doesn't care how rich her daddy is."

If this had been some petty vandalism—like when Natalie smashed up the equipment in Isabella's cafe—it would have just meant a night in a holding cell, a fine, and paying for the damages. The Gates family could have made that disappear before breakfast.

But actual criminal conspiracy? No amount of cash could buy a get-out-of-jail-free card for that.

Especially since the victim was Barbara Carter. The Carter family's power dwarfed the Gates family's by a landslide. Did they really think the Carter family would just roll over and let them buy their daughter's freedom? The Carters weren't known for playing nice.

"Natalie might just be an accessory rather than the mastermind, so she probably won't get a maximum sentence. But this is still going to be a brutal wake-up call for her."

"She's so unbelievably arrogant. Crashing and burning like this... I can't even imagine how twisted her brain is going to be by the time she gets out. It's safe to say it's to the death between her and me now."

Reconciliation was impossible in this lifetime.

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