Chapter 98 - HEIRESS'S SECOND CHANCE BILLIONAIRE

Chapter Ninety-Eight “Tying Loose Ends.”

Isabella Kingston.

“I am sorry for your loss,” The police detective said, his face lined with grim as his lips set in to a firm line. His tone, there was this worry and pity that coats it, an emotion I have grown hatred towards these past few days but I could not shun away at the moment.

I sighed, then pressed my lips into a straight line. “Thank you,” I whispered. “For everything.” I crossed my arms over my torso, on top of the cardigan I have on and regardless, I still feel cold—perhaps due to the turn up of everything recently.

“It is nothing, Mrs. Kingston,” He waved it off, then his expression became serious again. “And while we are on that, I would like to inform you that we have successfully apprehended Mr. Donnelly, and he has finally confessed to being allies with Victoria Laurent.”

I released a sigh I did not know I was holding, relief that things are finally turning up our way filling my veins. I had not realized how much I have been on the edge because of all these until now that I am hearing things getting sorted out at long last.

“Her sentence shall be increased to the appropriate one befitting of her crimes. James Donnelly will also not be getting out any time soon, if ever. He has attempted to take not one life, but two. With the Kingston’s influence and yours of course, he definitely will not see the light of the day again.” The detective went on to further explain, as he is in charge of the case against James Donnelly.

“He won’t be acquitted on any health reason though, right?” I asked just in case, because he spent the first few days after the incident at the hospital, due to the severe burns he got. But, he was taken away as soon as he regained his health.

The inspector nodded. “No, he won’t.” He confirmed. “It is the end for him, and Victoria. That I am certain.”

I folded my lips in, then nodded before releasing another sigh of relief. “That is good to hear.” It truly is. I have no words to explain the feeling of finally getting the weight of their issues off my back. It is inexplicable.

“It truly is.” He ascertained, with a small smile. “I will get going now, Mrs. Kingston. I will keep you up to date on anything that may turn up later on.”

“Alright, thank you.”

“It is nothing, I am just doing my job.”

I tried to offer him a small smile, but I could not bring myself to do so. Instead, I moved my gaze behind him, to rest on Amy, whom stood a few feet away then called out for her. “Amy, see him out please.”

With a nod, she guided the detective away, as they disappeared down the halls of the hospital room till they were no longer in sight. With them gone, I found myself suspiring as I flicked my eyes close, feeling the weight of everything crashing on my shoulders as I used that moment of silence to get a hold of myself and my emotions. Settling down on the nearest seat, I rested my arms on my thighs and buried my face in my palms.

The moment was cut short though when I heard footsteps approaching, and when I looked up, my gaze fell on the familiar face of Anderson that offered that fatherly comfort I so desperately wish to get from my father but reality once again reminds me that he is no longer here with me.

Anderson crossed the distance between us, then handed me a bottle of water. I shook my head to reject it, but then his voice came, “Take it,” He urged. “You need to stay healthy if you don’t want Kingston to be worried about you.”

I took the bottle from him, then grumbled under my breath. “I would much rather prefer he be worried,” I stated earnestly. “I would do anything to get a reaction from him…anything.”

Anderson took the space beside me, keeping a reasonable distance between us. He has always been a man of few words, and yet, he has somehow said more words recently than I have heard from him in the years I grew up knowing him. “He will wake up,” He comforted, his tone knowing. “Think of it as him recuperating so he can get back on his feet all healthy.”

I shifted my gaze to Anderson, then said in a small voice. “It has been five weeks.” I stated, the worry in my tone thick. “He has been in a coma for five weeks, even the doctors aren’t sure when he will wake up.”

“He suffered three gunshots, inhaled a lot of smoke aside from repeatedly ripping his stiches and lost a lot of blood. Thankfully he was not burned but Miss Montague, his body will need time to recover, he is no superman.” He added the last bit as humor, but there was nothing amusing on his expression.

I bit my lower lip, “Well, he certainly acted like one.” I mumbled, in a slightly annoyed tone. “But Anderson, I cannot help but worry. I feel like it is my fault he is in this situation.”

“And why is it your fault?”

“James was the one that hurt him,” I stated the most obvious reason. “He is my ex-husband and he targeted him because of me. Victoria was my sister-in-law as well. Whatever issues she had was with me, and not him and yet, she still targeted him. He not only suffered gunshots but is now lying in a coma because he tried to save me. How is that not my fault, Anderson?” To say I have been beating myself up these past weeks will be an understatement.

Anderson remained quiet, so I carried on.

“Do you know what my last conversation with him was?” I arched a brow, my tone bitter. “I accused him of cheating on me and told him I did not want to see him, when all the while he was fighting for his life because of me.”

“You acted that way because he kept it from you.”

“Still--”

“He should have known you could handle it,” Anderson interjected. “You did exactly that didn’t you? You escaped James’ kidnap all alone.”

I looked away, then shrugged slightly. “He was clumsy at best, and I know a bit of self-defense.” Sure enough, I had already escaped James’ before Christian arrived. I had learned how to untie knots when one is a chokehold and I used that chance of him thinking I was unconscious to untie myself. Once I had done that, he was distracted so I took a piece of wood nearby and hit him on the head with it a couple of times, before running away after setting the room on fire with the bonfire he started.

I don’t know if he was truly clumsy or stupid enough to leave something I could use but that was his fault.

It was not until I was trying to navigate my way out that I heard Christian’s voice calling out for me, so I went back. But it was too late then, the room was already in flames and he was I it. James whom had managed to regained consciousness knocked him out and that was it.

Thankfully the police arrived and the paramedics as well just in time else I could not fathom what would have happened. I still remember how everything passed by then. Me screaming as I tried to reach out to him while I get held back, only allowed into the ambulance as they drove us to the hospital and I held his hand throughout.

But once we arrived there and he was wheeled out straight to the operation room, my world fell apart. My hand was still warm and red with his blood, I can still remember the feeling vividly. And living with it constantly is a lot to say the least.

“Do not worry much about this,” Anderson tried to comfort again. “Everything will fall into place. Worry not.”

I offered him a small smile, then nodded. “Thank you, Anderson.” I whispered. “For being here with me and for taking care of Montague Groups on my behalf.” I am not in the right mental state to cater for the group, and I won’t be until Christian opens his eyes again.

“You are welcome, Chairwoman.” Yes, I have been appointed Chairwoman at the Shareholder’s meeting that took place a month ago, officially taking my role as the leader of Montague Groups. Sebastian still works there, and Josephine still has her shares but Alexander will rot in prison for a couple of years so that is the end of them.

They have not made much noise since, no doubt knowing their power has weakened quite a lot. Plus, the arrival of she whom shall not be named seemed to have stunned and scared Josephine knowing how the woman is more difficult to handle than anyone else she has crossed paths with.

Speaking of which…

“And what of her?” I asked, meeting his gaze. I need not elaborate, he understood what I meant.

He seemed reluctant to tell me, which shows I won’t like the answer. There is a reason why I have not inquired all this while, and why none of them said a word. “She has left and returned back to Paris.” He confessed. “But she still oversees her shares.”

“Of course she has,” Why am I not surprised? She has never once cared about me, and she does not hesitate to leave me when the times comes. She has done that before, and she has done it now as well.

People really don’t change do they? Truthfully, I am not even hurt. I did not have much expectations from her.

Before we could delve into another discussion further, the sound of rushed footsteps approaching had us looking up, just in time to see Grace reach us, heaving as she released heavy breaths, her eyes wide. “It is Christian…”