Chapter 451

Isabella had just whipped up dinner for Michael, taken a shower, and slipped into a fresh set of clothes. Her old ones were filthy from dodging whoever was after her. Now, in clean clothes, she felt like she had a fresh start.

Benjamin decided to bring up the Brown Family with Michael since Isabella wasn't in the room.

"We're just chatting about some stuff going down at your company," Benjamin said, waving his phone in front of Isabella.

When Isabella saw Carol on the screen, she frowned and quickly grabbed the phone from Benjamin.

"Carol? What's she doing? A press conference? Wait, all the Brown Family members are dead? Are those shareholders all backing me now? Hold on, does that mean I'm now in charge of the Brown Family?" Isabella exclaimed, her eyes glued to the screen as she processed the shocking news. Each question tumbled out louder than the last.

Benjamin looked at her, puzzled. "Aren't you the CEO? How did you not know about this?"

Isabella shook her head. "I had no clue. Carol didn't even call me."

It wasn't that Isabella didn't want to call Carol; she was just too worried about Michael and had left her phone at the abandoned factory.

Seeing Isabella's worried face, Benjamin joked, "Looks like your employees don't want you! Such a big deal and they didn't even tell you, the CEO!"

"No, I need to call Carol and find out what's going on," Isabella said, reaching for her phone, only to realize Carol's number wasn't in her contacts.

Benjamin, sitting by the bed, asked, "Maybe you grabbed my phone, and it doesn't have Carol's number?"

Isabella realized her mistake.

"Looks like I need to head to the office." She handed the phone back to Benjamin and was about to leave when Michael's voice stopped her.

"Darling, you can't go," Michael said softly.

Isabella turned to him, sighing. "I know you don't want me to, but I have to go to the office and sort this out."

Michael shook his head. "No, darling, you misunderstood. I'm not stopping you. I mean wait until after the press conference, then talk to Carol."

Isabella looked at him, confused.

"Carol already told the reporters you couldn't attend for special reasons. Right now, most people think you had something to do with the Brown Family deaths. If you say the wrong thing at the press conference, it could mess up Carol's plan and even put the blame on you," Michael explained.

Isabella thought it over. Michael had a point; going now wouldn't change anything.

Benjamin chimed in, "Michael's right. Carol's the one your grandpa trusted; she wouldn't harm you. She probably didn't tell you because it was urgent. I'm sure she tried to reach you but couldn't, so she had to handle it herself."

Benjamin was spot on. Carol did try to reach out to Isabella, but since Isabella didn't have her phone, Carol couldn't get through. Not knowing which hospital Isabella was at, Carol informed Joe, hoping he could contact Michael and pass the message along.

Unfortunately, Michael missed the call because he was resting.

In the end, Isabella realized Michael was right. She just couldn't wrap her head around the fact that Carol had done all this without telling her.

Even if she found Carol, she'd just be asking for details. The outcome seemed to be in her favor anyway. She had already gained control of most of the Brown Family's assets, seemingly bringing her family back into the ranks of the four major families.

"Okay, babe, I'll wait until after the press conference to talk to Carol," Isabella sighed.

She sat back down by Michael's bedside, but a new worry gnawed at her.

"Darling, why did all the members of the Brown Family die? Could it be because of you?" Isabella looked at Michael with suspicion.

After all, Michael had admitted to turning Pearl into that miserable state, and Paxton had sent people to chase them. With Michael's character, he wouldn't just let them go easily.

Michael hesitated for a moment and whispered, "I did have Paxton and Zoey killed, but I really didn't touch the other members of their family. Their deaths seem strange to me too."

Isabella looked at Michael with suspicion but ultimately chose to believe him. As Michael said, since he had already killed Paxton and Zoey, there was no need to hide if he had killed the others.

"Could this be Carol's doing, or the influence left by your grandpa?" Benjamin speculated, clearly intrigued by the situation.

Indeed, Carol and the forces behind her were suspicious. But Isabella felt that something was off about this whole situation.

If Carol and her team could easily transfer all of the Brown Family's assets back to the Taylor Family in such a short time, why wait until now? And someone capable of wiping out a whole family wouldn't worry about Paxton.

"I feel like there's another conspiracy behind this, but we need to investigate carefully," Michael said, echoing Isabella's thoughts.

Isabella thought of Brenda, wondering if she had returned. If she investigated, she might be able to find out more information.

Meanwhile, as the press conference unfolded, the other three big families were in a panic.

"The Brown Family's assets were easily taken over by the Taylor Family? This is unbelievable! Damn the Taylor Family, they've been quietly infiltrating. Investigate the industries we acquired from the Taylor Family!" the head of the Larson Family ordered his subordinates.