All Chapters of Too Late, Mr. Billionaire : Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Anyta"Evidence?" I asked again. I spoke softly, but a light of hope flickered for an instant in me. "How? They promised to monitor me. They promised to know if I was lying."Clay's lips curled into a line. "Then we make them watch. We give them the show. But we make sure that it is a show that destroys them. We make them show their hands. We make them show that they are the ones who hurt Teddy. We show them to the world.""How expose them?" My mind raced. Exposing Leonard and Siena seemed unthinkable. They had money, power. They could cover anything up. But maybe—maybe they had arrogance too. Maybe they would do what they wanted and believe they were safe."We will make use of people who can stand in the light," Clay had explained. "Reporters. A private investigator. Somebody who can get us evidence without tipping them off. We find where they meet. We find receipts. We get names. We trace calls. We find the men who kidnapped Teddy, and not just their faces but their employers."My h

AnytaHe had been drinking. He had spent the day at work in meetings. His body tired out. He was not as strong as he seemed. Deep creases now lined his face since we had last lived together in a house. I watched him breathe. Each breath became slower. His eyelids began to droop. His hands dangled at his side. He let out a deep breath and sucked in the air, and his breath became slower still.It was not drugs. It was not lying with medicine. It was the weariness of a man who had followed his own heart and found only his own face. He slept in my arms, understandably and quietly. He slept soundly like a child after work all day.My chest hurt so badly I was unable to breathe. The shame pressed against my ribcage. I recalled Teddy and how he might be in some cold room somewhere. I recalled his hair and his laugh. I recalled that small hand that had pressed my cheek once. All these things made me into a small stone of purpose.I reached into the pocket of my coat and removed my phone. My h

AnytaThe morning sunlight streamed through my window. Teddy was still asleep beside me, his little hand clenched in mine. I brushed his hair back and kissed his forehead softly. For a night, I had peace. For a night, I had my son safe.But the knock on the door shattered it.It wasn't soft. It wasn't welcoming. It was firm, hard, and demanding.I sat up fast, pushing Teddy beneath the blanket once again. My heart was racing in my chest. I could have sworn I knew who it was even before I opened the door.Everett. It had to be him.He was looming in the doorway, his jaw clenched, his eyes ice cold. He didn't even greet me. He just walked past me into the living room like he owned the place."Everett," I whispered, closing the door behind him.He turned around, his voice cold. "What have you done?"I blinked. "What are you talking about?""You know exactly what I am talking about," he shouted. "Siena. Leonard. Why are they in police custody? Why did you arrest them?"I folded my arms ac

AnytaI attempted to smile. "No. Just tired."Grandma Jo waited for a very long time, her sharp eyes seeing so much farther than I wanted she had seen. She didn't pressure it, though. She reached out and grabbed Teddy, who had just entered, waking up his sleepy eyes from his nap. She pulled him onto her lap and kissed his forehead."Then rest, child," she said softly. "Don't carry everything on your own. You've done enough."I relaxed back, letting her words sink in, but the burden within me never went away.The room was filled with the smell of stew, and Teddy's gentle humming pierced the silence. For a brief period, it seemed safe and normal.And then the TV in the corner flickered to life. I hadn't even realized it had been turned on, quietly running in the background. A stark red title flashed across the screen.BREAKING NEWS: ASHBOURNE EMPIRE HEIRS ARRESTED IN SCANDAL.I gasped.Grandma Jo's head whipped towards the screen. Her fingers closed harder around Teddy. "What… what is t