CHAPTER 6: THE RETURN OF ISABELLA BEN

Isabella gazed at the man in front of her, unable to comprehend what he had said. The daughter of Benjamin Ben? Founder of the Ben Conglomerate?

Her mouth opened, but she remained silent. Rather, a barrage of pain, betrayals, and humiliation flashed before her eyes.

She had suffered humiliation, rejection, and ridicule. And now someone was in front of her, saying she was not the person she thought she was?

The man in the black suit watched her struggle inwardly, but he did not panic. He took a small step forward, his voice steady but sympathetic.

"Miss Ben, we understand that this is a lot to take in. However, we have been searching for you for years. Please let us take you to your parents."

Isabella's whole body shook as she took a shaky breath. There was no more strength in her to resist. What remained for her here?

She had no home, no spouse, and no child. Perhaps, for once, fate had chosen to be kind to her if what this man said was accurate.

She gave a weak nod and swallowed hard.

"Take me," she said softly, her voice hoarse from crying.

The men led her to one of the svelte black BMWs without saying another word. The doors closed with a silent finality as soon as she entered.

As soon as the car started up, they left the ashes of her past behind and drove off from the mortuary grounds.

***

The trip was silent. Isabella gripped the hem of her frayed dress with her fingers while she continued to stare out the window. As the car swerved through unfamiliar roads, she hardly paid any attention to her surroundings.

Her mind replayed Wyan's final words to her: "You are not worthy of being my wife. I wish I had never married you."

Did he ever really love her? Or was she merely a pawn in his devious scheme?

She closed her eyes and let out a trembling breath, attempting to ignore the thoughts.

They came to a grand estate, and after what seemed like an eternity, the convoy slowed. As the tall gates opened on their own, the vehicles glided into the expansive compound of the mansion.

She gasped at the sight in front of her.

The enormous mansion had a beautifully manicured garden, a stately fountain in the middle, and elaborate architectural details that exuded wealth and distinction.

The car stopped at the grand entrance, where a line of maids waited expectantly.

Isabella felt warmness rush over her as soon as she stepped outside.

"Welcome home, Miss Ben!" The maids bowed slightly in unison as they greeted. They looked like they had been waiting for her to come back, and their faces were beaming with real joy.

The unexpected show of love overcame her. After years of being treated as though she had no value, she was now being greeted by strangers like royalty.

She blinked rapidly, her throat tightening.

One of the maids came forward with a kind smile. "Miss Ben, please let us take you to your room. You must be completely exhausted."

Isabella took a moment to think, then nodded. She was led by two maids through the mansion's opulent halls.

They finally ushered her into a spacious bedroom. It was roomy and furnished with fine furniture and muted hues. Isabella was too agitated to lie down, even though the bed appeared cozy and inviting.

"We will leave you to rest, Miss Ben," one of the maids said, bowing.

When they left, Isabella sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her hands. Was this really happening?

The door creaked open before she had time to think about it. Her heart pounded as two people entered.

A well-dressed man and woman stood at the doorway, their faces full of emotion.

"Isabella," the woman said, her voice cracking.

Isabella's breath caught in her throat. She was able to identify them without assistance.

"Mother…? "Father...?" she asked, barely above a whisper.

In an instant, the woman rushed forward and tightly hugged Isabella. "My child! We believed we had lost you forever!"

Her father knelt beside them, his voice full of emotion. "We looked for you everywhere. It was a mistake at the hospital. We did not stop looking, Isabella."

Isabella cried, overcome by feelings she was unable to express. For years, she had thought she had no family, but now they were standing right in front of her.

Gently, her father took her hands. "You are no longer alone, Isabella. We are here now."

After she had calmed down, Isabella told of her child's death, the humiliation she had endured at the hands of Sophie and Wyan, and the loneliness she had been left to endure.

Her parents listened silently, their faces growing more serious with each word. After finishing, Isabella inhaled deeply before posing the question that had been bothering her.

"Is Sophie aware of this?"

Her mom gave a headshake. "No, she does not. We wanted to locate you before making any announcements."

Isabella tightened her fists. "Do not inform her, please, Not yet."

Her father's eyes glowed with understanding. "You seek vengeance."

She responded with a firm nod. "I do. I want her to suffer as much as she made me. I want justice for my child."

After exchanging looks, her father put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Then you will get it. We will help you make Sophie and Wyan pay for their actions."

Isabella felt a sense of relief she had not felt in a while. She was no longer powerless. She was no longer alone.

Mr. Ben abruptly rose and walked to a drawer. He took out a folder and handed it to Isabella.

"This is the estate transfer paperwork. All of the Ben family's properties will be in your name going forward. This is to compensate for all your suffering."

Isabella's eyes widened with surprise. "All of it?"

Her father gave a nod. "Every single asset."

Then her mom gave her a black card. "This is for you. Use it to buy whatever you want. Isabella, you deserved it."

Isabella took the papers and card in a panic, holding them close to her chest.

"Thank you," she said softly. She glanced up at her parents. "I want one more thing."

"Anything," her father replied.

"I want to handle all of the Ben family's properties myself."

Her father approved with a smile. "Consider it done."

A spark of power returned to Isabella for the first time in a long time. She was no longer the helpless, degraded person that Sophie and Wyan had destroyed.

She was Isabella Ben. Her fortune had changed!