Chapter 22
His eyes brimmed with sincerity, but it did nothing to move Martha, who was already at her wits‘ end with him.§
“Don’t start with me. I’ve never liked you, not since you were a kid–always scheming, always calculating. You know perfectly well that the whole Tobin family sees you as a thorn in their side, and yet you still cling to Lynne. Back when her father and I were barely speaking, you wormed your way in and took advantage of the chaos!“>
Balfour pressed his lips together, his gaze resolute. “I won’t leave until I see Lynne.“}
“Then you can wait here all you want!”
Martha slammed the door with a resounding bang.
Balfour’s face remained drawn and tense, not relaxing for a second.”
When Lynne returned home, Whitfield was with her. Noticing she was cold, Whitfield shrugged out of his own coat and draped it over her shoulders.
The next instant, Balfour stormed toward them.
“Get your filthy hands off her!”
But before he could get close to Lynne, Whitfield stepped between them, blocking his path.
Lynne, he’s only here for the Tobin family’s sake. Trust me, you need to come with me. I’m the only one who won’t hurt you!”
Lynne couldn’t help but find his desperation almost comical.
After all, every scar she carried was thanks to Balfour, yet he still had the nerve to claim he’d never hurt her.
Whitfield let out a laugh at that.
“Really, cousin? Have you no shame at all?”
Balfour’s face darkened, his words growing harsher. “Whitfield, the Tobin family doesn’t even acknowledge you. If you’re trying to use Lynne, don’t blame me for what happens next.“}
As he spoke, he reached for Lynne’s wrist.
She jerked away before he could touch her.
Balfour’s hand froze in mid–air, and his face drained of color.
“Lynne, please, I have so much I need to say to you-”
She looked up at him, her voice steady. “But I have nothing to say to you, Balfour. I didn’t fake my death out of jealousy, or because of those videos. I made that decision a long time ago.“”
“Balfour, I don’t love you anymore. Do you understand?“}
Balfour didn’t understand. The woman who’d always followed at his heels, who’d once looked at him like he hung the moon–how could she suddenly not love him anymore?}
He refused to give up, camping out beneath the Simpson family’s townhouse, until Martha finally called the police to have him removed.
Lynne had to visit the gallery often, and Whitfield couldn’t always be there to accompany her. Not wanting to risk losing her again, he stationed his own people outside the doors, posting a sign that read: “No Dogs or Balfour Allowed.”
Meanwhile, across the ocean, Gentry–beaten half to death by Balfour–was dumped at his own front door. The Tobin family elders were furious, demanding Balfour’s return.”
Saul called, again and again. With no way out, Balfour was forced to return home and deal with the mess.
Before leaving, he sent a letter to Lynne’s studio.
When Lynne saw his name on the envelope, she told her assistant to toss it in the trash.
Later, when her phone buzzed, she glanced at the caller ID and picked up.
The fish has bitten. Time to make our move.”
The people and the deeds from back then–she wouldn’t let a single one off the hook.!!
Gentry, after years of hiding, had finally decided he’d run enough.
Back in his home country, Balfour was overwhelmed, scrambling to clean up the Tobin family’s disasters while also trying to fend off the traps Whitfield had set for him during his absence.
Meanwhile, Lynne had gathered every piece of evidence and handed it all over to the police.
That night, the Tobin family was thrown into chaos.\
10.55
Chapter 22
“Big brother, I don’t care what you say, he’s my only son!”
“If he dies, I die with him! I swear, I’ll throw myself at your doorstep and let’s see how your precious son handles ha ng blood on his hands–let’s see what he does to us!”
Balfour’s mother glared at the woman kneeling before Saul, her face grim.
She quietly slipped away to make a phone call.
But when Balfour saw her number pop up, he hung up immediately.
He’d already let Gentry off the hook once for his mother’s sake.
That single time had been enough to haunt him for the rest of his life.
10 55
