The Billionaire’s Regret -Alessa (by Bukolami) novel Chapter 17

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

“Alright, Bryan. What’s on your mind?” Alessa inquired, her tone a mixture of curiosity and impatience.

Bryan gave a slight nod, his mouth opening as if ready to spill some profound revelation, but to his dismay, he found himself grappling with a sudden speechlessness.

Alessa’s brows arched in a questioning manner, waiting for him to gather his thoughts.

“I… I…” he stumbled over his words, his gaze darting around the room as if searching for inspiration.

Taking a deep breath, he focused on her, letting out a heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of his confusion.

“You are a billionaire,” he finally stated, his voice a blend of awe and disbelief.

“Hmm,” Alessa replied, a simple nod accompanying her acknowledgment.

“How did that happen?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Alessa stared back at him, a shrug escaping her shoulders. Was he genuinely expecting her to lay out the details of her financial empire?

“And you have children,” he added, as if piecing together a puzzle.

“Yes, I do,” she confirmed, her tone unwavering.

With a slight hesitation, Bryan ventured into the territory that had been gnawing at him since their last encounter.

“Are… are they mine?” he stammered, the question hanging in the air like a fragile balloon, ready to pop.

“No, I terminated the pregnancy just as you requested,” Alessa replied, shaking her head with an air of finality.

Instantly, Bryan’s expression morphed into one of bewilderment.

“What? The boy looks just like me,” he protested, disbelief etched across his features.

“Oh, oops! I guess there might have been some residual sperm left in me,” she shot back, her sarcasm cutting through the tension like a knife.

“So, they are mine?” he pressed again, desperation creeping into his voice.

“I will reach out to your company via email soon to discuss a potential partnership. Have a nice day,” Alessa said coolly, turning on her heel and striding away from him.

Bryan let out a heavy breath, running a hand through his tousled hair as he watched her retreating figure, a mix of frustration and confusion swirling within him.

As Alessa exited the company, she was immediately engulfed by a throng of reporters, cameras flashing like fireflies in the night. Questions bombarded her from all directions, each one vying for her attention.

Her security detail sprang into action, shielding her from the chaotic swarm as they guided her towards her waiting car.

“Alessa!” a voice called out repeatedly, cutting through the noise of the crowd as she attempted to navigate through the throng.

“Alessa, it’s me!” the voice persisted, growing closer.

“It’s me, your mother,” it finally announced, and Alessa halted, turning to see her stepmother, Tina, struggling against the guards who were trying to keep her at bay.

“Let me through! I am her mother!” Tina shouted, her frustration palpable as she attempted to push past one of the guards.

“What exactly do you want?” Alessa demanded again, her patience wearing thin.

“I… We need your help. Your father is facing bankruptcy. We need you to talk to the Harts about partnering with them on their new project, Aurora. It’s a massive opportunity that could really turn things around for us,” she pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation.

Alessa stared at her stepmother, silence stretching between them as she processed the request.

Without uttering a word, Alessa turned and climbed into her car, her guards following suit as they prepared to drive away, leaving Tina standing there, stunned and humiliated.

The reporters immediately swarmed around Tina, their questions flooding the air like a cacophony.

“What just happened, ma’am?”

“Are you not on good terms with your daughter?”

“Did she just ignore you?”

“What’s the issue? Are you having problems with the Harts?”

The barrage of inquiries left Tina feeling cornered. She plastered on a fake smile, lifting her chin to face the cameras.

“Thank you for your questions, but no comments,” she managed to say before hastily retreating to her car, her heart racing as she tried to conjure a suitable response to save face.

Meanwhile, Alessa stepped into her home, a smile gracing her lips, though it felt oddly misplaced in the silence that enveloped her. The living room was eerily empty, a stark contrast to the usual chaos her children brought.

As she stood there, a sense of unease settled in her chest, the quiet amplifying her thoughts. What was it that her stepmother really wanted? And why did it feel like shadows were creeping back into her life, just as the silent moon rose outside?