“I need to go and practice on the piano. I’m hanging up.” Before John could say anything else, Tommy quickly hung up.
The call ended. Loren asked John as he sat across from him, “Your son?”
“What did you come here for?” John put his phone away. The warmth from a moment ago disappeared, replaced by the pressure from a man who was born to be the apex.
Loren could feel the fear gnawing at him. How was this man even more intimidating than his older brother?
“Sir,” Robin said as he bent down and lowered his voice as he played along, “Our client will be here in ten minutes.
TI
John raised his wrist and checked the time.
He was about to tell Loren to leave when Loren spoke first. “Let’s not beat around the bush. I came to ask whether you’re the one behind what happened to the Bell family.”
John looked up. He did not say a word, but the calm look on his face still caused him pressure.
“You didn’t want Sierra’s information to be spread online because she has custody of your son?” Loren asked carefully.
He had no idea what the relationship between John and Sierra was really like. Everyone in their circle said Sierra was the woman John cared about most, but rumors were rumors.
Loren was more inclined to believe John was building an image for himself. After all, the head of Henderson Group seen as a devoted man would mean a positive image.
“Go on,” John said, his tone unreadable.
Loren took the initiative and said, “I can get Sierra to give you custody of your son.”
“Your condition?” John asked.
“Stay out of the King family’s affairs after that,” Loren said.
“You seem confident about your abilities,” John said slowly. His eyes turned cold when it landed on Loren. “What makes you think you can get me custody when I chose not to take it myself?”
Loren chose his words carefully. “Sierra and I are family. As her older cousin, she’ll listen to me at least a little.”
“Do you matter more than her husband?” John asked faintly.
Loren fell silent.
His face stayed calm, but he was already cursing him out inside.
A husband?
By the time John and Sierra got divorced, they had become enemies. Why would an enemy’s words work better than his? Besides, who said getting someone to give up custody had to happen through talking?
“If you have an opinion about that, we can stop the discussion here.” John nodded toward the door. “The door’s right there. See yourself out.”
1/2
+25 Bonus
Loren stared at John with eyes wide with disbelief. If it wasn’t because he was someone born suspicious, he would have started wondering whether John could read minds.
“There are two things you got wrong,” John said. “First, Sierra got custody because I wanted her to. Second, the last name of my son you’re talking about is Bell. He takes after his mother’s last name.”
Loren frowned.
How was that possible?
VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Regrets Come Too Late (Sierra and Johnny)