The Heiress’s Contract Marriage With Her Enemy

Chapter Ten: The Walls Between Us

"Yikes…This prison smells like metal and old dust." Isabelle's nose frowned. 

To Isabelle, the air here felt colder against the bright walls and lights. 

She sat on one side of the glass, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. 

Her eyes were red from the lack of sleep and from the pressure she'd been carrying for days.

She hadn't spoken to her father since the mess. Since the headlines said James Munro, guilty of fraud, bribery, and market manipulation. Since her whole world crumbled like a building with no foundation.

James walked in looking older than she remembered. 

His hair had thinned, his face looked thinner, his prison uniform looked too loose around his shoulders. 

But his eyes… Those were the same…so sad and quiet, filled with a pain only a father could hide from a daughter.

"Isabelle," he whispered, as if the sound of her name hurt him. "You came."

"I had to," she nodded, blinking fast. "I needed to see you. I needed to hear your side."

He sat down slowly, folding his hands on the scratched table in front of him. "Most of the charges…" he started, but didn't finish right away. He looked down at his hands, then up at her again. "They're not true. At least not all of them."

Isabelle said nothing. She waited for him to finish it. Her throat was tighter, and there was a ball stuck inside like it was impossible to swallow.

"I did some things," James admitted, "things I'm not proud of. But they twisted it all. Turned it into something bigger..."

"Why didn't you fight harder?" Isabelle asked, voice started trembling. "Why did you let everything fall apart?"

His eyes filled with warm water. "Because by the time I understood what they were doing, it was too late. Charlotte tried to help. But she had her own battles, Belle. Things she never told me."

The silence between them felt longer than eternity. Like it had its own purpose, pressing on their shoulders.

Isabelle was finally able to swallow the lump in her throat. "She's gone," she whispered. "Charlotte's dead."

"I know," James's lower lip trembled after accepting it, and his face broke immediately. 

Another tear slid down his cheek. "I read it in the paper. But that wasn't enough. That wasn't real. Seeing you…next to her grave, seeing her being buried…this made it real."

They stared at each other like they were two broken pieces of a family that used to be strong.

"I was so angry at her," Isabelle's voice was shaking, and it just cracked. "She left. She ran from us. I never forgave her. I never even tried to understand."

James nodded, eyes wet as if he was caught under rain. "She had reasons. Some I didn't know. Others I chose not to understand. I was harsh, too proud. I wish I could take it back."

"She didn't deserve to die like that," Isabelle's jaw clenched. Her hands were shaking now. "In the river… Alone… The police said suicide. But she wouldn't do that. She wouldn't leave the twins."

James stopped trembling. "Twins?"

Isabelle lifted her head. "Charlotte had children. Two years old. A boy and a girl."

He leaned forward like the breath had been knocked out of him. "Whose are they?"

"Caleb's," Isabelle said. "Reign's brother."

James stared at her like the world had stopped moving. "What?"

"They were together, somehow. I don't know when. I don't know how. But they left behind two children… and no answers. I found out after she died. They were sent to me. And now… I have them."

James put his head in his hands. "God. She didn't tell me. Why didn't she tell me?"

"I don't know," Isabelle faced his eyes, wiping her tears quickly. "Maybe she was afraid. Maybe she thought it would ruin everything."

He shook his head, then looked up at her. "You're carrying this alone?"

"I had to," she released her hands. "I couldn't leave them. They're all that's left of her."

James reached a hand up and touched the glass. "You shouldn't have to do this alone. I should be there."

"I know," Isabelle agreed. "But you're not. And I can't wait for things to change. I have to make sure they grow up in a safe place. I need to find who did this to Charlotte. And I have to rebuild what's left of our name."

His hand trembled. "Isabelle… are you sure you're strong enough for this?"

She nodded. "I have no other choice."

A few seconds passed before he asked, "Can the company be saved?"

"I don't know," Isabelle answered honestly. "But I'll try. I'll fight for it... For them."

He closed his eyes, nodding slowly. "I'm proud of you."

"I don't need you to be proud," Isabelle stated with her slightly raised voice. "I need you to help me figure out what the hell happened. Why Charlotte ended up with Caleb. Why did she send me to marry Reign? None of it makes sense."

James sighed. "I thought your mother might know more. But she disappeared, Isabelle. Right after the collapse. I thought she was with you."

Isabelle's heart dropped. "She didn't even come to the funeral. I thought she left you."

"I thought she went looking for you," James said. "We haven't spoken in weeks. She just… vanished."

They stared at each other once again…their mouths were slightly opened…

"So now I'm left with two babies, a destroyed company, and a fake marriage to a man who hates me," Isabelle's mouth formed a smile, but not from happiness but situation. 

"A man whose brother might have loved your sister," James added.

"Or lied to her," Isabelle said darkly. "Who knows anymore?"

"I'll try to get answers," James muttered. "There are still people who owe me favors. Lawyers, and accountants. A few board members. I can't do much from here, but I can listen. I can watch. If something reaches my ears, I'll find a way to send word."

"Then I'll handle the rest out there," Isabelle lifted her chin.

James gave her a tired smile. "That's my girl."

They sat in another awkward silence again. Not because there was nothing to say. But because some moments didn't need words.

When the guard came in and told her it was time to go, Isabelle stood up slowly.

"I'll come again," Isabelle wiped the tear from her cheek.

"I'll be here," James said. "And Belle?"

She turned back.

"You were never just your mother's daughter. You were always mine too. That means you're a fighter."

Isabelle's throat tightened again. "Good. Because there's a war coming."

And with that, she walked out.

"I will not let Reign disrespect me."