Chapter 9

In the days that followed, Tessa was reassigned once again.

She no longer had to drink with guests in the private rooms. Instead, she spent her days cleaning hallways and scrubbing toilets. Nearly every filthy, exhausting task fell to her, but no man dared come near her anymore.

Remembering Beckett's warning, Tessa was too afraid to even look at another man. Whenever she passed one in the hallway, she made sure to stay at least ten feet away.

She'd thought that as long as she obeyed Beckett, Ollie would be safe.

But one evening, her phone suddenly rang. It was a call from the only unfamiliar number saved in her contacts.

It was Marla Rhodes, the only person who'd ever shown her kindness in prison.

Marla had been released from prison before Tessa. Afraid Beckett would want her son gone, Tessa had secretly entrusted Ollie to her that very day, asking her to take him away and raise him.

Now that Marla was calling, something must have happened to Ollie.

Tessa answered immediately, only to hear Marla sobbing on the other end.

"Tess, Ollie's heart condition has taken a sudden turn for the worse! The doctors say he needs surgery, and it'll cost $150,000. We had three days to come up with the money, and today's the deadline! I just can't raise that much!"

The news hit Tessa like a bombshell.

She'd known since Ollie's birth that he had a heart condition. But during the years he'd spent in prison with her, he'd rarely had an episode. She'd never imagined a crisis would come so suddenly.

Tessa burst into tears, overwhelmed by anguish and at a loss for what to do.

No. No!

Nothing could happen to her Ollie!

But $150,000!

The sheer amount threatened to crush her. Where could she possibly find that kind of money?

Then a thought struck her. She rushed out in a frenzy, searching until she finally found Beckett at his private pool.

He'd just finished swimming. A white bathrobe hung loosely around him, its belt tied casually at his waist, offering glimpses of his toned physique.

The moment he saw Tessa, he frowned. "Who let you in here? Get out!"

But this time, Tessa didn't shrink back as she usually did. She strode straight up to him. "Ollie's heart condition has gotten worse. You knew, didn't you?"

Beckett frowned, apparently surprised that she'd found out.

"So what if I did?" he replied coldly.

So he knew!

Tessa closed her eyes in despair. If Marla hadn't called her today, Beckett never would have told her. He would've simply stood by and watched Ollie die!

Tears poured down her face as she dropped to her knees before him. "Mr. Lockridge, please! Save Ollie!"

She pleaded silently, "Please. Save our child!"

Beckett let out a mocking laugh, as though she'd just told him a joke.

"Tessa, you killed Josie. What makes you think I'd ever help you save that bastard?"

"I killed Josephine! I'll pay for it with my life!

"I'll do anything you want! Jump off a building, drink with those men, anything! Just please save my son!"

She was so frantic and grief-stricken that she could barely string a sentence together. Numb with grief, she kept knocking her forehead against the floor, desperately begging him to save her son.

Nothing else mattered anymore.

Her dignity, the truth, even clearing her name meant nothing compared to Ollie's life.

As Beckett watched small spots of blood appear on her forehead, his chest tightened for reasons he couldn't explain.

No.

He shouldn't feel even the slightest pity for a woman as cruel and heartless as she was.

He turned away, refusing to look at her again. "I might be willing to help."

He walked over to the intercom, pressed the button, and gave a few instructions.

Before long, attendants arrived carrying a basket of broken glass and dumped its contents into the pool.

Then Beckett spoke, his voice icy.

"Get in the pool and pick up all 999 pieces of glass. Do that, and maybe I'll consider helping you."