Chapter 299 No Longer Hiding Feelings

Chapter 299 No Longer Hiding Feelings

Ambrose seemed to have set everything in motion, and Scarlett was ready to follow wherever he led. With looming confrontations against the Reynolds and Mitchell families, she wanted to steady the home front for him, to give him one less thing to worry about.

"You'll have Xander drive you around," Ambrose said a moment later.

Scarlett agreed softly, then reminded him with the quiet care she'd kept hidden for so long. "Be careful out there, alright? And... is your stomach still troubling you?"

It was the first time Ambrose had heard her worry about him like that. Her voice wrapped around him, warm enough to fill every corner of his chest.

"I’m much better, really. Don’t worry about me. Chase is here, and I’ve got extra support on the ground."

"When I couldn't reach you that night, I was terrified," Scarlett admitted. She didn't try to mask anything anymore, not after learning how he felt. She wanted him to feel her heart in return, so she let herself speak honestly, boldly.

Ambrose felt her openness like a light within him. And suddenly, every sacrifice he’d made seemed worthwhile.

"That was on me," he said, his voice slipping into a low, tender register. "From now on, I'll update you on everything. I won't disappear on you again." He wished he could cross the distance instantly, pull her into his arms, and kiss her until she forgot what fear felt like.

"Dad, when are you coming home?" Hayden’s little voice chimed in beside her.

Ambrose's entire attitude softened at once. "In a couple of days. Be good for Scarlett while I'm gone."

"Ambrose, I miss you too," Yara added, her sweet singsong making him smile despite himself.

He had never been missed like this, not by all three of them at once. The longing clawed at him, urging him to get on the next plane, but reason held tight. He knew better. Only once this mess was handled could he bring them together safely.

After the call, he sat in silence for a long time, working through every angle of the Reynolds family problem.

"Mr. Boleyn," Chase called, nearly breathless with excitement, "we just received word. They’re sending someone to inspect the project."

Ambrose blinked, surprised. He'd spent the previous night drinking with those officials, and none of them had budged on their timeline. Their sudden change of heart meant someone had intervened.

"What changed their mind?" He asked.

"Rumor is, the mayor of Seaside City ordered it himself. We don’t know why yet, but it works in our favor."

Ambrose didn't care who pulled the strings. All that mattered was speed. He couldn’t afford further delays in Seaside City. 

He had ways to force the Reynolds family's hand if needed, but he didn't want to resort to his final plan unless absolutely pushed. If things were finally moving, then maybe... just maybe... he wouldn't have to.

Back in Lakeside Garden, Scarlett returned home with the kids. Xander and the others hadn't left the neighborhood; Ambrose owned another unit right next door, so they stayed close enough to protect the three of them at all hours.

After Octavia’s crimes came to light, not even the Mitchell family’s lawyers could secure her release. She was shaken and afraid.

Indigo, stunned that Octavia had ended up in custody, was baffled as to how Scarlett had unearthed evidence he believed destroyed.

If Octavia was charged, his own political future would be dragged down with her. He couldn't allow even a scratch on it.

After agonizing over it, he dialed Ambrose—only to have his calls go unanswered. In the end, he was forced to contact Cody.

Cody, after hearing him out, simply shifted the responsibility. "After all, that is Ambrose's child. If he wants to pursue the matter, even as his grandfather, I can do nothing about him."

But Cody didn't stop there.

"Mr. Mitchell, your daughter crossed the line. What she did is criminal. Scarlett lost years with her son because of her. Even if Ambrose chose to forgive the deception, Scarlett wouldn't. No mother would."

Indigo understood the message. Negotiation was futile. Scarlett held all the power now.

He understood that, but Scarlett was under Ambrose's protection. Without access to her, persuasion was impossible.

"I understand," Indigo said tightly. "Ms. Mellon will marry into the Boleyn family eventually. If you're willing to give us a chance here, the Mitchell family will support your business interests going forward."

"Mr. Mitchell," Cody replied, "the Boleyn family does legitimate business. We don't need favors."

As soon as Cody finished, Indigo knew the conversation was over.

With evidence and witnesses stacked against Octavia, there was no escape. Indio had no choice but to call Scarlett directly. She shut him down immediately. When his attempts at negotiation failed, he tried intimidation, warning her they could both end up worse off.

Scarlett hung up on him.

For three days, the story spread. Then, a new rumor exploded online—that Scarlett had cheated on Wesley with Ambrose, and that her children belonged to Ambrose.

The scandal blew up instantly.

The Boleyn Group’s PR team responded swiftly and decisively. Any post linking Scarlett and Ambrose disappeared as quickly as it surfaced. 

But the rumors were relentless, so Scarlett enlisted Finnian’s expertise. With his help, the entire smear campaign vanished from the internet as if it had never existed.

Instead, a video of Octavia bullying classmates surfaced, amplified by Finnian's quiet push behind the scenes. Within three hours, it hit the top of the trending charts and even reached political discussion forums.

Scarlett sent Xander to locate Yvaine and ensure she had protection; anything related to Octavia could easily come back on her.

Then Scarlett went to speak with Yvaine's parents herself. She explained everything—her own ordeal, Octavia's arrest, the years she'd lost with her son—and asked if they would be willing to testify against Octavia for what she had done to Yvaine.

But Yvaine's family hesitated. They were ordinary people. Going up against someone with connections felt dangerous. And seeing Yvaine's panicked reaction to Octavia's name only made it harder for Scarlett to press them.

In the end, she didn't.

Instead, she arranged therapy for Yvaine and stopped asking her to testify.