Chapter 25: Accusations
1077 Words
Bonny’s POV
For one full second, no one moved.
Then I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because sometimes disbelief had nowhere else to go.
“She did what?”
Vanessa handed me the tablet.
“Formal statement to investigators. She claims you encouraged her departure, advised her on routes, and intended to help conceal the child.”
I stared at the screen.
Typed legal language.
Cold.
Clean.
Lies arranged professionally.
My hands began to shake.
Adrian took the tablet from me before I dropped it.
“Sit,” he said.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re visibly not.”
“I said I’m fine.”
“Bonny.”
That tone.
Low.
Precise.
Impossible to ignore.
I sat.
Vanessa continued.
“She also attached the photo she sent you as alleged proof of coordination.”
My stomach twisted.
“The airport picture?”
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes.
“She set me up.”
Adrian was already dialing.
“Legal now.”
He looked at Vanessa.
“Get every message record preserved. Full extraction. Chain of custody.”
“Already started.”
Of course it was.
Competent woman.
I looked up.
“And Seth?”
“Still downstairs,” Vanessa said. “Loudly.”
“Remove him,” Adrian replied.
I stood immediately.
“No.”
Both of them looked at me.
“I want to hear what he says.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Unnecessary.”
“Maybe.”
“But I still want it.”
A beat.
Then he nodded once.
“Five minutes.”
Vanessa almost smiled.
“I’ll alert security.”
She left.
The lobby felt colder than usual.
Seth stood near reception looking wrecked.
Wrinkled shirt.
Red eyes.
Unshaven jaw.
A man who had finally met consequences and disliked them deeply.
When he saw me, relief flashed first.
Then guilt.
Then desperation.
“Bonny.”
I stayed where I was.
Adrian remained beside me.
Close enough to intervene.
Far enough to let me choose.
Seth noticed him and flinched slightly.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“I didn’t know she’d do this.”
“That sentence lacks context and usefulness.”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“She told them you helped her. I swear I never asked for that.”
“Congratulations on not orchestrating one betrayal today.”
His eyes closed briefly.
“I deserve that.”
“Yes.”
“I came to warn you.”
“You came because your life is burning.”
Silence.
“Yes.”
At least he was learning honesty.
“I need Kristy back.”
The pain in his voice was real.
I could hear it.
I could also hear years of selfishness underneath it.
“She’s safe,” I said.
His eyes widened.
“You know where she is?”
“I know she’s safe.”
“Where?”
“Not your question to me.”
“Bonny, please.”
I looked at him for a long moment.
Then said quietly:
“Do you love her?”
He frowned.
“Of course I love my daughter.”
“No,” I said. “Amelia.”
A pause too long to survive.
“There were years,” he said weakly.
“Wrong question,” I replied. “Do you love anyone who isn’t useful to you?”
That hit.
He stepped back as if struck.
Adrian said nothing.
Which somehow made everything sharper.
“I loved you.”
I almost pitied him.
“Maybe,” I said. “But not enough to behave like it.”
His eyes filled.
I had once dreamed of those eyes softening for me.
Now they only looked small.
“What do I do?” he whispered.
Finally.
The real question.
I answered plainly.
“Tell the truth.”
He swallowed.
“About what?”
“Everything.”
The affairs.
The lies.
Paternity.
Money.
Manipulation.
Every convenient silence.
He looked terrified.
Good.
“That will destroy me.”
I held his gaze.
“No. It will reveal you.”
Security escorted him out when he stopped speaking.
He didn’t resist.
Just looked older.
When the doors closed, I exhaled shakily.
Adrian touched the small of my back.
Steadying.
Silent.
We returned upstair.
In the penthouse office, three lawyers now occupied my morning.
They spoke in careful terms.
“False implication.”
“Defamation risk.”
“Digital evidence.”
“Protective affidavit.”
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I answered questions.
Yes, Amelia sent the photo first.
No, I did not reply.
Yes, Seth contacted later.
No, I gave no travel advice.
Yes, I was willing to testify.
Adrian stood near the window for most of it.
Listening.
Intervening only when someone pressed too hard.
At last, they left.
Silence returned.
I sank into the chair.
“I hate all of them.”
“Reasonable.”
“I hate that my life keeps becoming evidence.”
He came to stand in front of me.
Then crouched so our eyes were level.
A move so unexpectedly tender I forgot my anger for a second.
“Look at me.”
I did.
“You are not what they accuse.”
“I know.”
“Then stop wearing their language.”
My throat tightened.
“That’s harder than it sounds.”
“Yes.”
He reached up and brushed hair from my face.
“But you’re doing it.”
I covered his hand with mine.
“When did you become good at this?”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“No,” he said quietly. “I’m good with you.”
My heart betrayed all remaining caution.
Before I could answer, tiny footsteps pattered in the hallway.
Kristy appeared clutching Buttons.
She looked between us.
“Are you two sad?”
“No,” Adrian said.
“Yes,” I said.
She nodded.
“Then you need a cuddle.”
Without waiting, she climbed directly into my lap, then reached one arm toward Adrian.
He stared at the offered arm.
I bit back a smile.
“Scary man,” she said patiently, “come here.”
He looked offended.
Then obeyed.
He sat beside us awkwardly while Kristy leaned across both of us like a tiny dictator of affection.
I laughed for the first time that day.
Real laughter.
Kristy smiled proudly.
“There,” she said.
“Fixed.”
Adrian looked at me over her curls.
“Efficient.”
- Writer
