Chapter 457: His Conditions

Chapter 457 His Conditions

Isabella pulled out her phone and played the recording for Milan.

"No way," Milan said, his voice shaking with anger as he slapped the edge of the bed. "Other than your mom and Gabriella, I've never been with anyone else. This woman’s lying. How could she be my daughter?"

Just then, Leroy's phone rang. He checked the caller ID and answered.

"Alright, got it. Send me the digital copy."

After hanging up, he turned to Michael and Isabella. "The hospital called. The test results are in. Isabella and I aren't related by blood. I can confirm I'm my father's son, so Isabella isn't my father's daughter."

He showed the digital results on his phone to Isabella and Michael.

Milan finally exhaled and said slowly, "I've lived my life with a clear conscience. I own up to what I've done, but I won't let you pin something on me that I didn't do. Michael, I know what you're trying to do. You want to make me look bad so your mom will hate me."

Michael chuckled. "You, honest? You've done more shady stuff than anyone. And don't try to pin your schemes on me. I have no such intentions."

Leroy chimed in, defending Michael. "You're overthinking it. Maybe he just wanted to see if you were really sick, but he definitely didn't want to slander you to make his stepmom hate you. She doesn't care much about you anyway."

Milan glared at Leroy, his face darkening. Leroy, his own son, knew exactly how to hit him where it hurt!

"I'm relieved we're not related," Isabella said, letting out a breath. "But Freya wouldn't say these things for no reason. Do you remember what happened back then? What could have made her think I was your daughter?"

Milan sat on the bed, staring out the window, lost in thought. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "I do remember something."

Isabella's eyes lit up. "What happened back then?"

Milan glanced at Michael. "I'll tell you, but only if Gabriella comes to see me."

Michael sneered. "She won't even acknowledge me. Do you think she'd come to see you for my sake?"

"She will," Milan said confidently, looking at Michael. "She doesn't acknowledge you not because she doesn't want to, but to protect you. She cares about you, which is why she won't acknowledge you."

Michael looked at Milan in disbelief.

Milan sighed, looking pained. "I never thought she'd be so heartless. I'm dying, and she still won't see me. Thirty years of love, over twenty years of marriage, and she can be this cruel. I'm at my wits' end, which is why I'm asking you. If I had any other way, I wouldn't be asking you."

Michael's eyes reddened as he questioned Milan. "You say she won't acknowledge me to protect me. What do you mean?"

Milan slowly revealed his past to Rowan, something he had never told anyone before.

After hearing Milan's confession, Michael realized he'd been lied to all along. Furious, he clenched his fists, ready to hit Milan.

Leroy quickly stepped in. "He's already this sick. Karma's got him. What more do you want?"

Isabella stepped forward and slapped Milan. The sharp sound stunned Michael and Leroy, who stopped their struggle and looked at her in surprise.

Isabella explained, "You stopped Michael from hitting him, but this slap is for him. His illness is karma for all his wrongdoings. Michael hitting him doesn't change that."

Milan, though slapped, showed little reaction. His broken body was already beyond repair. The slap meant nothing to him. He said slowly, "All these years, I've promised Gabriella I wouldn't harm you or the Johnson family, but she never believed me. No matter what I said, she didn't trust me, so she didn't dare acknowledge you. She hates me for destroying your family. I just want to see her one last time before I die. I don't know how much longer I have. I'm afraid if I don't see her now, I'll never get the chance."

"Michael, let's go. We don't need to beg him," Isabella said, unable to listen any longer. She walked over to Michael and took his hand.

Michael didn't move, still holding Isabella's hand. He said to Milan, "I'll bring her to see you, but you have to keep your word and tell us everything you know about this."

"Michael..."

Isabella tried to persuade him, but Michael, with a stern face, led her out. Leroy followed them.

In the car, Isabella worriedly asked Michael, "Are you really going to let her see Milan? We can figure out what happened back then slowly. As long as I know Milan isn't my biological father, I'm at peace. We don't need to know everything. If she doesn't want to see Milan, we should respect her decision. Forcing her to see someone she doesn't want to is too cruel."

Michael stared ahead, silent, lost in thought. Isabella held his hand and continued, "Michael, I know you want to help me, but we can't hurt her anymore. Especially you, as her son, you can't be that cruel to her."

"Okay, I'll listen to you," Michael agreed, but then added, "But I still want to ask her and hear her opinion. If she doesn't want to, I won't force her. If she does, then we'll let her go."

Isabella couldn't help but laugh at his stubbornness. She poked his arm and said, "Michael, you just want to see her and are using this as an excuse, right?"

Caught, Michael coughed awkwardly and mumbled, "Isabella, don't call me out like that. It's embarrassing."

Isabella chuckled, leaning on his shoulder. "I understand. I'll go with you. Let's go now."

Michael nodded and told the driver to turn around and head to Runyon Manor.