Ex husband's Plea for Forgiveness novel Chapter 73

"Jonas, this is our baby." Holley had both hands on her belly in a protective gesture. She backed away a few steps, wary of the dark expression on Jonas’s face. She could feel the force of his intent across that small distance.

"I will never acknowledge that child. Get rid of it."

"Jonas, how could you say that? This is your baby!" Holley immediately regretted her sudden outburst. There was a ruthless glint on Jonas’s eyes, and it frightened her.

"One million," Jonas barked each word succinctly. "Get rid of that child."

Holley felt a momentary elation the moment she heard the amount of money that was coming her way. She had initially planned on using her baby as leverage to extort some money.

But then Jonas’s continuous denial and his vehement demands to get an abortion were starting to get to her. It was then that it dawned on her: she wanted both the money and the child.

Besides, if she could get Jonas to accept them, she might even have a shot at becoming his wife. That was all the motivation she needed. "Jonas, this is a human life you want to eliminate!"

"Do you think I care?" A sardonic smile was on his face. If he wanted a child he could always have one with his wife, and no one else.

At that point Holley knew resistance was futile, and no amount of her dramatics would make him change his mind. This was the rumored tyrant, after all, the man whose emotions no one could seem to stir.

"Jonas. Jonas, please, I really want to keep the baby. Please give us a chance, okay? Please? For old times’ sake?" She needed the baby alive if she wanted a trump card in the future.

She started to go down on her knees and knelt her way towards Jonas, begging and crying as she grabbed his hand.

Jonas only slapped her hand away, and shot her a look of utter irritation. It looked like he would forcefully throw her out at any given moment.

"One million," he repeated. "I will personally take care of the arrangements for the abortion. The doctor has to be someone I trust." He moved away from where Holley crouched on the ground.

"You had better accept this proposition, Holley, while I’m still being patient and telling you nicely. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you lose everything you have."

Holley rose and touched her belly, the tears flowing down her face now turning genuine. "Jonas, please." All she could do was beg. She knew Jonas would do exactly as he said. She’d seen him trample on other people to get things done the way he wanted.

She was having seconds now. She truly wanted to keep her baby, not just to use it for whatever greedy plans she might hatch. But at the same time she harbored a great fear at what Jonas might do to her. To say she was regretting ever coming here today would be a gross understatement. Jonas smoothed his shirt from when Holley tried to maul him, and adjusted his collar with cold indifference. "I will give you three days to make a decision. I know you’re not stupid, Holley. I trust you know what choice would be good for you." With that Jonas turned away and called for Gavin. He ordered for Holley to be escorted out of the premises, and returned to the villa to pour himself a stiff drink.

Melinda was at the pavilion at that time, and she saw Holley leaving through the gates. Although she couldn’t see the woman’s face clearly, she got the impression that the model was being sent away.

Melinda remained in the pavilion for a few minutes more, expecting Jonas to come to her. When he didn’t show up after a while, she went looking for him.

She scoured the main villa, but her husband seemed to have shut himself out somewhere. Deciding not to dwell on it, Melinda retired to her own villa.

The moment she opened the door to her foyer, she was assaulted by the pungent smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke. Jonas was sprawled on one of the large chairs in her parlor.

"What do you think you’re doing? If you want to smoke and drink yourself to death, kindly do it somewhere else."

Melinda rushed to the windows and threw them wide open to air the room. Then she walked over and stood in front of her husband, hands on her hips.

"What’s your problem? Are you so glad to see your old lover you’re indulging yourself with your vices?" She was careful to keep her jealousy out of her tone

At that, Jonas finally looked at her. His eyes were hooded and his voice sounded tired. "Do I look glad to you? You must be blind, wife."

"I’m blind all right, to think I fell in love with you," Melinda muttered to herself as she picked up the empty bottle rolling on the floor.

If this was all he finished, then Jonas must not be drunk. He certainly looked the part, though, slumped on the chair with his feet on the coffee table.

"What are you whispering to yourself?" he asked with a frown, his tone a little annoyed.

Melinda rolled her eyes. "Nothing."

He was almost sure it wasn’t "nothing" at all, but he was too tired to press the matter.

He was brooding over how to shut Holley up. He didn’t want anyone to know why she came here today, especially Melinda. He was admittedly worried what she might do if she found out. He had no doubt he’d hate it. Thinking about this possibility only soured his mood even further.

He spent the rest of the afternoon in their villa, and Melinda prepared some tea to revive him from all the alcohol he consumed. They spent their time together in amicable silence, and neither spoke of Holley from that point onward.

Jonas had assigned men to keep an eye on Holley. Once the three-day mark passed and she made no move to have an abortion, he would take drastic measures and make her regret it for the rest of her life.

What he did not anticipate, however, was that Holley contacted the press and leaked the "scandal." She must have been desperate indeed, for her to dare.

The story reached Nelson’s ears through one of his business partners, and it came to him as a shock. He almost had a heart attack on the spot. People rushed over to calm their master, and when he had collected himself, he barked out orders and headed straight to the company.

His appearance in the Soaring Group building caused uproar among the employees, and everyone scurried on his trail as he stormed to the main offices. They knew without asking that something big was about to go down.

Nelson was greeted by William at the reception to Jonas’s office, and the secretary told him his grandson was in the middle of a meeting. Without mincing his words, Nelson ordered the poor secretary to barge into the conference room and halt the meeting.

William scrambled to carry out the task, urgently asking the board members to vacate the room. As soon as it was just Nelson and Jonas left, William shut the door behind him, and joined the rest of the company in a worried fret.

Jonas had been dealing with endless meetings since early that morning, and was yet unaware of the ugly havoc that Holley wreaked in public.