Chapter 8 - Isabella Paid Her Debt
Isabella faced prison.
She expected it.
Roman did not interfere.
That mattered.
Their father would have.
Family once meant immunity.
Roman refused.
Isabella pleaded guilty to conspiracy and financial crimes.
Her cooperation reduced the sentence to six years.
Before reporting, she asked to see Sophia.
Roman hesitated.
Sophia decided.
“Yes.”
They met in the garden.
Isabella knelt.
“I’m sorry.”
Sophia stared.
“Did you know about the cake?”
“Not before the party.”
“Did you do bad things?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Isabella cried.
“Because I wanted things I thought would make me important.”
“Did they?”
“No.”
Sophia considered.
“Then that was dumb.”
Roman almost laughed.
Isabella did.
“Yes.”
“Will jail make you good?”
Everyone froze.
Isabella answered carefully.
“No.”
“Then what will?”
“Choosing better things while I’m there.”
Sophia nodded.
“Okay.”
She hugged her aunt.
Not forgiveness.
Not fully.
But love.
Isabella entered prison the next morning.
She wrote Sophia once a month.
No excuses.
May you like
Roman read nothing without Sophia’s permission.
Another change.
