The Billionaire’s Regret -Alessa (by Bukolami) novel Chapter 14

**Shadows Beneath the Silent Moon**
**Rising Echoes by Aiden R. Vale**
**Chapter 14**

“Don’t even dare!” Alessa’s voice sliced through the air, firm and unwavering. The moment the words left her lips, her children sensed the shift in the atmosphere, their innocent eyes darting between her and the man before them.

“Mummy, is everything okay?” Aria’s voice was laced with concern, her brow furrowing as she searched her mother’s face for reassurance. Alessa’s expression softened, her lips curving into a smile as she turned to her daughter.

“Of course, baby,” she replied, her tone soothing, a protective instinct igniting within her.

“Do you know him? Is he bothering you?” Aiden interjected, his gaze flitting anxiously between their clasped hands and the imposing figure of Bryan.

“No, of course not,” Alessa quickly reassured, her heart racing as she instinctively pulled her hand away from Bryan’s grasp.

“Who is he?” Aiden pressed, his curiosity piqued, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Bryan’s face. The tension crackled in the air like a live wire, and Bryan found himself equally captivated by Aiden’s fierce protectiveness.

“No one important, come on. Let’s go,” Alessa urged, her voice firm as she attempted to steer her children away from the brewing storm.

Just as she was about to lead her kids away, Bryan’s grip tightened around her wrist, his demeanor shifting as he stepped closer.

“I need to talk to you,” he declared, his tone heavy with a sense of urgency. A shadow passed over his features, an intensity radiating from him that was hard to ignore.

Alessa met his gaze with a fiery glare, unyielding and resolute. The moment Bryan realized that his intimidation tactics were failing, his grip slackened slightly, though he still held on.

A crowd began to gather, the curious eyes of onlookers and reporters snapping pictures, their cameras flashing like lightning. Yet Bryan seemed oblivious to the spectacle he was creating, his sole focus locked onto Alessa.

“You can’t walk away from me, Alessa. I want to talk to you,” he reiterated, his voice laced with authority, a command that felt almost impossible to ignore.

“And I want you to get your fucking hands off me,” Alessa shot back, her voice steady despite the chaos around them. Yet, Bryan remained unmoved, his grip still firm.

“Mummy,” Aria’s worried voice broke through the tension, her small hand clutching her brother’s arm. Alessa’s heart ached at the sight of her children’s distress.

“Don’t walk away from me,” Bryan insisted, his tone hardening, an edge of desperation creeping in.

Alessa glanced around, her instincts screaming at her to protect her children. The eyes of the crowd felt like daggers, and she knew that lashing out would only serve to paint her in a negative light.

“What the fuck, Bryan, let go of her,” Tyler’s voice hissed from behind, his presence a sudden wave of relief. He stepped in closer, urgency in his tone. “You’re causing a scene. Everyone is watching. The reporters are capturing this moment, and when you wake up tomorrow, there’ll be headlines that could ruin everything for you. Let her go.”

After a moment of hesitation, Bryan finally released her, albeit begrudgingly. Alessa shot him a death glare, filled with a mixture of anger and relief, before she swiftly turned to lead her children away.

Bryan exhaled heavily, frustration simmering beneath the surface as he turned his back on the reporters and exited the ballroom with Tyler at his side.

—

Alessa hurriedly exited the ballroom with her children in tow, the throng of reporters hot on their heels, a cacophony of questions swirling around them. But Alessa blocked out their noise, her sole focus on her kids, who looked utterly terrified.

Just in time, her guards appeared, parting the sea of reporters and guiding them towards the car. Once inside, Alessa let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly, her eyes scanning their faces for any signs of distress. They nodded, though their expressions were still shadowed with worry.

“What was that about?” Aiden asked, his voice a mix of confusion and concern. Alessa forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil within.

“They’re just silly reporters. Don’t think about it,” she reassured them, hoping to ease their minds.

As they settled into their seats, Alessa felt a wave of relief wash over her. She wasn’t ready to delve into the details of what had just transpired, not yet.

The chauffeur turned the ignition, and the car began to pull away from the mansion, leaving the chaos behind.

—

“Mr. Hart. He told me to take the cheque back from you,” he repeated, his expression unyielding.

“Wh… what? No… no. He gave me this cheque. He… he told me it’s for me,” Alessa stammered, her grip tightening around the cheque as if it were a lifeline.

“I’m sorry. The call I received was from him; he asked me to take it back,” he replied, his tone final.

“No, he can’t do that to me. He gave this to me, please don’t take it from me. This is all I have now. Bryan is a billionaire; he doesn’t need ten thousand dollars. Please don’t do this,” Alessa pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the guard said again, his tone softening but resolute.

In a moment of panic, Alessa tried to flee with the cheque, but the guard was quick to react, grabbing her and pinning her against the wall with surprising force. Pain shot through her back, and she gasped, tears streaming down her face.

“Please, no,” she whimpered as he forcibly took the cheque from her grasp, letting her go as he raised it in front of her, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

With a swift motion, he began to rip the cheque into pieces, and Alessa’s eyes widened in horror.

“Bryan gave it to me,” she cried, her voice breaking as she fell to her knees, scrambling to gather the shredded remnants of her hopes.

“This is all I have, this is all I have. Bryan gave it to me,” she sobbed, her fingers trembling as she tried to piece the fragments back together, her heart aching with every tear that fell.

“He gave it to me, he did,” she whimpered, her voice barely a whisper as she clutched the torn pieces, desperately trying to make sense of the chaos that had enveloped her life.

“Bryan gave it to me, Bryan gave it to me,” she murmured over and over, her sobs echoing in the empty hallway, a haunting reminder of her shattered dreams.

—

**Chapter 15**
**+25 Bonus**