Chapter 173
Chapter 173
Their eyes met.
Luna's eyes were full of warning—and more than a hint of threat.
Relaxed as ever, she started playing with her freshly done nails, "If I remember correctly, that illegitimate kid of yours is living it up abroad right now—chauffeured everywhere, living the good life. Meanwhile, the wife and kids back home are having a pretty rough time, not only splitting all kinds of loans with you but also taking care of your parents. You've got a sweet deal going, haven't you."
That last line was dripping with sarcasm.
Kade's expression shifted instantly, "What are you getting at? Are you trying to threaten me?"
"Threaten you? I'm just trying to help. Look at you—that salary of yours can barely keep two households afloat. Let me give you a hand. I'll make sure every one of your kids lives like royalty."
Luna reached into her things and casually tossed a diamond bracelet his way, "You know how much that's worth? A few million dollars. Want to sell it?"
The diamond bracelet sparkled brilliantly.
But Kade was a sharp man. He knew this wasn't just a bracelet—it was a death sentence in disguise.
He couldn't afford to cross Luna. But he really couldn't afford to cross Michael.
After a moment's hesitation, he looked down, "I know what you want me to do. But I genuinely can't. I can't handle what comes after."
Seriously—cross Luna and his affair might get exposed. Cross Michael, and he might just disappear off the face of the earth.
Luna scoffed, "You're scared of Michael but not of me? So you're underestimating me. Fine, don't blame me for what happens next."
She pulled out her phone and played a video.
Kade's face changed, "What is this..."
"Listen carefully. You have no options left. There's only one thing you can do—be a good boy and do what you're told."
Luna casually tossed a bag over to him.
It was full of children's clothes.
And a toy.
All the fight drained out of Kade, "Alright. I know what I need to do."
---
Back at the office.
Isabella stared at the newly pulled data, brow furrowed, her expression dark, "These people have some nerve. They've been exploiting every tax loophole they could find—we're talking billions of dollars in unpaid taxes."
If this got out to the media, several companies would be looking at total collapse.
Sure, she wanted to use this as leverage—but she never wanted to destroy them.
Companies going under meant mass unemployment. Tens of thousands of jobs. Tens of thousands of families.
After thinking it over, Isabella took a deep breath, tracked down the contact information for the people involved, and sent a message.
She got a reply quickly.
Isabella let out a long breath of relief, then headed over to find Stella.
Stella was in the middle of shooting a commercial in a photography studio.
Ever since everything went down, while things hadn't fully settled yet, anyone with half a brain could see that Stella had been holding her own against a whole crowd of wealthy heirs—and was still standing, completely untouched by the public backlash. That said plenty about how powerful her backing was.
Which was exactly why they felt comfortable working with her openly.
Under the bright studio lights, Stella was in full professional mode. As a model, she had her figure and her expressions completely dialed in.
The poses she struck were stunning—genuinely jaw-dropping.
Isabella watched from the side for a while until the shoot wrapped up.
Stella came bouncing over, "Thank you so much, Isabella. Without you—without Michael's help—I probably would've been forced out of the industry by now."
"Don't thank me. It's what I'm supposed to do. Besides, it was nothing. Oh, by the way—what's your schedule looking like? Have you thought about shifting your base to another country for a while?"
Those wealthy families weren't making moves right now, but that didn't mean they wouldn't eventually. Given enough time, retaliation was almost inevitable.
Stella shook her head, "Isabella, I know you're looking out for me. But I'm not planning on going anywhere. And honestly—what do I have to be afraid of?"
---
Isabella made a copy of everything she had gathered and handed it to Stella, "Keep this—better safe than sorry. And stay alert lately. I've got bodyguards watching over you quietly, but let's keep a low profile."
Stella nodded.
When the two of them went to a restaurant for lunch, they ran into Clea.
Clea was as warm and bubbly as ever. The moment she spotted Isabella, she came running over, "Isabella, I missed you so much! I really want to call you Mom, but Dad won't let me. He said if I call you Mom again, he'll lock me up and not let me see you anymore."
So that's why she changed how she addressed her—it was Eric's doing.
Isabella smiled and scooped little Clea up into her arms, "Alright, I know you're the sweetest girl. Hey—what are you doing here today? Shouldn't you be at school?"
Clea pouted and pointed at her tummy, "I ate something at school today and my stomach really hurt, so I had to go to the hospital. The doctor said I can't eat too many sweets anymore or my tummy will hurt again."
Ah, so that was it.
Isabella smiled and was about to say something when a figure rushed over.
A middle-aged woman looked Isabella up and down, then moved to take Clea back.
Clea resisted immediately, shaking her head, "No way! I want to stay with Isabella!"
The woman frowned, "Clea, be good. Have you forgotten what your father said? I'm your new nanny. From now on, you listen to me."
"You said it yourself—you're the nanny," Clea shot back. "My dad said I'm the one in charge at home. If you don't behave, I can punish you. Stop yelling at me."
Clea rattled on, reciting everything Eric had told her word for word with impressive accuracy.
Isabella and Stella were standing nearby, barely holding back their laughter.
It was obvious—after the last nanny incident, Eric had been worried about Clea being pushed around, so he'd made a point of telling her all this.
The nanny's face had gone stiff.
And when she caught the smiles on Isabella and Stella's faces, it got even worse.
"Clea, don't you remember? Your dad has all kinds of women around him trying to get close to you so they can marry him. I'm the one who actually cares about you. Come on, let's go home."
The woman clearly wasn't taking Isabella or Stella seriously. She stepped forward to grab the child.
But Clea burrowed deeper into Isabella's arms, her little face scrunched up, "Don't touch me or I'm telling on you! Isabella is not a bad woman. She's going to be my mom."
The nanny's face darkened even further, "Stop talking nonsense, or I'm telling your father."
"You're the one talking nonsense! I'm staying right here. Isabella, will you stay with me? I'm calling Dad."