Chapter 48
“Laura…” Matt repeated my name, his voice dripping with disdain as if even the memory of me was something too filthy to acknowledge. He let out a low chuckle, leaning back lazily in his seat before tossing out a number. “Eight million.“”
Brian clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, barely holding back his anger.”
“Where were you when she needed you the most? She reached out to you.“}
Matt scoffed, eyes glinting with disdain. “Oh, now that I finally have power, she finally remembers? I thought Miss Foster was far too noble to talk to someone like me. Guess she wasn’t as innocent as we all thought, huh?”
“Watch your mouth!” Brian shouted.
To Matt, Brian’s rage was nothing more than a kitten baring its claws. He barely spared him a glance before coolly upping the offer.
“Ten million.“&
“If Laura knew what kind of person you’ve become, she would’ve swallowed her pain rather than ever reaching out to you,” Brian said through gritted teeth.
“Still not enough? Two hundred million.“”
“She would never-“}
“Enough!” Matt’s expression turned ice–cold in an instant. “Just because I’m letting you talk, you think you can do whatever you want? Don’t forget, I have my limits too, Brian. And if you don’t tell me where she is–if I find her first–I swear, I will make her life a living hell.“”
I believed him. Matt never let a grudge go unpaid.”
The two men locked eyes in a tense standoff. Just then, my father started gesturing frantically, his hands trembling as he held up three fingers–thirty thousand.
Matt got up and strode toward him, towering over his hunched figure. My father clasped his hands together, bowing repeatedly with a servile grin. The same man who once valued his dignity more than his life was now reduced to begging Matt for mercy.[
He–Gray Foster–had truly fallen from grace.
Matt placed a heavy hand on my father’s shoulder. “The once–mighty Gray Foster–now living lower than a dog.“”
With that, Matt shoved him down hard. My father, already weak, collapsed onto his knees with a dull thud. Yet, he still forced a smile, holding up those same three fingers.
wife.”
“I already told you, if you want money, let Laura come to me and beg for it herself.“”
Brian moved to help my father up, but the bodyguards pinned him down before he could reach him.
“Matt, don’t you dare! If you have a problem, take it out on me. What do you gain from tormenting an old man?“}
Matt ignored Brian’s struggles, turning his sharp gaze back to my father. “You said your wife is sick?”
My father’s eyes lit up, nodding eagerly, mistaking Matt’s words for an act of kindness.
“Then I’ll give you ten minutes. If I don’t see her in ten minutes, I can promise you no hospital in Baythorn will treat your
My father’s face went pale as panic overtook him. He burst into tears, desperate.
“Understand?” Matt, however, simply patted his cheek lightly.”
At last, my father broke down completely, sobbing as he shakily signed: Laura is dead.”
But of course, Matt would never understand.
Brian finally wrenched free from the guards‘ grasp and ran to my father. “Why are you doing this? Laura owed you nothing. Why can’t you just let go and move on?“}
For a moment, I wondered if it was just my imagination, but the second Brian said I had moved on, Matt’s expression darkened instantly.
“You think I can just let go?” His voice was dangerously low. “She was the one who threw me away first. I swallowed my pride and begged her, but what did she do? She didn’t even look back–too busy chasing after you, wasn’t she? I just want to see how miserable she’s been these past three years.“”
Brian’s eyes reddened as he lifted his head. “You just want her to admit she was wrong, don’t you? But she never will. If you have any decency left in you, give Mr. Foster the money.“”
“I’ll say this one last time–bring Laura to me. Let her beg, let her grovel. The more pathetic she looks, the more I’ll pay.“”
“Three years,” Brian whispered, his voice trembling. “For three years, she lay bedridden in a hospital, suffering until she
died in agony Not once did she forest
name she prayed for.“”
Brian let out a shaky breath, his eyes burning with grief and anger.”
“But what did you do? You ignored every call. You turned away from her, shutting her out with nothing but cruel, heartless words–humiliate her even in death.“”
C
11:42 PM
“What?“”
