Too Late, Mr. Cooper: Your Bride Ran with Your Baby novel Chapter 66

Linton's eyes were deep as the night, glinting with a fierce, dangerous possessiveness. He repeated the words to himself in a low, intense murmur, his cool tone unyielding and stubborn. "For the rest of our lives…"

"I can never let go."

…

*Ring, ring, ring.*

The shrill sound of an alarm cut through the dark, lonely bedroom.

Linton’s eyes flew open. He gasped for air, his pale skin slick with cold sweat. His chest heaved as he threw a hand over his damp forehead. He squinted his sharp, narrow eyes and, after a moment, let out a cold snort.

"Tch."

He rarely dreamed. To dream of the days before Old Mr. Hart’s death was unusual. Linton took a few moments to steady his breathing, then casually picked up his phone to check the time.

Eleven-thirty. Half an hour until midnight.

Linton remembered Liliana's defiant face at the Cooper manor that afternoon. *"I am posting a statement online, announcing the end of our engagement. This is not up for discussion."*

"…Ha."

A cold, vicious smile twisted Linton’s lips. He gripped his phone, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the time, muttering to himself in a low, cool voice.

"Liliana, you want to call this off and get rid of me?"

"In your dreams!"

"You can't leave me."

He repeated it over and over, whether to convince himself or for some other reason, he didn't know. A terrifying panic was rising in his chest, and the hand holding his phone trembled uncontrollably.

Ten minutes until midnight.

Linton knew his little girl. Liliana had a fiery spirit; her word was her bond. If she said she would post a statement, she would do it at the stroke of midnight.

He clenched his jaw, a vein throbbing at his temple as he desperately tried to suppress the roiling emotions inside him.

He fought it, and fought it.

【POST FAILED.】

【POST FAILED.】

【POST FAILED.】

"…"

Liliana collapsed back against her pillows, phone clutched in her hand, her eyes wide and vacant. Her pale lips trembled. Her eyes suddenly reddened, welling with unshed tears, as she stubbornly opened her other social media apps.

【POST FAILED.】

She switched to another app, and tried again.

Still, 【POST FAILED.】

Liliana stared at the bold words on the screen, and it finally dawned on her. All of her social media accounts had been systematically locked.