Chapter 2
For several long seconds...
No one moved.
The only sound inside the Royal Suite was Sophia's painful breathing.
She curled herself tighter around her unborn baby as tears streamed down her face.
Marcus dropped to his knees beside her.
"Sophia..."
His voice trembled.
"I'm here."
She slowly opened her eyes.
"Marcus..."
"Our baby..."
"Please..."
"Save our baby."
Marcus carefully wrapped his tuxedo jacket around her shaking body.
When his hand touched the blood soaking through the white fabric...
His heart nearly stopped.
He looked toward the medical team standing outside.
"Get a doctor!"
"NOW!"
Paramedics rushed into the room while officers secured the area.
Behind them...
Isabella suddenly found her voice again.
"It wasn't what it looked like!"
"Marcus, listen to me!"
"She slipped!"
"I tried to catch her!"
Marcus didn't even turn around.
He never took his eyes off his wife.
One of the paramedics examined Sophia's abdomen before looking at Marcus.
"We need to take her to the hospital immediately."
"We don't know if the baby has been injured."
Marcus nodded.
"Prepare the ambulance."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm that terrified everyone in the room.
Meanwhile...
The lead detective walked beneath the enormous crystal chandelier.
He looked up.
"There it is."
Hidden inside one of the decorative crystal arms...
A tiny security camera blinked quietly.
One officer carefully removed the memory module.
Another immediately placed it inside an evidence bag.
The detective spoke firmly.
"This footage is now evidence."
"No one touches it."
Marcus finally stood.
He slowly turned toward Isabella.
She instinctively stepped backward.
"No..."
"Marcus..."
"I can explain."
He looked directly into her terrified eyes.
"No."
"You've done enough talking."
Just then...
Marcus's Head of Security hurried into the suite carrying a laptop.
"Sir."
"We've already accessed the hotel's backup server."
"The recording has been recovered."
Marcus gave a single nod.
"Play it."
The laptop was connected to the enormous television inside the suite.
Every guest standing outside watched silently.
The video began.
At first...
It showed Sophia opening the suite door with a smile.
She welcomed Isabella inside.
The two women talked politely.
Then...
The atmosphere changed.
The recording clearly showed Isabella locking the door.
Removing the velvet gift box from her hands.
Walking closer.
Arguing.
Then suddenly...
She shoved Sophia with both hands.
The pregnant woman crashed backward into the crystal table.
Glasses exploded across the floor.
Sophia fell.
Before she could even stand...
The recording captured Isabella lifting her foot...
And kicking Sophia directly in the stomach.
The entire room gasped.
Several women covered their mouths in horror.
One elderly guest burst into tears.
The video continued.
Sophia cried,
"My baby..."
Please...
Stop..."
Isabella's cold voice answered,
"There won't be a baby."
"There won't be an heir."
The recording ended.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Isabella collapsed onto her knees.
"No..."
"I didn't mean it..."
"I was angry..."
"I lost control..."
Marcus walked toward her.
Each step echoed through the shattered glass.
His expression contained no anger anymore.
Only disappointment.
"I trusted you."
"I promoted you."
"I treated you like family."
"You repaid that trust..."
He glanced toward Sophia being placed carefully onto a stretcher.
"...by trying to murder my wife."
Isabella burst into tears.
"I love you!"
Marcus shook his head.
"No."
"You loved power."
"You loved money."
"You loved the life you believed belonged to you."
He looked toward the detective.
"Seal the room."
"Arrest her."
The detective nodded immediately.
"Isabella Hart..."
"You are under arrest for attempted murder, aggravated assault on a pregnant woman, criminal conspiracy, and destruction of evidence."
The metallic click of handcuffs echoed through the Royal Suite.
For the first time...
Isabella realized there was no escape.
As officers led her toward the door, she looked back one last time.
"Marcus..."
"Please..."
He didn't answer.
His entire attention remained on the ambulance carrying Sophia away.
Nothing else mattered.
Not the gala.
Not the guests.
Not his empire.
May you like
Only his wife.
Only his unborn child.
