Always Been Yours (Tessa and Nicholas) novel Chapter 71

Chapter 71
Tessa chewed on her lower lip. Of course she didn’t want to stay at Nicholas’ place for the night. After all, that wasn’t her home, but she had nowhere else to go or spend the night as things were.
At last, after a long debate with herself, she nodded and said, “Very well, then. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
That night, she followed Nicholas and Gregory to Dynasty Gardens.
Gregory, in particular, was so happy with how his night had turned out that he did a little dance to celebrate. After his bath, he clung to Tessa like a baby koala and said, “Can I sleep with you tonight, Miss Pretty Lady?”
She gave him a maternal smile and said, “Okay, I’ll sleep in your room tonight then.”
Nicholas did not put a stop to this, which was surprising, but his lips curled unknowingly into a smile as he headed into his study to continue with work.
At the same time, he had Edward look into whatever incident that culminated into Tessa’s injury. She hadn’t said much on this, but Nicholas had a feeling that something had rattled her.
Edward, on the other hand, did not press further as he set himself to work right away. However, he found himself wondering just what Nicholas’ intentions were for Tessa.
Meanwhile, over at the Reinhart Residence, the bodyguards who had been dispatched to Pinnacle Residence to trap Tessa returned without success, which irked Lauren to no end.
She thought about how Tessa had threatened to call the police on them and a shudder went through her. Seized with a sudden ferocity, she knew she could no longer drag things out.
If Tessa really did call the police on us, then that little brat Timothy will escape right under our noses! All the hard work we did will be for nothing! At the thought of this, Lauren immediately revealed her worries to Silas.
Having heard her reasons, he agreed that time was something they could not afford, so they rose and left to see Timothy in the dead of the night.
Timothy was presently being held captive at the old Reinhart Manor, which was heavily guarded by the bodyguards patrolling downstairs.
It didn’t take long for Silas and Lauren to arrive. They had only just stepped through the door when Silas scoffed and asked snidely, “Have you considered our offer yet, you brat?”
Timothy was sitting in the corner of the room with his eyes closed, but when he heard this, he let out a harsh bark of laughter. He didn’t even want to dignify Silas with a response.
At the sight of his defiance, Silas grew incensed and his voice took on a harder edge as he demanded, “Watch your attitude, you punk!”
Lauren, however, hurried to soothe him. “Now, now, honey, why are you getting all riled up for? Leave this to me.” Then, she turned to glare at Timothy as she drawled icily, “Looks like you aren’t too bothered about whether your sister lives or not, Timothy.”
Timothy bristled at this, and his eyes flew open at once. He fixed a cold and baleful look on her as he asked through gritted teeth, “Tessa? What did you do to her?!”
Her chin tipped up at a haughty angle as she cackled. “Oh, I guess there’s something that gets under your skin, after all. I suppose I’ll just come right out and tell you that after your dear sister discovered
you were taken away, she came over to our house to look for you. Unfortunately, a petite girl like her was no match for any of my bodyguards, and now she’s being kept under lock and key. She can scream herself hoarse and no one will come to her help!”
“You two are,” Timothy clenched his jaw, looking belligerent as he growled, “You’re despicable!”
“Despicable?” Lauren repeated in amusement, as if considering the word. “Why, I suppose we are, but what are you going to do about it? I know you care deeply about your sister, Timothy, so I won’t hurt her just yet. If you hand over that software of yours, then maybe I’ll consider letting you go. If you don’t… I guess your sister will just have to be married off for our benefit.”
She rubbed her temple as if the idea of this wore her out. “Our family has a few elite acquaintances, and we know a few rich boy-types who would not hesitate to pay a handsome bridewealth if they find a gorgeous lady they want to marry. That alone would be ample money for us to live off of! So, I suggest you think this over carefully, Timothy. If you don’t give us the software, then I’ll simply pawn off your sister. The Reinharts are in an extremely precarious position right now, and I’m desperate enough to do anything!”
The last part of her speech came off as a vicious threat and Timothy could tell she meant it. A loud, maniacal roar escaped him as he shouted, “You evil witch, Lauren! If you so much as lay a hand on
Tess, I will rip you all to shreds!”