Chapter 235

Isabella was heading off to work because Michael assured her he had everything under control. All she had to do was grab the reporters' attention and make sure nothing messed up the upcoming events.

But then, out of nowhere, Michael called and threw a wrench in her plans. He told her to call the cops right away and get to this abandoned factory where her parents had been shot.

Michael explained over the phone that his guys had pretended to be John's crew to trick Jasper and Mia into getting into a car and taking them straight to Mason. But John's guys caught on and a shootout broke out.

Then, a third group showed up and started shooting. Michael's men bailed, leaving John's crew and the new group to duke it out.

"Sweetheart," Michael's voice was serious, "this third group is super sketchy. They started shooting without a care for your parents' lives. They might even be trying to kill them."

Isabella didn't care about Jasper and Mia. She was more curious about why someone would want her parents dead.

"Could they be trying to kill your parents and pin it on you? As the heir, you've got the strongest motive," Michael suggested.

"Killing just to frame me? That's nuts! Wait, Odette? Is this as brutal as those jerks who hurt Pearl and then framed me? Damn it, why are they always after me?" Isabella fumed over the phone.

Michael awkwardly rubbed his nose, "Babe, now's not the time for this. When the cops get there, go with them to save Jasper and Mia, clear up the mess, and make sure you don't get set up again."

"You're right, they've framed me twice already. No way I'm letting them do it a third time!" Isabella clenched her fists in anger. When the cops arrived, she jumped into the police car and headed to the abandoned factory.

As the police car pulled up to the factory, everyone on the scene scattered.

Hearing the sirens, Mia felt a wave of relief. Even though Jasper had ditched her, she was glad the cops showed up and she was safe.

Mia tossed aside the cardboard, left the old factory, and ran to the police, crying and throwing herself into an officer's arms.

"You finally came, I was scared to death," Mia sobbed, collapsing into the officer's arms.

The officer, feeling a bit awkward, called for a doctor to check on Mia.

Isabella followed the doctor over.

When Mia saw Isabella, she shrank back in fear.

"Stay away from me! Did you send someone to kill us?" Mia pointed at Isabella and screamed.

Isabella's face hardened. "Mother, get your facts straight. If I hadn't called the cops, you might already be dead."

"If you didn't send someone to kill us, how did you know we were being chased?" Mia kept screaming and demanding answers.

Rolling her eyes, Isabella shot back, "Because I sent someone to pick you up from prison. When they got there and didn't find you, they followed the guard's directions and heard gunshots nearby. So they called me, and I called the cops and followed them."

Mia, still skeptical, pressed on, "You cut ties with us, so why bother picking us up?"

With a cold expression, Isabella replied, "Someone who had crossed me before died. I got dragged into the public eye again. I was worried you might become targets too, get killed, and then I'd get blamed. I had to send someone to get you to avoid more slander."

Hearing this, Mia's doubts started to waver. Plus, she had overheard the pursuers' conversation earlier, which softened her hostility towards Isabella.

"By the way, why are you alone? Where's Dad?" Isabella asked, looking around for Jasper.

Mia's face twisted with anger, "Don't mention that jerk. He ditched me and ran off. I don't know where he is; he might already be dead!"

Mia cursed Jasper with a dark expression.

Frowning, Isabella pulled over a nearby cop and said, "My father Jasper is still missing. Please find him and keep him safe."

Mia looked at Isabella mockingly, "Since when do you care so much about your father?"

Isabella shot her a disgusted look. "I'm not worried about his safety, just the shares he holds. I want him alive to hand them over, not inherit them after he's dead. I don't want to be framed again."

With that, Isabella pulled out her phone and called Mason to update him on the situation.

Meanwhile, Paxton had already gotten a report from his subordinate.

"Total bunch of morons! You couldn't even get a scrap of info, and now you've gone and lost a bunch of your own! Who took out your guys? Was it John's crew?" Paxton raged.

The subordinate shook his head, looking bitter. "Mr. Brown, we can only confirm there were two groups at the scene-one was John's, and the other might have been Isabella and her husband's, but it's just speculation."

"I don't want speculation, I want answers! Deal with the bodies and find out what really happened!" Paxton snapped before hanging up.

The subordinate glared at the phone, muttering, "Damn, these tightwads! You rich folks can all go to hell! How much do I get paid to bust my back for you? Screw you all! I hope you go through the same crap as your daughter."

He looked at the bodies and remembered one had a knife stuck in it. That dagger might have the attacker's fingerprints.

Putting on gloves, he carefully extracted the knife and sent it for forensic analysis.

When the results came back, his breathing quickened. Not only did they find the attacker's fingerprints, but they also detected Pearl's blood on the knife!