Chapter 294 Chapter 294
Chapter 294 Chapter 294
Chapter 294
Maria Castellan’s luxurious property sat right in the heart of Monterey, surrounded by neat green lawns with a wide, flowing river running right along the side of the road, giving the entire estate a peaceful and breathtaking view.
Agent Miller slowed the SUV down as they reached the tall front security gate. A guard walked out of the small security booth, looking suspicious as he approached the driver’s side. Agent Miller rolled down her window and pulled out her federal identification card, holding it out for him to examine clearly.
"I am Agent Miller with the FBI," she told the guard calmly, her voice direct and firm. "I need to see Mrs. Maria Castellan immediately. It is regarding her son, Ethan."
The guard looked closely at the ID card, then looked past her into the vehicle, taking in Isabelle and Ariana sitting in the seats. "Hold on a second, ma'am. I have to call up to the house first," he said, stepping back to his booth. After a brief phone conversation with the house staff, he pressed the button to open the heavy gates. "You can drive through. Mrs. Castellan is expecting you."
Agent Miller drove up the long paved driveway, stopping right in front of the grand entrance. As Isabelle opened her door and stepped out into the cool air, an elderly gardener who was tending to the plants near the front porch stopped his work completely. He stared at Isabelle with wide, shocked eyes, unable to look away as she walked past him toward the steps. Isabelle kept her gaze low, following Agent Miller and Ariana to the front door.
Before anyone could knock, Maria Castellan opened the door herself. She looked completely worn out and pale, her eyes red and swollen from crying over the news that her son was dead. She stood in the doorway, staring at them in absolute shock, her hands trembling as she looked at Isabelle’s face.
Within a few minutes, they were all seated inside the large, luxurious sitting room beneath a grand crystal chandelier that brightened the entire space. The room was beautiful, but the mood was tense and nervous.
"It’s good to see you again, Celine," Maria said suddenly, her voice cracking as she looked at Isabelle. She didn't know Celine's real identity yet, but seeing her here brought a small, desperate sense of hope that there was news about Ethan.
Isabelle and Ariana exchanged a quick, silent look across the table. Isabelle stood up from her chair, walking slowly over to where Maria was sitting on the couch, placing her soft hands over Maria’s trembling ones.
"Mrs. Castellan," Isabelle said softly, looking straight into her eyes. "I am not Celine. I’m Isabelle. The same Isabelle who supposedly committed suicide two years ago."
Maria’s breath caught in her throat. She stood up instantly, her mouth ajar as she took a sharp step back away from Isabelle, shaking her head in total disbelief.
"No, stop! You are not her!" Maria cried out, her voice filled with panic and pain. "They said my son bullied her! They said she died! You cannot be Isabelle!"
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A few moments passed as Isabelle sat Maria back down and carefully explained the whole truth to her—how she had survived, how she had lost her memory and how Ariana saved her, and how Ethan had discovered who she really was.
"And that’s how Ethan found out in the hospital that night," Isabelle said softly, tears pooling in her eyes as she finished explaining the past.
"Where’s my son?" Maria begged, tears streaming down her face as she looked between Isabelle and Agent Miller. "Where is Ethan?"
"I’m sure Ethan isn’t dead," Isabelle said quickly, her voice full of fierce conviction as she defended him. "He’s a strong man. I know he survived the gunshot."
Maria’s face went entirely pale, her hands shaking worse than before. "What gunshot? Who shot my son?"
Agent Miller and Isabelle helped calm Maria down enough so she could listen, and then Isabelle began explaining everything about her trip to France. She made sure Maria knew that she had initially gone to France willingly with Sam Keystone, thinking he was helping her, only to discover later how evil he really was. Sam had been setting Ethan up since their high school days, pulling strings behind the scenes to ruin Ethan's life. Once Isabelle discovered his true nature, Sam had locked her up and abducted her in his estate.
Isabelle told her how Ethan had somehow found out where she was, tracking her all the way to France and sneaking into Sam's property to rescue her. Ariana sat quietly beside them, not interrupting as Isabelle recalled how they ran through the dark estate grounds together, and how Ethan had been shot in the leg near the river while shielding her so she could get across safely.
Agent Miller stepped in to add the official updates from law enforcement. She explained that French police had thoroughly searched the woods near Sam's estate, and that Ethan Castellan’s body was nowhere to be found. There were no traces of him left behind except for blood stains on the rocks by the water, which meant he had escaped the scene on his own feet.
"I know he survived," Isabelle repeated, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "I know Ethan well. He is a strong man, and he wouldn't just give up."
Isabelle reached into her bag, pulling out the small metallic flash drive she had taken from Sam's safe before running out of the estate. She held it out carefully in the palm of her hand so Maria could see it clearly.
"I have all the evidence to prove Ethan had nothing to do with my suicide years back," Isabelle said, her voice steady and determined. "I have all the evidence that Ethan is completely innocent, and I have all the evidence that Sam Keystone is the real villain behind everything."
Maria sat on the sofa in complete shock, staring down at the small metal drive sitting in Isabelle’s hand, unable to speak a single word as the truth settled over the room.