"...Yes."
"One more thing," I took a deep breath, "obtain the original recording of that emergency call from three years ago from the hospital. Whatever it takes, I want only the original."
"Understood. I'll arrange it immediately."
After hanging up, I collapsed into my chair. If Isabella truly was lying... if everything Noelle had said was the truth... then what I'd just done to her...
"Boss, Isabella Vance is here."
The following evening, Dmitri's voice crackled through the intercom. I hadn't intended to see her, but considering that both Noelle and Lorenzo had mentioned her name, I decided to hear what she had to say.
"Have her wait in the sitting room."
After straightening my shirt, I entered the sitting room. Isabella sat on the sofa, clutching a handkerchief, eyes red-rimmed—she'd clearly been crying.
Upon seeing me, she immediately rose.
"Kholod!" Her voice was thick with tears. "I heard about... Lorenzo, he..."
"Sit." I settled into the single chair across from her, tone neutral.
She bit her lower lip and sat back down, fingers twisting the handkerchief anxiously.
"How is Lorenzo?" she asked tentatively. "Is he... is he still alive?"
"He's alive." I studied her intently. "You're concerned about him?"
"I'm just... worried." She shook her head frantically. "After all, it was my fault... I caused this..."
"Your fault?" I arched an eyebrow.
"It's all my fault!" She suddenly broke into sobs, tears streaming down her face. "I only wanted to help Noelle and Lorenzo resolve their misunderstanding... I never imagined he'd be so reckless..."
She wept, her entire body trembling.
"I truly just wanted to help... I thought if they met and talked things through, Lorenzo would finally give up, and Noelle could live peacefully... but I never expected it would turn out like this..."
"So you orchestrated all of this?" My voice was barely above a whisper.
"Yes..." She cried harder. "I know I was wrong, Kholod... I was too naive..."
"Why did you do it?"
"I thought it was just a misunderstanding," she looked up at me through tear-filled eyes. "Lorenzo kept asking about Noelle... I thought if they met once and cleared the air, he could move on... and Noelle could finally be free of him..."
"How did you contact Lorenzo?"
"He'd approached me before," she dabbed at her tears. "Asked how Noelle was doing... I felt sorry for him and shared a few details... Later he kept pestering me, so I thought... perhaps if they met once and settled things..."
"So you arranged that encounter?"
"Yes..." She hung her head. "I truly... truly only meant to help... Kholod, I swear I had no ulterior motives... I know Noelle is yourwife, I absolutely... absolutely never intended to create problems between you..."
She wept pitifully, her tears and trembling appearing genuine.
"Did Noelle know about this?"
"No!" She immediately shook her head. "I didn't tell her! I only said I had a surprise for her... I never thought Lorenzo would be so impulsive..."
