Dangerous Secrets: My Mafia Stepbrother

Isabella had a straightforward personality. If someone treated her badly, she’d reciprocate in kind. She wasn’t the type to take a loss. Characters like Karen didn’t deserve excessive politeness from her.

Karen was visibly angered by Isabella’s words, her chest heaving. How could this woman speak to her like that? Isabella was trampling on the pride Karen had always held high. In Karen’s eyes, she had always been proud, the esteemed princess of Bratva. Her friends treated her like royalty, showering her with praises. She had never been belittled like this before, and Isabella’s words had stirred something deep within Karen.

“You… you bitch! You’re only with Emanuele because you’re young. Do you really think you’re all that? Aren’t you afraid Emanuele will eventually drop you?” Karen lashed out, her words dripping with resentment. “Yes, Emanuele would choose me over you anytime. Don’t you wonder why? He doesn’t find you appealing.”

He doesn’t find you appealing.

This single sentence made Karen take two steps back. Her eyes flashed with pain, and when she looked at Isabella again, there was a newfound hatred in her gaze. Damn it, Isabella was going to pay for this!

Karen moved forward, raising her hand to slap Isabella. But Isabella had undergone training, her reflexes sharp. Karen was no match for her.

Isabella effortlessly dodged Karen’s attack. Seeing this, Karen, now even angrier, tried to hit Isabella again. But Isabella avoided her once more.

Isabella’s expression turned as cold as ice. Even though Karen hadn’t laid a finger on her, Isabella felt a twinge of annoyance. Seeing Karen still trying to approach, Isabella deliberately moved to a place with steps. As Karen lunged at her, Isabella swiftly dodged, and Karen, oblivious to the steps, stumbled and fell.

“Ah!”

Karen’s scream caught everyone’s attention, and they quickly emerged from the villa. In the vast garden, only Isabella and Karen were present. Karen wouldn’t have dared to provoke Isabella so shamelessly if there were others around.

Unexpectedly, Karen didn’t succeed in bullying Isabella; instead, she found herself humiliated. Emanuele also joined the crowd, and his gaze immediately fell on Isabella standing next to the fallen Karen.

There was only the two of them in this garden, and with Karen on the ground, everyone assumed Isabella had intervened physically.

Karen, realizing this, pointed at Isabella and tearfully said, “She pushed me. I just wanted to talk to her, but she attacked me and pushed me to the ground.”NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

As Karen spoke, tears flowed down her cheeks, making her look pitiable.

Michael walked angrily towards Karen, lifted her up, and examined her injuries. He noticed scratches on her arm and a twisted foot, breaking his heart. Karen’s birthday celebration was held in Chicago this time. His parents hadn’t come, planning to arrange a separate banquet for Karen when she returned. Michael had flown over personally, concerned about Karen’s safety.

Little did he expect an incident to occur right under his nose.

After checking Karen’s injuries, Michael turned to Isabella, his gaze as if ready to kill. “Mrs. Lombardi, I don’t know what my sister did to provoke you, but hurting her like this!”

Emanuele quickly stepped forward, shielding Isabella behind him. “Michael, I don’t think Isabella is that kind of person. There must be a misunderstanding.”

Misunderstanding? Karen leaned on Michael, feeling her heart shattering. Why was Emanuele defending Isabella? He had known her longer than Isabella, but did he trust Isabella more?

“In this garden, only Mrs. Lombardi and my sister were present. If it wasn’t her pushing my sister, did my sister fall by herself?” Michael argued.

“It’s also possible.” Emanuele embraced Isabella. “How about checking the surveillance cameras?”

In Emanuele’s embrace, the night breeze brought a hint of coolness, but Emanuele’s arms were broad and warm, blocking the surrounding gazes. Isabella felt a bit more relaxed.

In a place like this, every corner had surveillance. Even the garden had cameras.

Michael immediately ordered someone to check the surveillance. If Emanuele wanted to see it, so be it. In the face of evidence, Emanuele couldn’t argue.

Karen, however, panicked. “No need, brother. I won’t hold anything against Isabella. It was just an accident.”

Emanuele smiled, a hint of bloodlust in his eyes, and his smile carried mockery. “You won’t hold anything against Isabella, but I might have something to discuss with you. Check the surveillance! If Isabella did push Karen, I’ll make her apologize. But if Miss Reid fell on her own and accused my wife, I won’t let her off so easily.”

Emanuele spoke with authority, displaying a leader’s demeanor.

Phillip immediately went to check.

Seeing Emanuele so serious, Karen became a bit anxious. She had just slandered Isabella in front of so many people. When the truth was revealed through surveillance, her reputation would be ruined, and her ladylike image would be impossible to maintain.

Karen felt that Emanuele was too heartless. She had liked him for so many years, and her health was not good, suffering from asthma. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have lived on the island for so long, recuperating. She didn’t even know when Emanuele got married.

Oh, she had asthma.

Thinking of this, Karen trembled, pretending to have difficulty breathing.

“Karen!” Michael sensed something was wrong and quickly carried Karen outside.

Emanuele wanted to stop her, but Michael was in a hurry. “Let’s discuss this later. Karen’s asthma is acting up, and I need to give her medication immediately, take her to the hospital.”

An asthma attack was terrifying and couldn’t be delayed for a moment.

Emanuele didn’t stop Michael, but as he watched Karen lying in Michael’s arms, he felt that Karen’s current state was definitely an act.

“Karen is pretending,” Isabella whispered in Emanuele’s arms.

As a doctor, Isabella had witnessed patients having asthma attacks, but Karen’s reaction was definitely not the real thing. Although Karen’s act seemed convincing, there was still a slight difference from how a real asthma attack looked.

“It doesn’t matter if she’s pretending. If she escapes now, I’ll make her apologize to you later,” Emanuele declared unexpectedly. This authoritative stance warmed Isabella’s heart. Since marrying Emanuele, she had discovered a growing inner strength, giving her the courage to resist Karen earlier.

All of this confidence came from Emanuele. Isabella knew that even if she messed everything up, Emanuele would handle the aftermath for her.