Chapter 237

Mia couldn't believe Jasper would just bail on her. She didn't buy Isabella's so-called evidence for a second.

"These have to be fake! You're lying!" Mia shouted at Isabella.

Isabella's face stayed cool. "If you think it's fake, why don't you check it out yourself? The tickets were bought by someone from the company. You should know who, right?"

With a calculated move, Isabella slid Mia's phone towards her. The police had found it in some abandoned building.

Mia quickly dialed a number. It was Jasper's assistant, the one who handled their plane tickets.

As soon as the call connected, Mia demanded, "Tell me, where did Jasper buy the tickets to?"

There was a brief pause before the voice on the other end said, "Mrs. Taylor, didn't Mr. Taylor tell you? He bought tickets to Vesperia."

Mia's phone slipped from her hand, and she slumped into her chair, feeling like her world had just crumbled.

"How could he do this? I'm his wife. He promised to take me with him, but he actually left me behind!" Mia muttered, her eyes vacant, as if all her emotions had been drained.

Isabella crossed her arms and leaned back, watching Mia's despair.

"Mom, you should've known what kind of person Dad is years ago. He's selfish and only cares about himself. Your biggest mistake was overestimating his love for you. What do you think you can offer him? Even though he's middle-aged, he can still start over in a new country, meet a new woman, and have a new kid." Each word Isabella spoke seemed to sap the remaining strength from Mia, her face growing paler.

"Mom, what do you think you can offer Dad? Emotional support? Seriously? Men like him only care about what they want-younger, prettier women. He'll never stop chasing that, only death will change him. And you, Mom, a woman past menopause, are just trash to him now." Isabella's words cut through Mia's fragile defenses, leaving her utterly hopeless.

"Enough, stop it." Mia's eyes were red, and she clutched her head in despair, begging Isabella to shut up.

Isabella sighed, walked over, and hugged her. "Mom, after what he's done, why aren't you getting even? Do you still have any hope for him?"

Mia's body trembled, tears streaming down her face. "How do you want me to retaliate? Report him? I'll end up in jail too."

Mia choked out, instinctively hugging the daughter she had hurt so deeply. She had no one else to turn to now.

"But Mom, this is your only way out now! If you go to the police and tell on Dad, he'll become a wanted man, and you'll get a way lighter sentence as a witness. I'll hire the best lawyer. Your only crime was not reporting it, nothing major. I can bail you out, and later, I'll give you some money so you can live comfortably. That's my offer," Isabella said calmly.

Mia's body shook as she pushed Isabella away, struggling and hesitating in her seat.

Isabella sat back down across from Mia, a faint smile on her face. "Mom, if you want to ask John for help, what do you have to offer? You don't have any shares. The only thing you have is evidence of Dad's embezzlement, which is useless to John."

Mia's lips trembled. She knew Isabella was right. Neither John nor Bianca would help her.

Isabella was the only one who, despite everything, still held onto a tiny bit of family love.

"Mom, think fast. If the police find Dad first and he makes a deal with John, even if you expose this, I won't lift a finger to get you legal help." Isabella stood up and slowly walked towards the door.

"Wait, are you really willing to help me with the lawsuit?" Mia looked up at Isabella's back.

Isabella's lips curved into a smile. She knew she had touched Mia.

Turning around, Isabella smiled faintly. "Sure thing, Mother. If you're not buying into our little connection, let's call it a deal. I need a warrant to keep Dad around here."

Mia clenched her fists as memories of Jasper's betrayal and their many conflicts flooded her mind.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, Mia nodded. "I'll do it."

Isabella nodded. "I'll go get the reporter now."

Isabella left the room, leaving behind a dark-faced Mia.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Daron arrived near Bianca's house.

Bianca, in her pajamas, cautiously stepped outside to meet him.

"Daron? Why are you contacting me out of the blue? Do you know John is furious right now? I need to calm him down," Bianca said angrily.

Daron glared at Bianca, sneering. "Did I interrupt something cozy between you two? Sorry about that. But why didn't you tell me? Those people are nuts; they'd blast us without a second thought."

Daron pulled out a gun and pointed it at Bianca's head.

Bianca, startled and scared, stammered, "What are you doing? Didn't I ask you to fake abducting Jasper and Mia? What's with all this?"

Angry and red-eyed, Daron shouted, "And you have the nerve to ask me? We just got to Jasper and Mia's place, and John's men pointed guns at us right away, surrounding us! They didn't hesitate; they just started shooting! All my men are dead."

Shaking uncontrollably, Bianca stared at the gun's barrel, unaware it was out of bullets.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't know about this. I can give you whatever you want. I'll triple the payment, no, five times. How about that?" Bianca said in fear.