Chapter 18 - No Apology Required
The courtroom was smaller than Khloe expected.
There were no chandeliers, no camera crews, and no audience Isabella could charm with a designer gown.
Isabella stood beside her attorney and admitted to the assault and to submitting false information about the incident.
The judge questioned her to ensure she understood the consequences of her plea.
When she asked to speak to Khloe, the judge looked toward the prosecution.
Khloe had been offered a chance to leave.
She chose to stay.
"I made a terrible mistake," Isabella began.
Khloe felt herself go still.
"No," she said when the judge allowed her to respond. "A mistake is sending a message to the wrong person. You followed me into a hospital suite and hurt me while I was pregnant."
Isabella's face tightened.
"I loved Marcus."
"You wanted him to choose you. That's not the same thing."
The judge ended the exchange and directed everyone to speak through the court.
At sentencing weeks later, Isabella received a custodial sentence and a protective order barring contact with Khloe and her family.
Elaine faced a separate proceeding for her own conduct, and her cooperation did not erase the consequences.
The ongoing financial and computer-access investigations were not resolved by Isabella's plea.
Outside court, reporters pushed toward Khloe.
"Do you forgive her?"
Khloe kept walking.
"I'm going home to my daughter."
For once, that was the only statement anyone got.
Later that afternoon, Willa's NICU nurse called with a different kind of news.
The team had confirmed that Willa was approaching the milestones needed for discharge.
"They're not promising a date yet," the NICU nurse said, "but her doctors think she may be coming home soon."
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Khloe put a hand over her mouth.
She had spent so much time preparing for disaster that she barely knew how to prepare for happiness.
