Chapter 29 It's Worth Three Hundred Thousand Dollars
Isaac spoke up, "I'll compensate you for her. State what you want within reason, and I'll see that your demands are met."
Nora's expression was stone cold. "I don't want your compensation; I want her in jail!"
"Don't overreach, Nora," Isaac's voice turned colder, his face set, "I won't let her go to prison. Even if you don't drop the case, I'll get her out. I'm giving you the chance to make demands now. If you don't take it, you'll get nothing, and you won't see Kalista in jail either."
Nora laughed bitterly. "So I should thank you for your generosity, allowing lowly me to make a request to the high and mighty you?"
She knew Isaac had the means to save Kalista.
If he chose to, even if Mortimer blasted the whole mess on the internet, Isaac could find a way to get Kalista off the hook.
But seeing him threaten her over Kalista was something she couldn't remain indifferent to.
If his mind was so consumed with Kalista, why did he have to meddle in her dealings with Mortimer?
Even if her slate with Mortimer was clean, resentment started to brew within her.
"Nora, cut the sarcasm. I'm trying to have a serious talk here!" Isaac's voice was dark with dissatisfaction at her attitude.
Nora scoffed, "I've made myself clear. I want her behind bars. I'm not dropping the charges. If you've got ways to protect her, then use them to bail her out."
Isaac looked at her coldly.
In the cramped confines of the car, his imposing presence was suffocating, thinning the very air.
Nora felt her breath being pressured.
But she kept her chin up, refusing to show any sign of submission in front of him.
Silence hung between them for a long time.
Finally, Nora broke it. "Let me out of the car. If you don't, I'll sue you too, and you can go keep Kalista company!"
Isaac's gaze was grim.
"If you dare get involved with Mortimer, I'll make sure he vanishes from this world."
Chills ran down Nora's spine.
She could tell he was not joking; he was truly harboring a lethal intent.
Nora did not respond.
Isaac stopped his threats.
He instructed Wesley to stop the car.
Nora promptly got out.
After she stepped out, the car drove off again.
Wesley asked cautiously, "Isaac, where to now?"
Rubbing his temples in irritation, Isaac replied, "The bar."
Her lingering scent in the car was agitating him even more.
He pulled out his phone and texted Harold, asking him to meet for a drink.
Half an hour later, in the bar.
Harold looked at the brooding Isaac and asked, "Troubled because of the whole Nora and Kalista fiasco?"
Isaac glanced at him. "Word got out, huh?"
Harold raised an eyebrow. "It's all over social media, and the rumor mill has been churning. Pretty hard to miss. What's your plan for handling it?"
Isaac ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "The quickest and easiest fix would be for Nora to drop the charges, but Nora's not playing ball."
"Well, it makes sense. She nearly gets done in by Kalista, then gets the blame pinned on her. Of course, she's bitter and won't let Kalista off the hook," Harold reasoned.
Isaac shot him an annoyed look. "I didn't ask you to empathize with her; I need you to figure out a solution. Kalista's health is failing; she can't handle jail. We need to get her out immediately!"
But with the scandal blowing up, springing her directly wasn't an option.
Harold fell silent for a moment, then clapped Isaac on the shoulder. "I'll have a talk with Nora."
Isaac snorted dismissively, "Save your breath. If I can't sway her, you sure as hell won't. I know how stubborn she is; nothing you say will change her mind."
Harold quirked an eyebrow. "How will we know if we don't try?"
Isaac scoffed, grabbed his drink and tuned out.
Harold stood up and left the bar.
Outside, he pulled out his phone and dialed Nora's number.
"Harold, something urgent at this hour?" Nora's voice was cool and detached.
She had just gotten home to find Steve absent and was about to call him when Harold's call came through.
Harold rarely reached out to her.
She had a pretty good hunch why he was calling.
"I'm reaching out about the Kalista mess," Harold said straightforwardly.
Nora let out a sardonic laugh. "So Isaac got to you to do his bidding?"
Harold replied, "Isaac did come to me, but not to lobby on his behalf. I saw he was troubled about the situation and wanted to talk to you myself."
Nora spoke in a calm, even tone, "There's nothing to discuss. I've made my stance clear to him—Kalista is after my life, and I won't let her off the hook. I've handed the case over to the police. If he can pull strings on his end, that's out of my hands. Whatever the court decides, I'll accept. But I'm not withdrawing the charges. It's getting late; I'm going to get some rest. Goodbye."
"Don't hang up yet; just hear me out," Harold urgently called out to her.
Nora didn't end the call, but she also stayed silent.
Taking a deep breath, Harold began slowly, "Four years ago, on the day you left Aridonia, Isaac sped off in his car to find you when he heard you were leaving. But halfway there, he crashed. It happened in a remote area; no one was around, and he was seriously injured. It was Kalista who found him on her way and got him to the hospital. The doctors said Isaac had lost all will to live, even seemed to prefer death, which greatly complicated the rescue effort."
He added, "This resulted in Isaac bleeding out excessively during the rescue since the hospital's blood bank was empty. Without an immediate transfusion, he would have been beyond saving. At that critical moment, Kalista donated her blood to Isaac. Ignoring her own safety, she gave him blood, and that's what saved his life."
Nora's breath caught, and she widened her eyes in disbelief. "What are you saying? Did Isaac go after me that day I left? And got into an accident?"
"Yes, you can easily verify this information if you have doubts," Harold sighed softly.
"I'm telling you all this to let you know why Isaac is so protective of Kalista, even though he knows she's no saint—it's because she once saved his life. At his lowest, after being deeply hurt by you, it was Kalista who stood by him. If you have even the slightest remorse for what occurred with Isaac, I hope you can find it in your heart to let Kalista go."
Harold waited a moment for Nora to respond.
When no answer came, he didn't say another word and just hung up.
Nora stood by the bedroom window, staring blankly outside.
With a "click," the silence returned.
Her phone slipped from her hands and crashed to the ground.
Tears streamed down her face silently, her heart aching so acutely that she could barely breathe.
Four years ago, on the day she left, Isaac actually went to look for her.
And he had an accident on his way to see her?
She still remembered receiving a call from Isaac before she boarded the plane.
He said on the phone that he wanted to see her.
Yet, she told him that she didn't want to see him.
Then he said, "What if I were about to die? Would you come to see me then?"
She replied coldly, "Then I'll visit your grave after you're gone."
Was it after the accident, lying there severely injured, that he called her?
How could she have been so heartless?
Imagine how desperate and tormented he must have felt, hearing those words.
Nora crouched down, covered her face, and wept bitterly.
"I'm sorry, Isaac."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
