All Chapters of Too Late to Regret: The Billionaire’s Unwanted Ex: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The Thorne Estate in the Hamptons had been transformed into a crystalline wonderland. Thousands of white orchids hung from the ceiling of a glass marquee built over the crashing waves of the Atlantic.This wasn't just a wedding; it was a coronation.Elara stood in the bridal suite, staring at her reflection. Her gown was a masterpiece of gossamer silk and hand-stitched pearls, but it was the weight of the Thorne Matriarch’s Tiara—a crown of emeralds and diamonds returned to her by the Council—that felt the heaviest."You look like you're preparing for a siege, not a ceremony," Isabella said, leaning against the doorframe. She looked regal in a deep violet gown, though she still held a flask hidden in her clutch."In this family, is there a difference?" Elara asked, her voice soft."No," Isabella admitted. She walked over and placed a hand on Elara’s shoulder. "But you’re the first woman to wear that crown who actually has a heart. Don't let them freeze it, Elara."The CeremonyAs the

The journey to Aethelgard—the Thorne family’s private island off the coast of Newfoundland—was a grueling twelve-hour transit in a muffled military-grade transport plane.When the wheels touched down on the rusted, overgrown runway, the world felt different. There were no skyscrapers, no paparazzi, and most importantly, no signal. The island was a natural Faraday cage, protected by jagged mineral cliffs that scrambled most satellite frequencies."Welcome to the end of the world," Isabella muttered, jumping down from the cargo bay. She took a deep breath of the air, which tasted of salt, pine, and ancient dust.Lucian helped Elara and the kids down. Leo looked around with wide eyes, gripping his father’s hand. "Are there monsters here, Dad?""No, Leo," Lucian said, scanning the dark treeline. "Just us. And the walls."The Manor – 10:00 AMThe Thorne Manor on Aethelgard wasn't a palace; it was a fortress. Built of dark granite and ironwood, it looked more like a lighthouse than a home.

The Ghost-Step cut through the Atlantic swells with a ghostly silence, its electric motor barely a hum against the roar of the freezing wind. Behind them, Aethelgard Manor was a silhouette of jagged stone, now crowned by a flickering orange glow. The fire had reached the upper floors.Lucian’s hands were white-knuckled on the steering yoke. On the small, glowing tactical tablet mounted to the dash, the blue dot labeled ISABELLA had vanished into a gray 'Signal Lost' icon."Lucian, turn the boat around," Elara said, her voice trembling but firm as she wrapped a thermal blanket around the shivering children."I can't," Lucian rasped, his eyes fixed on the darkness ahead. "If I turn back, I'm bringing the Black-Shield strike team right to Leo and Mia. Vanderbilt-Grey isn't the only one on that island.""She’s your sister! She stayed behind so we could get out!""And she’d kill me herself if I let her sacrifice be for nothing!" Lucian roared, the sound echoing off the water. He immediatel

Zurich in January was a city of steel-gray skies and biting winds. Perched on a cliffside overlooking the lake sat the Sanatorium of Silence—a private medical facility owned by the Thorne-D’Amici trust. To the world, it was a luxury retreat for the weary elite. To the Thorne family, it was where you sent "problems" to be erased."Thermal scans show twenty-four guards on the perimeter," Jax whispered, her voice crackling through the encrypted comms. She was positioned on a ridge a kilometer away, peering through a long-range scope. "But these aren't standard Thorne security, Lucian. They’re wearing the D’Amici serpent crest. Full-face respirators. Closed-loop oxygen systems."Lucian, crouched in the shadows of the facility's perimeter wall, cursed under his breath. "They knew we were coming. They’ve neutralized Elara’s aerosol advantage before we even stepped on the grass."Elara adjusted the tactical belt over her sleek black infiltration suit. She wasn't carrying a gun; she was carry

The "Safe House" was a converted clock factory on the outskirts of Zurich, filled with the rhythmic, comforting ticking of a thousand gears. Outside, the Swiss snow fell in thick, silent blankets, masking the heat signatures of the Alchemist team guarding the perimeter.In the center of the room, Elara worked with surgical precision. She had debrided Lucian’s hand and applied a synthetic skin graft she’d developed in her New York lab."You're going to have a scar," Elara whispered, her voice thick with suppressed emotion. "The nerve damage was significant."Lucian looked down at his bandaged hand, then up at Elara. "A scar is just a memory the body refuses to forget. I’ll take a thousand of them if it means Isabella is breathing."Across the room, Isabella lay on a cot, her eyes open but distant. Jax was feeding her broth, the two women sharing a silent understanding of what it meant to be a pawn in a Thorne game."She's coming out of the fog," Isabella croaked, her voice stronger tha