All Chapters of Too Late, Mr. Billionaire : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

AnytaThe nights in the Ashbourne mansion were too quiet. The tall walls, the gleaming chandeliers, the polished floors—there was nothing to complain about, but to me, it was like being in prison. Even when I lay on the pillow with my head, sleep seemed to be far from me.I couldn't help but remember Grandma Jo's soft voice the day she talked to me. She had told me not to let pain consume me. She told me I was still worthy, that I was still strong. And for a while, those words comforted me. They strengthened me.But courage was different from peace.The mansion was grand, I suppose, but it was also toxic.Every corner was filled with memories of betrayal, of tears, of the years lost to me. Everett's presence surrounded me everywhere—even when he was not present.In the mornings, I would sit with Grandma Jo. She would make me tea, smile at me kindly, and talk about small things like the garden or the neighbors. She acted as if nothing had ever been wrong. She wanted me to believe that

SienaThe sound of the auction echoed in my ears long after we had vacated the golden hall. I went from beaming with excitement to looking awkward in a split second.Anyta had stolen the show—the whispers, the flashing lights. No one seemed to notice me at that moment, no one threw a second glance at the woman in red on Everett's arm.I wanted to scream in the car as we drove back to the mansion. Everett sat beside me, his jaw sharp and tight, his eyes gazing through the window. His hand clutched the glass of whiskey he'd picked from the bar when we left. He barely spoke since he took Anyta aside for that private talk.I hated her. I hated her with every breath in my body. But most of all, I hated him—my husband's brother, the one I had jumped into because Leonard was so broken, so crippled in that wheelchair, so addicted to drowning in his own sorrows. Everett had been my safe haven. Or so I thought.As the car stopped, I dashed in, my heels clicking on the marble floors. The house w

AnytaThe knock on the door echoed around the house like thunder. It was not the soft, nervous kind of knock that neighbors used whenever they needed something. It was firm and unrelenting —like one who had come with firm purpose, one who would not leave until the door was opened.I froze, still holding the curtain in my hand. Clay's head turned towards the door, his jaw tightening as though he expected trouble.We simply didn't move for a moment. The silence held long enough for the knock to ring again, even louder.My chest pounded slowly. "Who could that be?" I whispered.Clay remained behind in silence. He moved forward, his shoulders set like a warrior going into battle. "Stay behind me," he ordered bluntly. "Don't open the door until we find out who's on the other side.".I wanted to laugh at his protectiveness, but I couldn't. My body was too tense, my palms too sweaty. After all that had happened—after the lies in the media, the flash of camera lights on my doorstep—I had lear

AnytaEverett's voice rose higher, raw and sharp. "Do you think I wouldn't have wanted him? Do you think I wouldn't have been here if I had known?"I stepped forward, rage burning. "You weren't interested to know! You just wanted the Ashbourne name, your pride, Siena and her demons. You let them push me out like trash, and you remained there. That was your choice. That's when you lost us."His teeth were clenched, his fists bunched at his waist. For a moment, I thought he would break something, the way his chest was pounding with rage."You think you can erase me?" he snarled. "You think you can cut me out of his life like I never was?""You weren't there," I snapped back. "Not when I needed you. Not when he needed you. Don't even bother trying to rewrite history, Everett. You can't change the facts with your anger."He moved in a step closer, his gaze fiery. "He is my son, Anyta. Nothing you can say will ever make him otherwise."I stood firm, despite the trembling of my legs. "You d

AnytaI had left grandma Jo's house earlier than expected. I dashed home, hoping to get a solution as quickly as possible.But as soon as I walked in, a knock came on the door, heavy and persistent.I swung open the front door using my shaky hands. The night wind slapped my face, but the cold did not penetrate the fire within. I'd driven like a woman with nothing to lose. I'd entered a darkness I did not want to see. I'd agreed to something that sickened me.When the door creaked open, Clay stood there. He had come like a storm—coat thrown back, face rough, eyes burning with something I hadn't seen in a long time: disappointment.For a second I could only stand and stare at him. I had not meant for anyone to know. I had wanted to take the shame alone. I had thought that silence would protect Teddy. But Grandma Jo had told him about it.Clay's jaw was tight, anger seething through his eyes."Anyta," he said, his voice low. "What happened?"My lips opened, then closed. My throat was clo