THE RISE OF THE APEX KING

CHAPTER 6

The whole hall went silent immediately. Isabella could not believe what she was hearing. Her ears rang, her heart began to beat frantically and for several long seconds, she could do nothing but stare. Husband! The word repeated itself over and over in her brain, still refusing to make sense. Her gaze moved from Michelle to Richard and then to Marty, who stood ever so protectively in front of him.

Isabella couldn’t even form a sentence. Her lips parted, but nothing came out. Her thoughts were tangled, clashing violently with one another.

Richard was married to Michelle Donovan? The powerful CEO? The woman everyone feared and admired? It was absurd. It was simply impossible. It had to be some sick joke. Isabella’s nails dug into her palms as she tried to calm herself and make sense of the situation.

Mandy was the first to break the silence. She frowned, her sharp eyes narrowing.

“Hold on,” she said, her voice loud enough to draw attention. “This doesn’t add up at all.”

She gestured towards Marty. “That’s a little boy and everyone knows how kids are easy to influence. They believe whatever adults tell them.” She shook her head slowly. “It’s very possible Richard lied to him, told him he was his father. The shameless loser used a poor child who doesn't know his father as a way to get close to Michelle.”

Isabella's eyes lit up immediately.

"Exactly!" She cried. “That makes sense. He took advantage of a poor helpless child. That’s exactly the kind of person he is.”

She turned sharply toward Richard, her eyes blazing with rage.

“You opportunistic dog,” she spat. “You’ve always been so pathetic and desperate. You would do anything to climb your way into power, even if it means using a child.”

A few murmurs of agreement spread through the crowd. Richard remained still and so relaxed as if none of the insults touched him and that only angered Isabella more. She stepped closer, pointing a trembling finger at him.

“You disgust me,” she continued. “Your dumb games couldn't work with me and now you used a child to try it with Lady Michelle? You really haven’t changed at all.”

Richard still didn't say a word in response and once again, Michelle came to his defence.

“Enough!"

Her tone was harsh, commanding instant attention. She turned fully towards Isabella, her eyes blazing with anger.

“You will not accuse my husband of something so vile.” She tightened her grip on Richard’s hand, making her stance unmistakably clear. “And for the record, I was the one who made a move on him. Not the other way around.”

Isabella froze and her mouth flew open in shock. For a moment, she truly couldn’t speak. The crowd watched her carefully, waiting to see how she would recover from that blow.

"You… you what?” Isabella finally whispered. “Why?” Her voice cracked despite her effort to sound composed. “Why would you marry someone like him? He’s a nobody. He’s worthless. What could he possibly offer you?”

Michelle’s eyes hardened instantly.

“Watch your mouth,” she warned. “Do not ever slander my husband again. Not in public or in private.”

Her voice lowered, but the threat in it remained.

“You are speaking about the man I chose to be mine. Put some respect on his name."

Mandy stepped forward again, unable to stay silent.

“Lady Michelle, please,” she pleaded. “You’re making a terrible mistake. You don’t really know him like we do. He’s manipulative and a golddigger. He's clearly here for your wealth.”

In that moment, Michelle once again remembered how he had so easily rejected her offer of fifty thousand grand monthly. She didn't know who he was yet but he seemed like a nice person and he definitely wasn't a golddigger.

"Are you saying you know my husband more than I do?" She retorted.

Mandy threw her arms in the air in utter confusion.

“He’s clearly done something to you. You need to snap out of whatever illusion he’s created.”

Michelle took a few steps towards her.

"The next foul word out of your mouth and I'll make sure you're not just escorted out of this event, but that you'll spend the night in a cell."

Mandy stiffened instantly, her confidence evaporating. She swallowed hard and took a step back, unwilling to test the warning.

Isabella’s head spun. None of this was going the way she planned. She looked around, searching for support, but the expression on the faces of the guests had shifted from scorn to doubt.

“I don’t understand,” She muttered. “This doesn’t make sense.”

Her voice wavered with emotion. “He was obsessed with me. He took a bullet for me! How could he just move on so quickly and latch onto you?”

A grin formed slowly across Michelle's lips. Now, Isabella was beginning to regret what she lost.

“I didn’t take anything from you,” she replied. “You walked away from him. You were blind to his love. You broke his heart.” She paused, letting the truth sink in. “And for that, I thank you. Because your rejection opened the door for me to walk into his life.”

Isabella felt like the floor was crumbling beneath her feet.

“That’s ridiculous,” she snapped. “He’s still a loser and I don’t care who he married. He means nothing to me."

"Oh really?" Michelle smirked.

Isabella crossed her arms and lifted her chin in defiance.

“Of course. I'm only trying to show you that he's a pathetic golddigger who doesn't love you. It's not like I regret leaving him."

For the first time since the confrontation began, Richard chuckled. Everyone turned in his direction and he glared hard at Isabella.

But this time, there was no hurt or desire in his eyes when he glared at her.

"Trust me, Isabella," He smiled. "All you'll feel is regret when you find out who I really am."