All Chapters of TOO LATE TO WANT ME BACK : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Alice Three months had passed in a clean, clockwork transition since the street collision with Vaylen.The reflection staring back at me from the massive vanity mirror belonged to a different version of the woman who had run across an ocean. I kept my palm flat against my lower stomach, my fingers tracing the clear, rounded bump of motherhood that now altered my silhouette beneath the silk of my nightgown. Twenty-four weeks. Six months of a secret life growing larger inside me, completely hidden from the predatory tracking lines of the board and the family. I let out a slow, heavy breath, my jaw setting as I mentally reviewed the relentless, rigid reality of the last ninety days under Gerald Hawthorne’s strict directives. My life had become a mechanical execution of his rules. Every week, the schedule reset with a suffocating precision: clearing the estate gates exactly once to visit the Laurent Group executive office, enduring his mandatory, high-security presence during every sin

Alice The silence of the bedroom was broken by the quiet hum of the estate's climate control system. The clock on the console flashed exactly 3:00 AM. I woke up slowly, the space warm and heavily secured against the pitch-black night outside. I immediately noticed Gerald Hawthorne's protective hand resting flat across my waist. It was a steady habit born from twenty long months of midnight security co-sleeping inside this wing, a routine that had started the exact night of my breakdown when I begged him to stay in my room. Turning my head slowly in the dim, golden glow of the nightlight, my eyes traced the space between us to check on Diamond. The sixteen-month-old toddler was sleeping soundly between the covers, her small, soft fingers clinging tightly to the black silk fabric of Gerald’s robe, her small frame completely at peace. Diamond carried Vaylen Morgan’s exact, striking dark eyes when she was awake, but in this quiet state, she looked entirely like a Hawthorne heir, ancho

VAYLEN "Hargrove officially terminated its agreement with Meridian this morning." Marcus closed the final report and slid it onto the growing stack of completed files.No one celebrated. Not because it wasn't a victory.Inside CARINE LTD, success wasn't treated as something extraordinary. It was expected.Priya pushed another file across the conference table."The board has requested another meeting next week.""They'll get one." I glanced toward my assistant. "Schedule it.""Already working on it, sir."Deen slid a thick folder toward me."Every unresolved case involving Meridian over the last five years."I didn't bother opening it. If Deen said it was complete, then it was complete.My gaze moved around the room, lingering briefly on each member of the team. Weeks ago, I had assigned every one of them a task. Today, every assignment had been completed.Finally, my attention settled on Marcus."Send our proposals to the meridian group.""Yes, sir."A brief silence settled over the

ALICE Lisa appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron."Lunch is ready, Ma'am."I lifted the glass beside me and took a long drink, trying to wash away the bitter taste of the medication. The water helped, but not by much. Across from me, Julius watched until I lowered the glass."I'll eat later," I told Lisa.The look he gave me was immediate."You need to eat before taking your next medication.""I'm really not hungry."As usual, my opinion seemed to have very little influence on him."Serve it anyway," he said, turning to Lisa.A few minutes later, the dining table was set.Before I could protest again, Julius was already helping me into a chair. Once he was satisfied I was comfortable, he took the seat opposite me.The aroma of freshly prepared soup and steamed rice drifted through the room, rich and inviting. Normally, it would have been enough to make my stomach growl. Today, I felt nothing.He seemed to notice immediately."You only need a few bites."My gaze dropp

VAYLEN The desk lamp threw a low, warm circle across the surface of my desk. Beyond the window, the city had settled into its nighttime rhythm.My phone lit up and I reached for it immediately.(Okay…)A second later, three dots appeared, then another message followed.(Tomorrow works. Pick me up at seven.)I read it once, then again, lingering over the words longer than I needed to before finally setting the phone down. Something in my chest eased as I typed back.(I'll be there.)The document open on my laptop was exactly where I'd left it nearly an hour ago. I hadn't written a single word.A faint breath escaped me as I closed it. For the first time all evening, I wasn't staring at my phone.I finished what was left in my glass, then I switched off the lamp and finally called it a night.—I arrived at Jenny's building at exactly seven the following evening.She appeared a few minutes later, stepping out of the entrance in a dark coat with her bag hanging from one shoulder.I wait