Chapter 9
Balfour’s heart clenched abruptly, his grip tightening around his phone before he even realized it.
But a second later, as the reality set in, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“What’s the matter? Did she run crying to you now?”
“I told you, unless she apologizes, I’m not lifting a finger to put out those rumors. If she’s got something to say, she can come to me herself. That’s all.”
Without waiting for his mother to reply, Balfour hung up first.
“What did Balfour say? Should we keep looking?” someone asked beside his mother.”
His mother looked utterly baffled, her brows drawn tight in worry. “A plane crash at sea… It’s not likely they’ll find anything now. I’d better call Martha and ask her opinion she is Lynne’s mother, after all. We should respect her wishes.”W
Balfour, meanwhile, had all but forgotten about the gifts as soon as he ended the call. His mind was consumed by the thought that Lynne had actually complained about him
How naive could she be? She knew better than anyone that he never listened to his mother, yet she still tried to use her as leverage. “Balfour, did you hear what I just said?” Cynthia shook his arm gently.
He frowned, barely holding back his irritation, “Yeah, I got it. I’ll make arrangements for us to leave soon.”/
Cynthia’s smile froze in place. “What did you just say?“}
Seeing her stunned expression finally snapped Balfour back to the present. He rubbed his aching temples. “Sorry, Cynthia. I’m just tired. Let’s talk about this later–you should get some rest.”
She watched him for a moment, saw the exhaustion written across his face, and finally let her worries go for the moment. When she didn’t press the issue, Balfour felt a strange sense of relief.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t heard her just now–he knew exactly what Cynthia wanted. She wanted him to divorce Lynne and marry her. She didn’t want to leave Riverside City, didn’t want to be seen as the other woman anymore.”
If it had been before, that look in her eyes would’ve softened his heart instantly. But this time, for reasons he couldn’t quite explain, the thought of telling Lynne he wanted a divorce just filled him with a restless irritation.W
So he changed the subject and pretended not to notice.
When he checked his phone again, there was still no reply from Lynne.”
His expression darkened as he drove home. But when he arrived, he didn’t go in right away. Instead, he stood outside, lighting one cigarette after another.”
Balfour knew exactly how much those photos and videos would hurt Lynne. After everything that happened before, she’d spent countless nights wide awake, needing someone by her side every moment just to get through it.
He hated to admit it, but the memory of Lynne’s despair made him regret what he’d done.W
But then he thought of Cynthia–how she’d been harassed online, insulted, even had her photo doctored to look like an obituary..
His fists clenched as he stared up at the window to Lynne’s bedroom.”
He finally took a step forward and reached for the doorknob–but before he could turn it, his phone started to vibrate.
It was Cynthia calling. He hesitated for a second, then answered. But before he could say a word, chaos erupted on the other end–a man shouting, Cynthia screaming in terror.
“Let go of me! I’m warning you, if you touch me, my boyfriend will make you pay!“}
A man’s voice sneered, “Oh, listen to yourself. You forget who always took care of you growing up? Come here, let me have a little fun, eh7*2
“Get away from me!*%
“Don’t get cocky, little girl You think I’m scared of him? That Mr. Tobin–he’s just the Tobin family’s stepson, nothing more. What’s he compared to Miss Simpson? She promised me five million if I took care of you. So why don’t you stop running?“%
Balfour’s hand tightened around the phone until his knuckles turned white. He hadn’t even gotten a word out before the line went dead.
Fury burning in his chest, Balfour jumped back in his car and sped off toward the hospital.
