The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 122

If I could only prove it….

But I was a practical woman. I know obtaining proof took time, and I understood that in the interim, without the boost of Jason’s contracts, I was likely going to have to take a pay cut, if not be straight–up fired.

Realizing this would be a problem with my new agreement with Victor, I reset the phone and called him next. There was no way I would be able to continue the steep payments that had been court ordered.

“This had better be important, Vanessa,” Victor said when he answered. “My shows are on.”

“I want to negotiate,” I told him.

“There’s nothing to negotiate.”

“I won’t be able to make the payment amount for some time. I just need more time to build back up to that amount.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said coolly. “You will keep paying this amount.”

“I just don’t have the money, Victor.”

“I don’t care where you get the money, so long as you get it. Don’t forget the court ordered this, Vanessa. If you don’t provide, I’d be happy to take you back there and have you get reamed out by the judge… again. If you are having trouble at work, marry William, sooner rather than later. He has money.”

“That’s not possible,” I said. “William and I aren’t together in that way anymore.”

“You… aren’t?” Venom dripped from his voice.

“My personal affairs are not your concern.

“}

“Oh, no? Perhaps you are right. But then your sisters might disagree. Even without the court order, don’t forget why those payments are necessary, Vanessa. If you don’t provide the money I desire, then I will take it out of your sisters‘ futures. And they did so want to go to college. Imagine how upset they will be when I tell them they will have to give up their futures to work in dead–end jobs instead. All because their sister hates them.”

“That’s not true,” I said.

“Then prove it,” he said. “Either you get the money from marrying William or some other way, or those girls will suffer. And it will be your fault. Now. What should I tell them?”

He waited for an answer, and the weight of guilt and responsibility pressed down on me. But it wasn’t anything I hadn’t carried

before.

“Don’t tell them anything. Don’t change anything. Don’t go to the courts. I’ll find the money somewhere,” I said. I didn’t know where or how, but I wasn’t going to disappoint Vanessa’s sisters. They deserved good lives. It was one of Vanessa’s final wishes that they be taken care of.

Somehow – I didn’t know how yet – I’d find the money to keep everything afloat.

“Good. Don’t call here again with this drivel. I’m missing my shows.”

“I won’t,” I said, and we hung up.

After that call, I was done for the day, mentally and physically. Tomorrow, I’d figure things out. Today, I just wanted to get back to my daughter.

Yet, as I left the company building and stepped out into the parking lot, I immediately paused, seeing a shadowy figure waiting

near my car.

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Before I could think what to do, that figure stepped into the light.

It was William. And he hatta black eye.

“William? What happened to yon?” I rushed toward him.

He was angry, his hands curled in fists. That anger wasn’t toward me, I could tell, as when he looked at me, his eyes softened. At someone else then. Someone who could have landed a punch so hard that the bruise lingered even with werewolves‘ quick healing.

I knew then, without needing confirmation, that William had stormed out of the hospital and picked a fight with Jason.

“You didn’t,” I said, in disbelief. “Tell me you didn’t start a fight with Jason.”