His Regret Arrived Three Days Late novel Chapter 97

"Is that your girlfriend?" Annika asked.

"No."

Tyler would never admit that Belinda Baker was anything more than a hookup. He couldn't bring himself to tell Annika that after he couldn't get in touch with her, he'd gone to a bar to get drunk. Belinda had appeared out of nowhere, and in the dim light, one thing had led to another. After they slept together, Belinda started showing up every day. He'd made it clear he couldn't offer her a future and would never marry her. Belinda claimed she just wanted to have fun, no strings attached.

But he had always used protection… so where did this baby come from?

Overwhelmed, Tyler loosened his tie. He was in no mood to talk to Annika anymore. "I have something urgent to take care of," he said, and then he left.

Outside Scent Haven, a Cayenne was parked in the shadow. Conrad sat inside, smoking, his long, narrow brows knitted tightly together as he watched Tyler emerge from the villa, his eyes cold and sharp.

When Conrad had arrived earlier, he'd recognized Tyler's car parked out front. He'd immediately put his own car in reverse, driven across the street, and parked. After killing the engine, he made a quick call to Belinda. It didn't take long for Tyler to come out. Belinda never disappointed him.

Conrad extinguished his cigarette and started the engine again. The black Cayenne pulled out from the trees and drove through the gates of Scent Haven.

Just as Conrad parked, Nolan called. "Mr. Beryl, Hank borrowed Vincent's helicopter."

Conrad's eyes instantly turned cold, brimming with murderous intent. "I don't want to see that piece of junk of Vincent's ever again."

After Serena's incident, Conrad had been so focused on comforting her that he had neglected Annika. He didn't even know when she had left the hospital. By the time he realized she was gone, he couldn't find her anywhere. He had called her countless times, but his calls either went unanswered or the line was busy.

He had been worried sick. The day after she disappeared, he flew back to Seafall City with Serena.

When he learned Annika was finally back at the Sargent Villa, the knot of anxiety in his chest finally loosened. He knew she would refuse to return to Scent Haven with him, so he had asked his mother to intervene. As expected, his mother didn't let him down.

But he had just learned from Nolan that it was Hank who had brought her back. The news felt like a knife twisting in his gut, a raw, bleeding wound that made his insides clench in pain.