Isabella's mother pressed her lips together, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Ever since Isabella got into trouble, your family has just made things worse. You all rushed to cut ties with her. You really expect me to act like everything's fine?"

Amelia stared at her, stunned. "Mrs. Austin, you can't just accuse me of that. I'm here, aren't I? I came to see Isabella. My brother's even stayed behind in the city for her. Isn't that proof enough?"

At the mention of Andrew, Isabella's mother's patience snapped. "Andrew Lane? He stayed in the city just to help Emily Blair bully my daughter, is that it?"

Amelia shook her head, desperate to make her understand. "That's impossible. My brother would never hurt Isabella. He'd never side with Emily Blair. Mrs. Austin, you've got it wrong."

She truly believed Isabella's mother was just overwhelmed and lashing out. Maybe she thought everyone was out to get them, but Amelia was sure that if she just explained, things would clear up. She quickly walked over and reached for Isabella's mother's arm. "Mrs. Austin, please. You're misunderstanding..."

But Isabella's mother pulled away and stepped back, her voice shaky but determined. "Do you know why Isabella's case went to trial so fast? It's because Andrew betrayed her. He did something behind the scenes, all for Emily Blair. Emily started this whole mess. She found the evidence. She refused to let Isabella go. It was Emily who reported Isabella and got her thrown in jail."

She went on, her voice rising. "Andrew helped Emily, that's why the verdict came down so quickly. And the whole paternity test thing? That was Andrew too. He made Dennis cooperate with the police, and that's how Isabella's real identity was exposed."

Amelia felt numb, like the world had tilted sideways. She just stared at Isabella's mother, unable to speak.

Ethan, who had been hanging back, stepped forward, struggling to believe what he was hearing. "Mrs. Austin, please don't get upset. Let us call around and see what's really going on before we make any judgments.”

Even under Isabella's mother's angry glare, Ethan tried to keep his voice steady. "You've never seen how much my brother hates Emily Blair. I have, plenty of times. I promise you, he would never do this to Isabella. This has to be Emily She's always been crafty. She must have set him up to make everyone think he betrayed Isabella."

His words seemed to strike a nerve. Even through her anger, Isabella's mother hesitated. She realized that everything she'd said was based on her own suspicions. She didn't actually have any proof that Andrew had done those things.

Everyone knew how Andrew felt about Isabella. He hadn't come around lately, but that just meant things were tense between them. It didn't mean he'd turned against her.

She'd been so worried, so angry at everyone, that she couldn't think straight. She'd blamed Andrew without any real evidence.

Now, seeing Amelia and Ethan here, she started to wonder if this visit was a sign from the Lane family. Maybe the family couldn't show up themselves, but now that the rumors had calmed down, they'd sent these two to check in. The way they spoke, the worry in their eyes, it all seemed genuine.

Maybe this was how the Lane family really felt. Maybe Andrew still cared, even after everything.

If the Lane family truly wanted to cut Isabella off, or if Andrew had really wanted to hurt her, there's no way they would have let Amelia and Ethan come.

The Lane family was powerful. If they stepped in, maybe things could actually turn around for Isabella.

Isabella's mother glanced at her husband. Their eyes met for a long moment, and it was like they were thinking the same thing.

She walked over to Amelia and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.