Chapter 6%
He frowned slightly, eyes scanning the crowd.
Clearly, he was looking for the person who had called him, but with my face hidden, there was no way he could recognize me.> From the medical room, the faint sound of running water continued. My daughter was still inside, being washed clean of paint.”
I bit down hard on my lip, afraid that the moment I let go, the tears would spill.}
Like a showy peacock, Dakota swayed her way over to Paul, every step exaggerated.}
“Paul, why are you here?“}
“Were you worried about me and the boys?“}
Paul’s gaze slid past me, bundled from head to toe, hidden in plain sight, and I watched his shoulders subtly ease.
In that instant, I understood. He hadn’t recognized me at all.”
He frowned. “What happened? Someone bullied the kids?”
“Just some bumpkin who’s never seen the world!“}
Dakota jabbed a finger at me. “Her little brat tried to seduce our sons and even had the nerve to lay hands on them!“} Paul stepped over, eyes cold as they swept across me, like I was nothing more than dirt clinging to his shoes. Without a word, he pulled out a checkbook from his jacket, scribbled a number, and tossed the check at my face.}
“Five hundred thousand. That should be about six months of your salary, right? Don’t push your luck.“}
I looked up and saw nothing in his eyes, no warmth, no recognition. Just pure contempt from the man I’d once shared a bed with for five years.
“What? Still not enough?”
He snorted, tore off another check, and flicked it toward me. “Another hundred thousand. Apologize to my sons and disappear.”}
“Mr. Chalamet is truly generous.”>
I forced my hands to stay steady as I picked up the scattered bills from the ground, one note at a time.
“Your sons tied my daughter to a tree and poured paint on her. How do you plan to make that right?“}
Paul’s face shifted. Annoyance flickered in his eyes as he turned to glare at the twins.
“I told you two to stop stirring up trouble. And now you’ve attracted some clingy woman who won’t let go.”}
“Enough.“>
He pulled out his wallet and peeled off a thick stack of bills.
“Is this enough to cover her medical expenses?“}
The pink notes fluttered in front of me.
I recognized that wallet right away; it was a custom–made gift, the anniversary present I had given him. Now, stuffed with hush money.
“Mr. Chalamet is truly generous.”
He tossed the wad onto the bench like it meant nothing. But all I could think about were those so–called “business trips” over the years, most likely spent with Dakota.}
And now, he dared to enroll all his children in the same school.
I threw the money back at him.}
“I don’t want your money. I want your sons to apologize to my daughter, in public.”
“In your dreams!“}
Dakota shrieked, “Do you even know who my husband is?”
Paul’s face darkened. He yanked out his checkbook once more.
“Final offer, three hundred thousand. Don’t push it.”
Three hundred thousand. Not too much, not too little.
And when added to what he’d already offered, it came out to the exact spending limit I had once allowed him.
I slowly stood up, brushing invisible dust from my knees. I raised my voice deliberately, letting it lilt like I was throwing a tantrum.
“Are you two legally married? Do you have a marriage certificate?”
Both Paul and Dakota froze.
I smiled.”
Of course they didn’t. Paul was my husband. There was no way he could legally marry her.
I waved my phone slowly in the air. “Want me to call the City Hall and check right now?“>
Paul snapped back to his senses, his gaze growing sharp and dangerous.
“What does it matter to you? Miss, let’s stay on topic.“}
“Can that money stand up to scrutiny?“}
“Is it from your company’s account or yours? Will it survive a tax audit?“}
“Who the hell do you think you are?!“}
5000
8:45 PM
*
Dakota suddenly screamed, her voice shrill with fury. “We are the richest in Jacksonville! Who do you think you are to lecture us?!“}
Paul’s face darkened as he waved the principal over.
“Principal Landers, withdraw that child from the school immediately.“}]
“I won’t have my kids mixing with someone from a family like that.”
In less than five minutes, the principal came rushing over, nodding and bowing, a withdrawal form trembling in his hands.
“Ms. Hathaway… please take a look at this…”
I tightened my grip on the voice recorder in my pocket, my fingertips slightly shaking.
If Paul had mastered anything over the years, it was how to crush others under the weight of power.
