Chapter 196

Isabella shot Jasper a calm look. "You know, those three companies are bleeding money under your watch, and you keep throwing cash at them. Why not let me take over?"

Jasper was floored. Sure, the companies were tanking, but why should he hand them over to Isabella? His anger flared, and he felt the urge to put her down.

"Even if these companies are in the red, I'm not giving them to you. It'd look like I'm handing over the family's power to you, a woman. What makes you think you're up to the task?" Jasper wanted to cross his arms defiantly, but with his hands cuffed, he settled for crossing his legs and lifting his chin.

Isabella's eyebrows knitted together. "Got a problem with women?"

Jasper's lips twisted into a sneer. "So what? Gonna sue me for discrimination? Go ahead. I've got nothing left to lose."

Isabella crossed her arms, staring at Jasper's smug face. She sighed. "You got arrested for framing me. If I sign a letter of understanding, you can walk out of here right now."

"No thanks! We don't need your pity! We know what we're doing. Sure, the food sucks and the clothes are ugly, but at least we're safe!" Jasper waved her off.

Jasper wasn't dumb. He knew if he left now, the angry mob outside would tear him apart. He was safest staying put.

Isabella realized she had underestimated Jasper's ruthlessness. But if he thought he could stay safe here forever, he was dreaming.

Isabella crossed her arms, looking at Jasper with a hint of sarcasm. "Dad, I'm just amazed. You managed to bankrupt three companies in under two years. How'd you pull that off?"

Isabella's words made Jasper's eyebrow twitch.

Jasper sneered at Isabella. "What? Trying to rile me up because you can't get the shares? You're wasting your breath. I've heard too many insults to get mad easily. You have no idea how much work I've put into these companies."

Isabella leaned forward, fingers interlaced, taking an aggressive stance. "Is your 'work' transferring all the money to another account so you can live like a king once you're out of here?"

Isabella noticed Jasper's pupils contract and his body stiffen for a moment.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Jasper said coldly, staring at Isabella.

Isabella could tell from Jasper's reaction that she was right; he was indeed secretly moving assets.

"Dad, cut the crap. Remember the 30 million dollars I borrowed for the company? I checked the accounts, and that money's gone. Curious where it went, I hired a private investigator. They found some juicy stuff. Wanna see?" Isabella's lips curled into a smile. She was bluffing; the PI hadn't found anything.

Jasper's throat bobbed, and panic flickered in his eyes.

Isabella stood up and started pacing.

"I've always wanted to take over Grandpa's companies because I knew they'd tank under your management. So, I started digging a while ago. Found some interesting things. John's been pumping money into the company, but the profits are a joke. Even with his help, the numbers don't add up."

Isabella was being honest. When she borrowed that 30 million, she was already gearing up to take over. She had her people in place.

Sweat dotted Jasper's forehead.

"The yearly profits barely covered the employees' salaries, just enough to keep them from quitting. You kept talking about revitalizing the family, but it was all a big joke. That's when I knew you were cooking something up with the company money." Isabella walked behind Jasper, placing her hands on his shoulders.

"Dad, you've been secretly moving the company's money! What's the deal?" Isabella tilted her head, feigning confusion.

She was just missing one key detail: where Jasper had stashed the assets.

Jasper stayed silent while Isabella tapped her forehead thoughtfully and sat back down.

"Dad, you think Mom would rat you out about where you stashed the cash? If she does, you're going down for life, you know. That's a lifetime in the slammer for what you stole." Isabella's smile was sweet, almost saccharine.

Jasper suddenly looked up, glaring at her fiercely.

"Dad, don't give me that look. If you sign the contract, even if I find the money, I won't expose it. That's our deal. What do you say?" Isabella smiled sweetly, just like she used to when she was a kid.

"When did you get so cunning?" Jasper asked, his voice hoarse with tension.

Isabella's eyes softened with a hint of nostalgia. "Probably when I found out about John and Bianca's betrayal. Or maybe it was when you threatened to kill yourselves to force me to marry John. I never thought such crazy stuff, the kind you see in novels and movies, would happen to me. Reality is stranger than fiction."

Isabella laughed bitterly, then looked at Jasper coldly. "So, what's your answer, Dad?"