Chapter 70: CHAPTER SEVENTY

LORNA’S house was small and shabby. It was not what Cyrel was expecting. Lorna looked hopeful the last time they met.

She was about to knock when she realized the door was ajar.

“Lorna?” she called as she slowly opened it wider.

As soon as she stepped inside the house, she noticed there was barely any furniture. It looked empty or being emptied.

“Lorna?”

Cyrel stopped dead when Lorna appeared from another door, pulling a suitcase, looking like she was evacuating. Lorna was as shocked as she was.

“C-Cyrel… what are you doing here?”

“What about you?” She stared at the luggage and then back at Lorna’s weary face. “What are you doing? Are you leaving? Why weren’t you answering my calls?”

“I was told to leave. I can’t stay here anymore.”

“By whom? By the landlord?”

Lorna bit her lip as tears fell from her eyes. “B-by your dad.”

“What?”

Cyrel’s knees weakened, but fortunately, Ross caught her at once.

“IT WASN’T true that my children are all doing fine. My son Leroi had been in and out of rehab for alcoholism. I was looking after his children. Your dad had planned this a month ago. It was a coincidence that I was working at that fake foundation. He knew I needed money. I didn’t want to betray you, Cyrel. But Christian said no one would find out. That the plan was flawless. Please forgive me, Cyrel…”

They sat across the living room. Lorna was shaking as she sobbed. Cyrel could not still process everything while Ross held her quietly. She knew he was mad, too, but he was not saying anything.

One thing was clear. Christian collaborated with Gertrude Jones and Lorna to commit fraud. They created a fake foundation and took the money from the benefactors.

When Cyrel took a deep breath, she realized she was trembling because of anger and disappointment. Her dad was smart. She knew she would not trust him easily, so he used someone she cared about.

She clenched her fist. It was a mistake to trust her dad. She should have known that a misogynist such as him would never give a damn about women unless he would benefit from it. He was that kind of scum.

When she turned to Ross, tears could not help streaming her face.

She opened her lips to speak, but all that came out was a sob.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.” Ross wrapped his arms around her in an embrace.

No! It’s not okay! It will never be okay!

Cyrel was screaming in her head. Her father stole someone else’s money for selfish reasons. He was desperate to even use other people.

“I WANT to see my father,” Cyrel said in a cold tone.

They were back in the car. Ross was already driving.

“No,” he said.

Cyrel stared at him.

“Not with that state,” Ross added at once.

“Aren’t you mad at him?”

“I am mad at him.” Ross drew a breath, then his jaw clenched. “But you’re emotional right now. We’ll deal with him when you’re calm. We’ll take the legal process, okay?”

Cyrel bit her lip as she leaned helplessly against her seat. She turned her head away and began to sob silently.

“I don’t know how to face your dad, Ross. I felt like I betrayed him, too. He trusted me. What would he feel if he found out about this?”

“Don’t worry about that, okay? You’re a victim, too. I’m sure he’ll understand.”

CYREL stayed in her room when they got home. The more Ross told her to not worry about her father’s crime, the more she felt terrible about herself. How could she not worry about it? How could that be okay?

“You haven’t eaten anything since we got home,” Ross said. “What do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you.”

“I’m not hungry,” she said in a weak voice. She had been lying in bed for hours, wrapped under the blanket.

“That doesn’t mean you should not eat.” Ross sighed. He already looked frustrated.

He sat on the side of the bed.

“I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice and sat up. “I would understand if you get mad at me. I was so stupid.”

“Stop saying that, will you? It’s not your fault.” Ross brushed her hair away from her face. “You have to promise me this. We will face your father together, okay?”

Cyrel stared at Ross’s face. He was still worried about her. He was more concerned about her than the fact that her own father betrayed his family’s trust.

“Promise me, Mrs. King.”

Cyrel nodded.

“Do you want some ice cream?” Ross was already smiling.

Cyrel sniffed and nodded.

“All right. I’ll tell them to bring ice cream.” He leaned and claimed her lips.

Cyrel cupped his face and urged him to kiss her deeper. Ross obliged.