Chapter 5 - Whispering Snakes
The smear campaign hit the newsstands the following morning.
Tabloids displayed grainy, photoshopped images showing Marcus walking out of the Ritz Hotel in Paris alongside a woman resembling Isabella. Fake anonymous sources claimed that Marcus had promised to leave Khloe for Isabella, leading to a confrontation in the hospital suite where Khloe allegedly "lost control."
Public opinion, always hungry for high-society scandals, began to sway.
Inside her private Westchester medical suite—which looked more like a luxury hotel than a psychiatric ward—Isabella sat in a velvet armchair, sipping tea while her defense attorney, Raymond, went over the strategy.
"The public is already doubting her, Isabella," Raymond said, smiling slyly. "If we keep pushing this narrative that Khloe was mentally unstable and jealous, the grand jury will hesitate to indict you on attempted murder. We can settle for simple misdemeanor assault, pay a fine, and you’ll be a free woman in six months."
Isabella smiled, her dark, narcissistic vanity instantly restored. "Make sure the press gets more 'details' about Khloe's background, Raymond. Remind everyone she was just a middle-class girl with no pedigree. Paint her as a gold-digger who went crazy trying to hold onto her billionaire husband."
"Consider it done," Raymond smirked.
However, their celebration was cut short by the sound of heavy boots echoing down the private hallway. The door to Isabella's suite was kicked wide open with a deafening bang.
Four federal agents wearing dark suits and tactical badges marched into the room, led by Senior Special Agent Robert Vance—Arthur and David's youngest brother, a high-ranking officer in the FBI's Financial Crimes Division.
"Isabella Rossi! Raymond Vance!" Agent Vance bellowed, pulling out federal arrest warrants. "Hands where we can see them!"
Isabella dropped her teacup, the fine porcelain shattering on the hardwood floor. "What is the meaning of this?! I am under a court-ordered medical evaluation!"
"Your state medical evaluation just got revoked by the Department of Justice, Miss Rossi," Agent Vance said coldly. "We just raided your father's corporate headquarters on Wall Street. We found the master server containing the raw files used to create those deepfake photos of Marcus Thorne, as well as the paper trail for the two hundred million dollars in wire fraud and market manipulation."
Raymond stepped forward, pale and sweating profusely. "Now wait just a minute, Agent! You have no jurisdiction over a civil—"
"Shut up, Raymond," Agent Vance growled, pulling out a second set of federal warrants. "You're under arrest too, for subornation of perjury, evidence tampering, and conspiracy to commit bank fraud."
Before Isabella could scream, two female federal agents grabbed her arms, pinning her against the wall and snapping heavy federal steel cuffs around her wrists.
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"Marcus Thorne sent you, didn't he?!" Isabella shrieked, thrashing against the agents' hold as her luxurious disguise fell apart once again. "Tell him he can't do this! He loved me! He was supposed to be mine!"
"Mr. Thorne didn't send us, Miss Rossi," Agent Vance said, looking down at her with complete contempt. "Mrs. Thorne did. She personally authorized the release of her private medical records and financial audits to the Department of Justice three hours ago. You didn't just mess with a billionaire, Isabella. You messed with a family that protects its own."
