Chapter 419
Chapter 419:
“NO, I’m not done! You better take what I said seriously p>
He nodded. “Then go on p>
“That woman, she’s shallow, she only cares about p>
“Keep going,” Ashton said. “Every word adds another year to my father’s time in Africa p>
Gwendolyn froze.
Reginald choked on air.
Silence settled.
Reginald lunged and slapped a hand over her mouth. “Shut it. Just shut the hell up p>
Gwendolyn flailed a bit, then squeaked, “I didn’t mean anything by it. I’ll stop talking p>
“Let me make it simple,” Ashton said calmly. “From now on, every time you say something I don’t like or pull some stunt I didn’t authorize, my father’s ticket home gets delayed another year. Do the math. Figure out how many idiotic things you can squeeze in before he drops dead over there p>
“Ashton—” Gwendolyn started, panic sharp in her voice.
Reginald slapped his hand over her mouth again. “We won’t say another word. About anything. Especially not Mirabelle. Never again. She’s family. We love her. Like a daughter.” He turned to me with a forced smile.
“Truly like our own p>
When Ashton’s shoulders eased just slightly, Reginald let out a breath and rubbed his palms together.
“Ashton, listen…” he started, voice syrupy. “You’ve come all this way to see me. Look at all these outsiders cluttering the place. Don’t you think it’s better if we clear the room and just have a proper father-son chat p>
“About Africa…” Ashton dragged it out.
I watched Reginald’s face twitch with hope, like an idiot unwrapping a present he’d already peeked at.
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com is where your journey begins
“You’re still going p>
Reginald stiffened. The color drained from his cheeks.
He started coughing, hand to his chest like he’d been punched.
“Can’t we… negotiate?” he wheezed.
“You can walk out or be wheeled out. Those are the only options p>
Heavy, dragging steps echoed down the hall.
A short while later, Edouard Laurent appeared in the doorway, hunched, cane digging into the floor.
A nurse hovered beside him, one arm hooked under his elbow.
He looked half-collapsed already, sweat beading under his gray hair, lips pale, breathing ragged.
Even his hospital gown hung lopsided on his frame, like it couldn’t be bothered to cling to someone so close to expiry.
“Ashton,” Edouard rasped, “this is disgraceful. He’s your father. You’re behaving like a goddamn thug p>