Chapter 8 - Justice Served

Isabella froze in her tracks as the federal agents surrounded her. Her eyes widened in horror as she looked at Emma, who was standing beside Alessandro now.
Emma slowly raised her small hand and pointed her finger directly at Isabella.
"That's her," Emma said, her small voice amplified by the room's silence. "That's the lady who put the medicine in the butter and tried to hurt my mama."
"Isabella Vance," the lead police detective declared, stepping forward and pulling out a set of steel handcuffs. "You are under arrest for attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, arson, and child endangerment. You have the right to remain silent."
"Get your hands off me!" Isabella shrieked, kicking and flailing as the cold steel cuffed her wrists behind her back. "Do you know who I am?! Father! Do something!"
Her father, Mr. Vance, stepped back in horror, refusing to meet her eyes. Two other federal agents walked up to him and his wife.
"Mr. and Mrs. Vance," the agent announced. "You are also being detained for questioning regarding illegal financial fraud and syndicate racketeering."
As the police pulled Isabella away, she locked eyes with Alessandro. Her glamour was entirely gone, replaced by wild, desperate madness.
"You would listen to a poor, worthless six-year-old maid's child over me?!" she screamed as she was dragged down the aisle. "You ruined my life!"
Alessandro stood tall on the stage, looking down at her with cold contempt. "She saved my life, Isabella. Something you were trying to steal."
The entire ballroom erupted into applause as the police dragged the Vance family out into waiting police cruisers. The press captured every single moment, ensuring the story would lead national news for months.
Alessandro stepped down from the stage and walked over to Sarah and little Emma. He knelt down on the floor, right in front of the little girl, ignoring the cameras and the wealthy guests watching them.
"Are you okay, Emma?" he asked softly.
May you like
Emma offered a small, shy smile and hugged her cloth doll tight. "I told you the truth, Mr. Alessandro."
"You did," Alessandro said, a genuine, warm smile breaking across his face for the first time in days. "You saved my life, little one. And I never forget a promise."