Chapter 19

Isabella couldn't wrap her head around the idea that John would actually pull something like this. She figured someone must be using John's name to get Eric to do their dirty work.

"Are you sure it was John you talked to on the phone?" Isabella asked.

Eric shook his head. "It was a woman who called, but the number was definitely John's." Isabella's mind immediately went to Bianca, the only person who would have access to John's phone.

'Bianca must've known I'd hit up Eric for money, so she got to him first. That witch, I'll deal with her eventually.' A flash of anger crossed Isabella's face. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Thinking it was one of his guys, Eric yelled, "Help, help me! I've been kidnapped, hurry!"

Panicking, Isabella tried to cover Eric's mouth, but the noise outside the door suddenly stopped.

The next moment, the door swung open. Michael walked in.

Isabella let out a sigh of relief seeing it was Michael.

Eric, not recognizing Michael, thought he was hotel staff and shouted again, "Quick, save me! This woman wants to zap me with a stun gun. I'll pay you a lot of money!"

Michael ignored Eric and turned to Isabella, looking concerned. "Are you hurt?"

Isabella shook her head.

"Are you nuts? I'm gonna report you to the hotel! Just 'cause she's a woman, you're taking her side? I'm the victim here!" Eric kept yelling from the floor.

Annoyed by Eric's noise, Michael kicked him hard in the mouth. Blood poured from Eric's mouth, and it was clear he lost a few teeth from the kick.

"John hired this moron to mess with you?" Michael questioned John's intelligence again.

Isabella quickly filled Michael in on Bianca using John's phone without permission. By now, Eric realized Isabella and Michael were in on this together.

"Step outside for a bit; I need to have a word with him," Michael said firmly, pushing Isabella out of the room and locking the door.

Now it was just Michael and Eric. Michael turned off the cameras, then walked over and lifted Eric up.

"This bank card has 30 million dollars on it. Later, you're gonna give it to Isabella in your name," Michael said, handing the card to Eric.

Eric was stunned for a moment but thought he got what Michael was trying to do.

"You wanna lend money to Isabella but don't wanna piss off John, so you're using me? No way, I'm not helping you or her." Eric laughed, but his laughter quickly turned into a scream of pain.

Michael coldly twisted one of Eric's fingers.

"Will you help or not?" Michael asked.

In too much pain to respond right away, Eric felt Michael twist his second finger.

"I'll do whatever you say, whatever you say!" Eric screamed, kneeling in front of Michael.

Outside the door, Isabella heard Eric's screams and started to worry about Michael.

"Michael, chill out! This could get really bad. Open the door, now!" Isabella shouted as she pushed the door open.

Inside, Michael had Eric's third finger in his grip, but since Eric had agreed to his demands, he let go.

"Sir, I agreed to your terms. Can I leave now?" Eric asked, trembling.

Eric, scared out of his mind, slowly got up to leave.

"Did I say you could go?" Michael's voice was ice-cold.

Terrified, Eric dropped to his knees again, crying. "I agreed to your terms. What more do you want from me?"

"You dared to mess with my woman. I need to settle this." Michael stepped toward Eric, repeatedly punching him.

The room echoed with Eric's screams.

"Please stop! It's too much! You'll kill me! I know I was wrong. Please, stop!" Eric begged, his cries loud enough to alarm Isabella outside.

Just as Isabella was about to get hotel staff to open the door, it swung open, and Michael walked out, dragging Eric.

Isabella turned away, unable to look at Eric's swollen, bruised face.

With his uninjured hand, Eric shakily handed a bank card to Isabella. "Ms. Taylor, here's the 30 million dollars I prepared for you. Please take it."

Isabella looked puzzled. "You're giving me money? Aren't you scared of John retaliating?"

'Even if John wants to retaliate, it'll take time. But if I don't give you the money, this man might kill me right now,' Eric thought but didn't dare say.

"It's fine, Ms. Taylor. My wife's family is influential; they can protect me," Eric lied.

Isabella touched the recorder in her pocket. She had planned to blackmail Eric with evidence of his affair, but Michael's appearance had derailed everything.

'It's not what I planned, but at least the outcome is the same,' Isabella thought, taking the bank card and putting it in her purse.

Seeing Isabella accept the card, Eric sighed in relief. He looked at Michael, silently asking if he could leave.

Michael gave a slight nod, and Eric, almost crying with relief, bolted out of the hotel.

"Eric might come after you; you need to be careful. You beat him up pretty bad," Isabella said, concerned.

Michael smiled, patted her head, and said, "Don't worry. The camera inside recorded all his criminal plans. If he tries anything, he'll end up in jail."

Seeing Michael had it all figured out, Isabella finally relaxed.