Chapter 71 Leave Matthew Here

Chapter 71 Leave Matthew Here
When Julio threw my name out at the station, I ended up sitting there for another hour. By the time I got back to the hospital, the whole morning was gone.

James was feeding Matthew when I walked in. He looked up right away.
“So? What did they say? Was the money really from that missing fifty million?”
“Yes,” I said.

He froze, then threw the small spoon back into the bowl. His hand trembled.
“They’re monsters,” he snapped. “They kidnapped Laura, killed her, and then blamed Alva and Emma for it.”
“They weren’t the killers.”

He blinked, stunned, like I had just spoken another language. For a few seconds, he didn’t even breathe.
“What do you mean? Why?”
“They were in prison when Laura was kidnapped.”

James looked shattered. Regret, disbelief, anger—all of it flickered across his face.
“This can’t be real,” he muttered. “It shouldn’t be like this.”

“James?” Matthew’s little voice broke through the silence. He didn’t understand what was going on, but he could feel the tension.

I took the bowl from James and started feeding Matthew instead.
“Don’t worry, baby,” I said softly. “James just had a rough morning.”

Matthew nodded, chewing slowly. His big eyes kept drifting back to James.

James stayed quiet for a while, then took a deep breath and sat down again.
“What will the police do now?”
“They think the person who ordered those kidnappers must be connected to Laura’s case. That’s where the investigation is going.”
“Any leads?”
“They believe the mastermind is an enemy of the Adam family. Laura and Matthew are both Adams, but no one should’ve known who Matthew really is.”

James didn’t say anything. He exhaled, long and low. Maybe he was just relieved that Alva and Emma were finally cleared.

“Julio didn’t come back with you?” he asked.

I was washing Matthew’s bowl when he said it, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“He’s in trouble again,” I said. “We were about to leave when Warner showed up. You know Warner?”
“Julio’s cousin,” James said right away.

I raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t expect you to know that.”
He shrugged. “You told me once. On the cruise.”

“Right,” I said. “Julio made him lose everything at that casino and locked him up. The bastard actually jumped into the ocean to escape, and guess what? A humpback whale saved him. He went straight to the police to report Julio. And that lunatic—he said I was a witness. So I had to stay for another round of questioning.”
James let out a low whistle. “Damn, that guy’s hard to kill.”
“Yeah,” I said, shaking my head. “Julio’s luck just ran out.”

Julio had to stay with the cops for more questioning, which meant less time at the hospital. At least he and James didn’t cross paths again.

When Matthew was finally cleared to leave the hospital, the day should’ve been calm. It wasn’t.

A few strangers walked into his room right before we were supposed to go.
“Who are you?” I asked, stepping in front of Matthew.

James had gone to pick up the medication. It was just me and Matthew.

“Mr. and Mrs. Adam wish to see their grandson,” one of the men said. “We’re here to take you and young Matthew to the family estate.”

For a moment I couldn’t even move. Julio’s parents. Of course.
If Julio knew the truth, it meant they did too.

“Matthew’s not going anywhere,” I said firmly. “He’s my son. Mine alone. You need to leave.”

They didn’t move. My hands went cold. I still remembered the way Julio’s father had used James to threaten me years ago—how that night ended with blood and pain and nearly cost Matthew his life.

“You’ll have to come with us,” one of them said.

Before I could react, two of them grabbed my arms. Another reached for Matthew.
“Don’t you dare!” I yelled, thrashing, but they were too strong.

Matthew started screaming, his little face bright red, tears streaming down.
“Mommy!” he cried, reaching for me.

My heart cracked open. I fought, but it was useless.
“You’re committing a crime! Give him back!”

No one listened. They took Matthew and started walking out, dragging me along.

At least they were taking me too. If they had tried to separate us, I would’ve lost it.

They finally let me hold him again when I promised to cooperate. Matthew buried his face in my shoulder, shaking with quiet sobs.

That was when James came back. He froze at the door, eyes wide.
“What the hell is this?”

He lunged toward them, but the bodyguards blocked him easily.
“You bastards! Let her go!” he shouted, swinging his fists.

“James, stop!” I yelled before they hurt him. “I’ll go with them. It’s fine.”

It wasn’t fine, but it was the only way to keep him safe.

He looked at me, furious and helpless. The veins in his hands stood out, his fists trembling with the effort to hold back.
I forced a smile, hoping it would calm him, then let them take me.

They pushed me into a black car. The ride was silent except for Matthew’s sniffles. We drove through the city, then into Beverly Hills. I knew where we were going—Julio’s parents’ mansion. I’d seen it on TV more than once.

The car stopped in front of a white villa with tall gates.

Inside, everything was spotless. The kind of place where nothing ever goes wrong.

A woman stood up from the sofa when she saw us. She moved toward us with a smile so graceful it made my skin crawl.
Her brown hair glowed under the lights. Blue eyes, sharp and bright. Julio’s eyes.

“Ashley,” she said warmly. “Welcome.”

Julio’s mother—Isabel.

She leaned closer, looking at Matthew. Her smile softened.
“Matthew, hello. I’m your grandmother.”

“Grandma?” he asked, confused.

I’d taught him the word, but he’d never had a reason to use it.

“You have such a lovely smile,” Isabel said, her voice honey-smooth.

Matthew blushed and reached out to touch her face. He had no idea who she was.

Then Julio’s father appeared. He was tall, stiff, and cold-eyed.
“Let’s eat,” he said flatly.

I didn’t move. “Why did you bring us here?”

“Sweetheart,” Isabel said softly, “let’s have lunch first. Matthew must be hungry.”

But her husband, Fitch, didn’t bother to pretend. He looked straight at me.
“Matthew is an Adam. He deserves a better life and proper education. You’ll leave him here today. I’ll give you fifty million as compensation.”