Chapter 128
“I’m surprised you actually decided to show your face today, Samantha said, watching as Izzy strode into the boardroom with Atty. Alcaraz beside her.
Izzy ignored the remark and took her seat, crossing her legs as she glanced around the table. Monica sat across from her, flanked by Samantha and Amalia. Their lawyer, a sharply dressed man with slicked–back dark hair, leaned forward with an amused smirk.
“Always a pleasure, Maria,” the man said, directing his attention to Atty. Alcaraz.
Atty. Alcaraz scoffed. “Still alive, I see, Ethan.”
Ethan smirked. “And still better this than you.”
Atty. Alcaraz tilted her head slightly. “Better? You mean like how you ‘won‘ that corporate fraud case in Miami?” She placed her hands on the table. “Oh, wait, you didn’t.”
Ethan’s jaw twitched, but he recovered quickly. “At least I don’t have a reputation for making my clients regret hiring me.”
Atty. Alcaraz chuckled. “Funny, I was about to say the same thing about you.”
Izzy watched them with mild amusement before turning to Monica. “You look well,” she said. “Surprising for someone who wanted to kill her own child.”
The air in the room immediately shifted.
Monica’s face drained of color. How the hell did Izzy know? she wondered.
Almost immediately, Samantha slammed a hand on the table. “Watch your mouth, Izzy.”
Amalia leaned forward. “You have no right to say that. Let’s be fair now, shall we?”
Izzy merely smiled, resting her chin on her palm. “Oh? You all had no problem talking about me for days, but now you suddenly care about what’s fair?” She glanced at Monica. “Did you ever stop to think about how much damage you were doing while you were playing the victim?”
Monica’s hands curled into fists on her lap.
Ethan cleared his throat. “Let’s keep this professional, yeah? Atty. Alcaraz, you should advise your client not to say anything that could worsen the situation. She’s now slandering my client.”
Atty. Alcaraz leaned back. “Of course. But if Monica and her team can publicly drag my client’s name through the mud, surely she can handle a little truth in a private meeting.”
Ethan’s smirk tightened. “We’re here to discuss a settlement, not to throw baseless accusations.”
Izzy raised an eyebrow. “Baseless? How did you know it was baseless?”
Ethan adjusted his tie. “The point is, my client has suffered immense emotional and financial distress because of you. By the way, I am certain that Maria won’t introduce me so here is my card. I am Ethan Sparks and I will be representing Monica. Please be careful with what you say from now on.”
Izzy scoffed as she accepted the card. Obviously, Atty. Alcaraz already told her about Monica’s lawyer. “Is that what we’re calling manipulation and slander now? Emotional distress?” She turned to Monica. “Tell me, did you cry before or after you
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Chapter 128
cashed the donations? Or did you cry when you decided to kill that child?”
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“You-” Monica’s breathing was uneven, but she forced herself to sit straighter. Izzy must be bluffing, she thought. “You ruined my life.”
Izzy tilted her head. “Did I? Or did you ruin your own by getting caught?”
Samantha pointed a finger at Izzy. “You’re a monster.”
Izzy’s lips twitched. “That’s rich coming from the people who tried to extort me.”
Ethan leaned forward. “Miss Rossi, if we can’t have a productive conversation, we might as well take this to court.”
Izzy met his gaze, unfazed. “You want to take this to court? Be my guest. I’d love to see how well your case holds up under actual legal scrutiny.”
Ethan held her stare, but his confidence wavered for half a second.
Seeing this, Atty. Alcaraz smirked. “Shall we discuss numbers, or do you want to waste more time pretending you have leverage?”
Ethan exhaled sharply, shifting in his seat. “Fine. Let’s talk numbers.”
Izzy leaned back, watching them. This was going to be fun.
Ethan straightened in his seat, adjusting his cufflinks as he spoke. “Three hundred million. That’s our settlement offer. If you agree, we won’t proceed with the case.”
Izzy rested her elbow on the armrest, looking utterly unimpressed.
