Chapter 16

For Isabella, who had hardly slept, morning came too fast. She couldn't stop thinking about her talk with Xander, particularly his statement, "I don't know if I can trust you anymore." It felt like a lifelong pain to hear those words.

She was aware that she had to act quickly. Xander was losing time, and so was time. She ran the risk of losing everything if she didn't take immediate action, including her marriage and her intentions to keep him safe.

With desperation in his voice, Marcus contacted her early. 

"We've got it," he declared right away. "The communication was made. I have the papers—correspondence, bank records. All of this links Vivian and her partners to the plot. For months, they had been scheming to cause Xander to experience a significant financial catastrophe.

Isabella's heart was pounding. "Is it evidence that she is responsible for everything?"

Marcus affirmed that it was "stable enough to go public." However, we must make sure it is handled with caution. They might erase the evidence or pursue Xander more vigorously if information spills too quickly.

Isabella's thoughts whirled. Now that they had the evidence, they needed a strategy to bring Vivian and her cronies to light without going awry.

Isabella answered resolutely, "I'll see you in an hour."

Her phone buzzed with a message from Xander after she hung up. She read it after hesitating.

Tonight's dinner. We must speak. - X

Her stomach churned. Would it all come crashing down at this point? Would she be confronted by Xander about her secrets, or would he ignore her entirely? Now, when they were so close to defeating his adversaries, she couldn't let him go.

Isabella reached Marcus's flat an hour later. He gave her a big folder as soon as she entered. As she turned the pages, she came across emails, wire transfers, and offshore accounts that described the scheme against Xander. Everything was there, well documented.

She exclaimed, feeling a wave of optimism, "This is enough to take them down." "How can we release it without them discovering it first, though?"

Marcus folded his arms and leaned against the counter. That is the difficulty. Finding a journalist who is willing to take the chance yet remain silent until the complete story is available is what we need in order to achieve a controlled leak.

Isabella gave a nod. "I know a reliable reporter."

"All right. But there's one more thing," Marcus stated gravely. "Xander will be fully aware of the plot, Vivian, and me once this goes public."

Isabella looked up at him. "You mean he'll discover that we've been collaborating?"

"Exactly," Marcus said. "He will discover that you have been keeping this from him."

She felt the weight of that fact pressing down on her. Xander was suspicious enough already. Rebuilding their trust may be ruined if he found out she had been working covertly with Marcus. But Vivian would succeed in wrecking him if they didn't take action right away.

"I have no other option," Isabella said. "I must keep him safe."

Marcus understood her resolve and nodded. "Then we have to move fast."

Isabella got ready for dinner with Xander later that night. He picked one of their favourite restaurants, which they hadn't been to since their lives started to fall apart. She sensed the moment's importance.

Xander was sitting at a peaceful corner table with a glass of wine in front of him when she got there. His face was unreadable, and Isabella felt a brief pang of terror. Although she had no idea how the evening would play out, she was certain that it was crucial.

Xander stared at her, his eyes fixed on her as she sat down. He skipped small conversation and stated, "You've been distant."

Isabella's hands quivered a little as she inhaled deeply. "I understand. I've been juggling a lot of things.

Xander waited for her to continue, his eyes narrowing slightly but he said nothing.

Isabella said, hardly raising her voice above a whisper, "I haven't been honest with you." "There are things I've kept from you because I believed it was the only way to keep you safe, not because I wanted to."

Xander's expression darkened as he leaned back. "What do you protect me from?"

Isabella took a deep breath. "From those who wish to ruin you. Vivian is liked by others.

The air was silent for a minute. Xander's jaw tensed as he gazed at her. "Vivian? What are you discussing?

Isabella clarified, her voice trembling, "Vivian has been plotting to bring you down." She has been conspiring with others to undermine your company and damage your reputation. For weeks, Marcus and I have been collecting evidence.

Xander's face hardened even more at the mention of Marcus. "You and Marcus have been collaborating."