Chapter 55 Chapter 55

Chapter 55 Chapter 55


Sonia Halest breathed in a deep breath, trying to get a hold of all the crying and all that impending hurt she had locked in for so long.

“That was the reason I wanted you to marry Noémie. I know it was wrong to ask of such a thing after everything that girl had been through. All that hurt and trauma. We can’t even imagine. But I knew in my heart that you would have loved her. I would have loved her. More than anyone ever could. More than you and Vince, maybe. Like my own daughter. I wanted to give that girl my everything. I wanted her to have all the happiness in the universe. All of it.”

Ajax leaned forward to wipe the tears off her face. He cupped her jaw and made her look at him.

“Mom, it’s not your fault.”

“It is. Isn’t it? If only I would have…”

“Mom, if you had known what he had been up to, what kind of monster he had been keeping from us, you wouldn’t have to think twice before doing what was right. I know that. I know you. You just didn’t know.”

“But why do I feel responsible…what is this guilt?”

“Trust me, mom, you’re not alone in feeling that way. I feel the same. Vince feels the same. I think it’s because he has been doing this for so long and without a fucking care in the world, that makes us feel this way. Because we were the closest to him than anyone else.”

Sonia Halest knew Ajax was right, but she couldn’t reconstruct her emotion so quickly. The guilt continued to nag and jab at her conscience.

Not able to see the pain in her eyes, Ajax pulled her into a hug. He wanted to say it would be alright. That one day, they would get over this betrayal, and everything would be fine again.

He even said those words to comfort Vince.

But the truth was that Ajax didn’t know. He didn’t know how long it would take for these wounds to heal. He didn’t know if it ever would. And even though he was perfectly capable of lying to himself and others, he hadn’t ever lied to his mother.

So, the words never came out of his mouth. And all he could comfort her with was his absolute silence.

It was only when the sound of someone arguing outside infiltrated the study they were in, Ajax and Sonia Halest pulled away and frowned at the door.

They both were surprised to find Hannah intercepting the path of a girl whom Ajax recognized as Noémie’s sister. Claudia, her name was?

“What’s going on?” Sonia Halest asked from upstairs as she looked down at the scene near the entrance.

“Not sure.” Ajax didn’t wait to add anything anymore and headed straight down the stairs. Sonia Halest right behind him.

“Claudia…” Ajax acknowledged, a hard grimace tugged on his face. “What are you doing here?”

Claudia shifted on her foot and looked up to find Ajax approaching them. She sighed deeply in her chest. “We need to talk,” she said to him, and took a step in his direction. But before she could, Hannah barred her path once again and stood in between them.

“What the hell is your problem?” Claudia hissed.

“You!” Hannah hissed back. “Obviously.”

Claudia bit her tongue and tried to ignore her. She looked straight at Ajax. Not afraid of the brooding man in front of her. “I’m here to talk about Noémie. Can we please take this somewhere else?”

Hannah bristled. “Hey. You don’t get to make a call like that. Who the hell are you? Never heard of you ever in my life.”

“Well, you were probably too busy with your head shoved deep in your ass. Probably that’s why!” Claudia sneered, not backing down. Not now. Not ever.

Before Hannah could give her the piece of her mind, Ajax intervened. “Hannah, back off!”

“What?” Hannah sounded offended. Turning on her heels, she fixed him with a glare too. “Why should I back off? She’s the one tramping in my home as if she owns it!”

“My home?” Ajax narrowed his gaze at her.

“I…” Hannah grew stiff. “I mean. Our. Your. I mean, your. Of course.”

Ajax glared at her for a minute too long before shifting his gaze back to Claudia. “We can talk in my study,” he said to her and turned around to lead her upstairs.

Claudia sidestepped Hannah and followed Ajax.

But before they both could even reach the stairs, someone called from behind.

“Hello! My name is Officer Brandon Davies from the NYPD. We have an arrest warrant against Michael Halest.”

“What?” Hannah frowned. “What the hell is even going on…Ajax, you need to see this!”

But before she could complete her sentence, Ajax walked past her and greeted the officer with a handshake.

“We’re waiting for you only. Please come inside.”

Ajax led them in. Hannah looked as puzzled as ever. Claudia wearing the same expression of shock and surprise, if not less.

“So, what’s the status? Did your father return?” The officer asked, the rest of his team standing on their toes.

“No. He didn’t.”

Officer Brandon hummed. “We expected that much. It’s a good thing we sent a team beforehand to the airport and other exits. Let’s hope we catch him as soon as possible.”

“Do you think someone tipped him off?” Ajax asked.

“It’s a possibility we cannot overlook, Mr Halest,” the officer sighed. “Unfortunately, the system is not without flaws. It’s a shame. But it’s also a bitter truth. You don’t have to worry, though. My team and I will do everything in our capacity to put him behind bars. Sooner or later, justice will be served. I assure you. That man will get what is coming for him.”

“Let’s hope it’s sooner than later.”

Ajax ran a hand through his hair and checked his phone one more time.

No calls from Vincent.

Where are you, Vince? Ajax thought to himself. Be back before it’s too late.