Chapter 4 - The Fall of the House of Rossi
The municipal courthouse was surrounded by hundreds of reporters, photographers, and angry protesters holding signs demanding justice for Khloe.
Inside the arraignment room, Isabella Rossi sat at the defense table, wearing a plain gray prison jumpsuit instead of her usual designer silk. Her hair was unwashed, her face pale and sunken. Beside her, her father, Victor Rossi, sat with his head in his hands, looking twenty years older than he had twenty-four hours ago.
The heavy doors opened, and Marcus Thorne walked into the gallery, accompanied by Jonathan Vance. The entire courtroom turned to watch him. Marcus took a seat in the front row, his gaze fixed on Isabella.
Isabella slowly turned her head, meeting Marcus’s eyes. For a moment, she tried to summon a glare of defiance, but the absolute coldness in his expression made her flinch and look away.
The judge slammed his gavel down. "Court is in session. Case number 409, The People versus Isabella Rossi. Charges: Attempted murder in the first degree, aggravated assault on a pregnant person, and felony trespassing."
The prosecutor stepped forward. "Your Honor, the state requests that bail be denied entirely. The defendant possesses immense financial resources, access to private aircraft, and has demonstrated a complete lack of remorse for a pre-meditated attack that nearly took two lives."
Isabella’s high-priced defense attorney stood up hastily. "Your Honor! My client has no prior criminal record. This was an unfortunate emotional dispute between former acquaintances that escalated. We request bail set at two million dollars with electronic monitoring."
The judge looked down at the defense attorney over his glasses, then at the surveillance photos sitting on his desk.
"An 'emotional dispute'?" the judge snapped, his voice booming through the room. "Counselor, I have reviewed the video. Your client repeatedly struck a helpless, seven-months-pregnant woman and kicked her in the stomach with a heel. This was not a dispute; it was a brutal, cowardly execution attempt."
The judge slammed his gavel down. "Bail is denied. The defendant will remain in custody until trial."
Isabella let out a sharp, hysterical gasp. "No! Father! Do something! You can't let them keep me here!"
Victor Rossi stood up frantically. "Your Honor, please—!"
"Silence!" the judge barked. "Bailiffs, remand the defendant!"
As the guards grabbed Isabella’s arms to lead her toward the side holding cell, she thrashed against them, turning her frantic eyes toward Marcus.
"Marcus! Please!" she screamed, her voice echoing off the high stone walls. "I did it for us! She was holding you back! She was nobody! You were supposed to be mine!"
Marcus didn't move a muscle. He watched her get dragged behind the heavy steel door, her screams slowly fading into the distance.
May you like
Victor Rossi turned toward Marcus, trembling with rage and humiliation. "You destroyed my family's legacy for this, Thorne? Over a woman?"
Marcus stood up slowly, looking down at the older man. "No, Victor. You destroyed your family by raising a monster. And this is only the beginning. By tomorrow morning, your company won't exist."
