After thinking it over, Isabella looked at Emily and said, "I want to see him."

Emily nodded and was about to hang up when Isabella's voice stopped her. "Wait, I need to ask you something."

Emily brought the phone back to her ear. "What is it?"

Isabella locked eyes with her. "Tell me, why would Dennis agree to a paternity test with me?"

They both knew the Lane family would never allow anything that could stain their reputation.

Emily just looked at her. "What do you think?"

Isabella gripped the phone so tightly her knuckles went white, then took a shaky breath. "Did Andrew help you? Was it him?"

Dennis Lane had grown up with Kevin Lane, and everyone knew how much Kevin cared about the family name. He would never agree to a paternity test on his own.

So that only left Andrew.

Just the thought of that made Isabella feel like her heart was being crushed, a thousand needles poking at her chest. It hurt so much she could barely breathe.

She had begged Andrew not to take Emily's side. Begged him not to turn against her.

Isabella watched Emily's face, searching for any sign, any small reaction.

There was nothing to hide. Emily finally said, “Yeah. It was him. He convinced Grandpa Kevin to let Dennis do the test."

All the color drained from Isabella's face. Her whole body felt weak, and she nearly dropped the phone.

"Why is he so heartless? Why is he like this to me?"

Emily just looked at her, her expression cold and distant.

Isabella lifted her head, eyes red and shining with tears, anger burning behind them. "Why did I spend five years by his side and he never even looked at me? Am I really that unlovable? Am I so worthless to him? Is that how little I mean?"

“He likes you so much he'd help you just to get at me? He threw away everything I ever felt. He made me look like a joke,” Isabella whispered, her eyes filling with red.

Even after I begged him.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

Emily's voice was calm, almost bored. "You should ask him those questions. Not me."

Isabella wiped her face and clutched the phone, her voice sharp. "Are you happy now, Emily? I was with Andrew Lane for years and he never cared, but you waltz in and suddenly you have his attention. You got what I never could—"

"Isabella," Emily interrupted, "I should remind you, I have a boyfriend now. It isn't Andrew."

Isabella gave a bitter, shaky laugh. Her shoulders trembled. "How funny. I spent years chasing someone you don't even want..."

"Enough."

Emily's voice cut through, calm and final. “Tate Vargas is coming in soon. Is this really how you want him to see you?"

Isabella let the phone fall and buried her face in her hands.

Emily didn't say anything else. She turned and walked away.

Out in the hall, Emily explained everything to the police. They let Tate Vargas go in to see Isabella.

Emily waited outside with Melisa Vargas. Melisa let out a quiet sigh. "Emily, you've done so much for my dad. Thank you."

Emily shook her head. "He's helped me a lot. This is the least I can do for him."

Inside the visitation room, a police officer helped Tate Vargas sit down across from Isabella.

He lifted his tired eyes and looked at her, really looked.

If Emily had been there, she would have noticed that Isabella, besides her face, seemed like a completely different person from just a few minutes ago.