Chapter 5

Mason sat beside her, the veins on the back of his hand were taut.

"You really have to do this?" Mason asked.

"Do what?" Isabella replied.

"Anthony just came back from the brink of death, and you smashed that string of beads right in front of him," Mason said.

Isabella looked out the window. "Michael didn't make it back, and you handed that string of beads to someone else at his grave."

Mason rubbed his temples. "I told you it was to help Anthony calm down."

"So his feelings are more important than Michael's dignity?" Isabella shot back.

"Isabella," Mason said, turning to look at her. "You didn't used to be this harsh."

Isabella let out a bitter smile. "Back then, I still had a son."

The car fell silent for a few seconds.

Mason pulled the divorce agreement out of his briefcase and tossed it onto her lap.

"Did you write this?" Mason asked.

"Yes," Isabella replied.

"So you're walking out with nothing but Michael's ashes?" Mason stared her down. "You really think that'll make me feel guilty?"

"I don't need your guilt," Isabella said.

"How are you going to survive after leaving the Gonzalez family? That half-dead repair shop of yours? You don't even make enough in a month to buy a single bottle of wine at the Gonzalez Estate," Mason said.

Isabella tucked the agreement away. "It's enough to put food on the table."

Mason's anger flared up at her words. "Do you really have to push it this far?"

"You're the one who made things come to this," Isabella shot back.

The driver kept his mouth shut, not daring to say a word.

The car pulled up to the Gonzalez Estate.

The Gonzalez family's living room was packed with people, all waiting for her like she was about to be put on trial.

Lily was the first to speak. "Isabella, you really crossed the line today. Bringing up divorce at the funeral, and then tearing apart those beads right in front of the kids? You've made the Gonzalez family look like a joke."

Isabella took off her wet coat and draped it over the back of a chair.

"So the Gonzalez family's reputation is all about a string of beads?" Isabella shot back.

Lily slammed her hand on the table. "How dare you talk to your elders like that."

Mason looked at her. "Apologize."

Isabella shot back, "Who exactly am I supposed to apologize to?"

"To Grandma, to Lily, and to Nora and Anthony," Mason said.

Nora sat off to the side, holding Anthony in her arms. She whispered, "Mason, let it go. Isabella just lost Michael. She's hurting."

Lily jumped in right away. "Nora, you're so considerate. Even after what happened to your kid, you still stand up for her. And you, Isabella, look at yourself. What kind of example are you setting?"

Violet burst in from outside, her hair still dripping wet.

"At least she is acting like a real person. Unlike you all, sitting here wearing human masks and pretending to be civilized," Violet snapped.

Mason's brows knitted together. "Who let her in?"

Violet waved her phone in the air. "If your bodyguards so much as touch me, I'll post the funeral video right now. I've already got the headline: 'Real dad forces grieving mom to apologize to his precious ex.'"

Lily's face changed instantly. "Don't you dare."

"Why not? I'm not a Gonzalez," Violet shot back.

Isabella looked at Violet. "How did you get in?"

"I climbed over the wall," Violet said. "That tree in your backyard is easy to climb, but the top of the wall is murder on your butt."

Riley came down the stairs. "Are you done making a scene?"

The living room went dead silent.

Riley looked at Mason. "I've read the divorce agreement."

Mason said, "I'm not going along with it."

"You don't get a say in this," Riley said.

Mason's face darkened. "Grandma, this is between me and her."

Riley walked to the head of the table and sat down. "Funny, when you handed over the thing that could've saved Michael, you sure didn't remember it was between you two."

Nora choked back a sob. "Mrs. Gonzalez, I know you blame me. But Anthony's life is also important. I couldn't let Anthony die."

Riley looked at her. "No one's saying his life isn't important."

Nora looked up, tears streaking down her face. "Then why is everyone blaming me? I'm devastated about Michael too. My husband's been gone for years. Anthony is all I've got.

"Mason felt sorry for me and gave me a hand. Is that really such a crime?"

Violet jabbed a finger at her. "So you think being pitiful means you can take someone else's kid to fill the void? Why don't you sacrifice yourself if you're so pitiful?"

Mason snapped, "Shut up."

Violet was about to keep going, but Isabella grabbed her arm.

Mason's phone rang.

He picked up, and his expression soured even more.

"Who told the hospital to lock away the matching report?" Mason snapped.

Everyone in the living room turned to stare at Isabella.

Mason hung up and fixed his gaze on her. "Was that you?"

Isabella replied, "I'm just taking back what belongs to Michael."

"The hospital said someone used the old director's personal seal to access the records," Mason said, stepping closer. "Isabella, when did you get to know the old director?"

Nora hugged Anthony tighter.

Isabella didn't answer.