True Love Deserves a Second Chance
Chapter 196 Isabella Goes to Jail

Isabella woke up to a racket. She got out of bed, rubbed her aching head, and stumbled downstairs.

At the stairway, she heard Darren's voice. "You must be mistaken. My daughter stays home and wouldn't hurt anyone. She's too timid for such a conspiracy. Joey must be framing her. I'm going to sue her." The police replied, "Mr. Vale, we have witnesses and evidence. Ms. Vale is suspected of instigating an assault that caused serious injury. If you don't hand her over, we'll search the house."

Isabella, terrified, collapsed. 'I've been so careful. How did they replace out? Even my calls were from a new number. How do they have evidence?'

Her fall alerted the police. A quick-thinking young officer rushed up, grabbed her wrist, and handcuffed her.

Isabella was stunned, tears streaming down her face. She cried out, "Dad, save me! I didn't do anything. I don't want to go to jail."

Darren tried to intervene, but another officer stopped him. "Mr. Vale, if you interfere, we'll charge you with obstructing justice. We'll take Ms. Vale now. If you believe she's innocent, hire a lawyer." Ignoring Isabella's pleas, the police took her to the car.

Watching the police car drive away, Darren panicked. He called Theodore. "Theodore, where are you? Isabella's been taken by the police. You need to save her."

Theodore's voice was calm. "If she's innocent, the police will release her. If she's guilty, we can't help her."

Realizing Theodore wouldn't help, Darren shouted, "Don't forget, she's your sister. Are you just going to watch her suffer?"

Theodore's voice turned cold. "Don't forget, her mother killed my mom and stole my sister's identity. If Isabella had stayed out of trouble, I wouldn't have touched her. But she didn't."

Darren retorted, "Your mom is dead, and we don't know if your sister is alive. Are you going to ignore Isabella for the sake of two dead people? Is it worth it?"

Theodore's anger flared. If Joey heard this, she'd hate her father even more.

Darren ignored Connie's case and didn't search for his lost daughter, only caring about Isabella.

Theodore felt a sharp pain, not for himself, but for Connie and Joey's suffering.

Theodore's voice was icy. "Don't ever talk about my mom and sister like that again. As for Isabella, I don't care about her anymore."

He hung up.

At the police station, Isabella realized Theodore had bugged her phone. All her calls with the person from the Auto Dealership were recorded. With the bribe money and testimony, she was found guilty of instigating assault. Isabella shook her head in disbelief. "No way. Theodore wouldn't abandon me. I want a lawyer to appeal. I want to settle privately with the victim."

The police officer's words crushed her hopes. "Sorry, they won't settle. They want you prosecuted. And if you appeal, Ms. Blackwood herself will be on the case. Think you can win?"

Isabella stared at the officer, shocked. "Joey was injured. How can she go to court?"

"Sorry to disappoint you, but Ms. Blackwood wasn't the one injured." This revelation shattered Isabella.

'That damn Joey isn't hurt. Why should she be fine while I face legal punishment?' Isabella felt an overwhelming sense of defeat.

She cried out hysterically, "I want to see my dad. He'll get me out." But the police ignored her and took her to jail.

When Joey heard the news, she was peeling an apple for Sophia. She paused, then looked at Sebastian. "The person who threw acid on me must have been instigated by Isabella. Why not let him know this?"

Sebastian smirked. "That's my girl. We're on the same page. I've already released the news. Once that person gives up on Isabella, he won't work for her anymore. With two charges combined, Isabella will be in jail for years."

He gently rubbed Joey's head and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll make sure she's 'well taken care of' in prison. All the suffering you endured, I'll make her pay back double.

Joey, you've had a long day. Can you come home with me to rest? I've never greeted our baby. Can you give me a chance to make up for it?"

Faced with Sebastian's teasing, Joey's ears turned red. She glared at him playfully, "Sebastian, I'm talking about serious matters. Can you not interrupt?"

"How is caring for my wife and child not serious?" Sebastian looked at Joey with such tender eyes that even Sophia blushed.

She quickly took the apple from Joey's hand. "Alright, go home with him. If you stay any longer, I might die from the sweetness of your love. I don't need you to take care of me; I have a little assistant."

Joey shook her head reluctantly. "I want to stay with you."

"Taking good care of your child is the best way to take care of me. If you don't leave, he won't leave either. I can't even go to the bathroom comfortably. Go on, I'm about to burst."

Sophia shooed them out. As soon as they got in the car, Joey was pulled into Sebastian's arms.

Sebastian's warm hand gently covered Joey's belly, his eyes a bit red, his voice hoarse. "Joey, this is the child I worked so hard to create. How could you keep this from me?"

Sebastian's face showed a mix of joy, sadness, and tenderness. He bent down, kissed Joey's belly a few times, then looked up at her with an intense gaze. "Joey, we finally have a child. I'm finally going to be a dad. Do you know how happy I am?"

His face lit up with a joyful smile, but his eyes glistened with tears. He kissed Joey's lips and said hoarsely, "Joey, let's get married."