Tate couldn't help but feel guilty for Isabella, his voice soft as he tried to comfort her. "Isabella, Emily isn't like that. Please don't say things you don't mean.”

Isabella's eyes were red and shining with tears. "No, I won't stop. I mean it."

Tate hesitated, sadness heavy in his gaze. "Isabella, don't be scared. I promised I'd stay by your side, no matter what. I know a few top lawyers. Let me bring them in to defend you. If you show a little remorse, maybe the judge will go easier on you. What do you think?"

Isabella shook her head over and over. “No, I can't go to jail. If I do, everything I care about will be gone."

She leaned toward the glass divider, pressing her palm against it as if she wished she could reach him. Her voice was desperate. "Dad, I really can't go to jail. Please help me, please. We just found each other again. Don't let me lose everything, not now."

Tate turned away, letting out a long, heavy sigh. “What can I do, Isabella? The evidence is all there. There's nothing left to try."

Isabella nodded frantically. "There is, Dad, there really is. Go talk to Emily Blair. She knows Rose Ward. Ask her to talk to Rose, get her to write a letter of forgiveness. We can settle with them privately. I'll pay whatever they want. It's not hard, Dad, really. Just ask Emily, she can do it."

Tate shook his head, his voice low. "Isabella, we can't do that. If you made a mistake, you need to own up to it..."

The hope in Isabella's eyes faded completely. She bit down hard on her lip. "Why won't you help me, too?"

Tate couldn't even look at her. He sounded older than ever. "Isabella, I..."

Isabella set the phone back on its hook and turned away without another word.

Tate looked up just in time to see her storm off, her shoulders hunched and her frame looking even thinner than before.

He stayed in his seat, head bowed, as if the weight of everything had made him age ten years in an instant.

When Tate finally left the room, his face was pale and drawn, his steps shaky and uncertain. Melisa saw him and rushed over, her face tight with worry as she grabbed his arm to steady him.

“Dad, what happened in there? Why do you look like this?” she asked, her voice full of concern.

Tate coughed a few times, waved her off, and turned to Emily. "Emily, thank you for everything today. I've done what I needed to do. I'll head home first. You take care.”

Emily studied his expression for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."

On the way home, Melisa drove while Tate sat in the back, eyes closed, leaning against the seat as if he could barely hold himself up.

Melisa checked on him in the mirror. "Dad, are you okay? Did things go badly with Isabella?"

Tate let out a long breath, shaking his head. "Let's not talk about it. Melisa, could you get in touch with Attorney Chen for me?"

Melisa didn't press him. She already knew Attorney Chen handled criminal cases and understood this was for Isabella.

"Okay, I'll call him."

After Melisa and Tate left, Emily and Tristan Davis didn't stay much longer either. They said goodbye to the officers and headed for the exit.

Just as they stepped outside, a black SUV pulled up to the curb. Benjamin Gomez, Isabella's parents, and a well-dressed young man Emily didn't recognize stepped out of the car.

Emily stopped, watching them come her way.

Benjamin and the Austins saw her too. Their faces immediately turned cold.