When She Rose From the Ashes (Natalie and Jensen) novel Chapter 561

**TITLE: HereSelf 561**
**CONTENT: 561 I Can’t Love Him**

Baron’s brow knitted together with a hint of concern, though it was quickly masked by his usual stoicism. “Understood. Make sure to send me all the evidence without delay.”

“Of course, Mr. Baron. I already have a team gathering everything we need,” Shauna replied confidently, having anticipated this moment long before she stepped into the room. Her organizational skills were not just a part of her job; they were her lifeline in this cutthroat environment.

Baron offered a brief nod, his mind already racing through the implications of the evidence they were about to receive.

In a nervous rush, James interjected, his voice trembling slightly. “I’ve shared everything I know with you. About the high-seas cruise, I have the ledgers, but the profits aren’t solely mine.” His hands fidgeted, betraying his anxiety.

“Where exactly are those ledgers?” Baron’s sharp gaze swept over James, assessing him like a predator sizing up his prey.

James felt a chill run down his spine, but he steeled himself, summoning the remnants of his courage. “Mr. Baron, I can get you the ledgers… but could you possibly spare my life in return?”

“Are you attempting to negotiate with me?” Baron’s voice dripped with a casual indifference that only heightened James’s fear. The casualness of it was terrifying, a reminder of the power imbalance that hung heavily in the air.

“No, no! That’s not what I meant! I was just—just asking!” James stammered, his heart racing.

Baron leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing. “So, where are the ledgers?”

Ignoring the question, James felt a wave of despair wash over him. It was as if he were standing on the precipice of a great abyss, teetering on the edge of hopelessness. This was nothing short of blatant bullying, and he felt utterly powerless. The thought of defying Baron was laughable; he knew he stood no chance against such a formidable opponent. What could he possibly say that would change anything?

“Can I take you there?” he finally managed to ask, desperation creeping into his voice.

“You really aren’t concerned that I might kill you, are you?” Baron’s tone was deceptively calm, but the underlying threat was palpable.

Baron flexed his arm in a casual motion, and the sight sent James into a panic. “Ah! Please, don’t hit me! I’ll talk! I promise I’ll talk!”

Baron couldn’t hide his disdain for such cowardice.

With a shaky breath, James finally divulged the location of the ledgers, and Baron wasted no time in instructing Shauna to send a team to retrieve them. Realizing they had extracted all the information they could from James, Baron signaled for the lawyer to bring in the documents.

When James caught sight of the lawyer, his expression drained of color. “Mr. Baron, I truly didn’t mean to cross you. I beg you, spare me,” he pleaded, his voice cracking under the weight of his fear.

The towering man before him erupted into tears, his wails echoing throughout the room.

Baron struggled to maintain his composure in the face of such a pitiful display. “Enough! I never claimed I would kill you. Why are you crying? It’s pathetic.”

“You dare to weep? Your son was on the brink of death, and he never shed a single tear. If you didn’t want him, you should have never acknowledged his existence. But to claim him and then mistreat him… calling you an animal is an insult to the term.”

Baron’s contempt for parents who fathered children only to abandon them was palpable, a reflection of his own painful past with his deadbeat father.

James’s shoulders trembled as he succumbed to his grief. What began as quiet sobs soon escalated into heart-wrenching cries of despair.

“What on earth are you crying about? Was I wrong?” Baron felt a headache beginning to form. Why was this grown man crying harder than a child?

James could barely articulate his thoughts through his sobs. Frustrated with the display, Baron decided to wait it out, allowing James to cry until he could regain some semblance of control.

After what felt like an eternity, James finally began to compose himself. He looked up at Baron, his face still streaked with tears. “Mr. Baron, how is my son now? Is he with you? Or has he returned to Beth?”

“Well, well, look at you. You actually care whether he’s alive or dead,” Baron replied with a mocking tone, the sarcasm dripping from his words.

In a moment of desperation, James slapped himself hard across the face, as if trying to awaken some semblance of clarity. “I’m human, too! How could I not love my son? But I can’t love him!”

“I thought that once I had money, I could provide Beth and our son with the best life possible. My boss even assured me I could bring them to live with me, to reunite our family. I was filled with hope… but who could have predicted that once Beth and the child arrived, reality would be so far removed from my dreams!”