Ethan continued, “Additionally, we want a public apology. You will formally acknowledge the harm you’ve caused Monica. We also expect you to withdraw your case against her immediately.” He glanced at his notes before adding, “And since we know the Rossi Group is invested in keeping this quiet, we want shares.”
Atty. Alcaraz let out a short laugh, but before she could speak, Izzy chuckled.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “Something funny?”
Izzy turned to her lawyer. “Maria, is this man really a lawyer?”
Atty. Alcaraz smirked. “Technically, yes. But I wouldn’t say he’s a good one.”
Ethan’s expression darkened. “Mock me all you want, Miss Rossi. But we both know you don’t want this to go to court. You’re an heiress of the Rossi Group. Do you really think it’s smart to drag your family’s company into a public scandal?”
Izzy tapped her fingers against the table. “You’re assuming this would be a scandal for me.”
Ethan exhaled sharply. “Public perception matters. The media loves a story about an abused mother being trampled by the rich. We’ll make sure the world sees Monica’s suffering. You may have resources, but we have public sympathy. And in cases like this, that’s far more powerful.”
Izzy sighed, shaking her head. “Well…” She leaned forward. “Do you have actual evidence of this emotional distress? Or are you just hoping people will believe Monica because she cried on camera?”
Ethan sat up straighter. “Even if it’s just her testimony, the court will take it seriously. The world will see a grieving mother who was bullied by a wealthy socialite. We’ll make sure justice-”
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“So you wanted shares of Rossi Group?” Izzy looked at the lawyer.
“Yes. It is only right that Monica gets something. We cannot deny the fact that her mother raised you, and yet you-”
“And you wanted a public apology too? Isn’t that a bit too much?” Izzy interrupted him.
“And then three hundred million?” she added.
“You heard that right, Samantha joined in. Seeing Izzy’s reaction, Samantha quickly guessed that the woman finally realized she was going to lose this game.
Izzy rested her chin on her palm, looking thoughtful. “Three hundred million,” she repeated. “A public apology. And shares from Rossi Group” She glanced at Samantha. “Aren’t you trying to bite off more than you could chew?”
Samantha smirked, “Well, considering what Monica has been through, I’d say we’re being generous.”
Monica nodded, sitting up straighter. “It’s the least you could do, Izzy. You already got me fired from my job, banned me from the industry and… and you killed my child.”
Izzy hummed, tapping her fingers on the table. “I see.” She turned to Atty. Alcaraz. “Maria, what do you think?”
Atty. Alcaraz crossed her arms, pretending to consider it seriously. “Well, if they had solid evidence of this so–called emotional distress, they could make a case for it. And if they had actual proof that your actions caused direct financial harm, then the amount might even be justified.”
Samantha exchanged a glance with Monica, her confidence growing.
“Exactly,” Ethan cut in. “Which is why it’s in your best interest to settle now rather than let this drag on.”
Atty. Alcaraz nodded. “Right, right. But…” She paused, tilting her head. “They don’t have any of that, do they?”
Izzy sighed dramatically. “Ah, right. No evidence.”
Ethan’s jaw twitched. “A jury doesn’t need physical evidence to be sympathetic. The media alone—”
“Yes, yes, the media,” Izzy cut in, waving a hand. “So, basically, your entire case is built on hoping people feel sorry for Monica?”
Monica stiffened. “That’s not what this is about-”
Izzy leaned back. “I don’t know, Monica. You seemed pretty fine in that last livestream. Not a tear in sight.”
Samantha scoffed. “That’s because she’s strong.”
Izzy gave her an amused look. “Oh? I thought she was traumatized. You want me to pay three hundred million to someone who’s, what, strong now?”
Amalia huffed. “You’re twisting our words.”
Atty. Alcaraz smirked. “No, I think we’re just letting you bake a little longer.”
Ethan’s patience was clearly thinning. “Miss Rossi, if you’d like to discuss a serious offer, we can-”
Izzy held up a finger, stopping him mid–sentence. She pressed a button on her phone, and the recording began to play.
