Chapter 74
Stalker
Veronica’s POV
“And?” I asked hopefully.
“It was empty,” he answered.
“What do you mean empty?” I asked. “Are you sure it is the same car?”
“Yes, Miss. There was a black Toyota packed a few metres from the gate. We searched it and found nothing. No papers, no wraps, no key. It was just empty. Like no one had been in there and the plate number is missing too,” he said.
Orthon and I exchanged glances. That has to be the oddest thing we’ve heard in a while. How was that even possible?
There was someone driving that car. The person followed us, took every turn that we did until it got to my father’s house. And now, it was empty?
“Maybe he ran away,” Orthon said. “He did take a lot of precautions so wel don’t track him. He’s smart.”
My stomach churned. I didn’t like that. Dealing with a smart stalker or killer even. Whatever they are. I just wanted a normal life. Was that too much to ask for?
“You know what? Just get that car out of there. We’ll figure out what to do later,” Orthon said.
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“Understood, sir,” the security guard replied, giving a quick nod before heading back toward the gate.
I rubbed my arms, suddenly feeling a chill run down my spine. “Why would someone go through all that trouble just to leave an empty car?”
“To mess with us, probably,” Orthon said, his jaw tightening. “Whoever this is, they’re sending a message. They want us to know they’re watching.”
I didn’t like that thought one bit.
“Do you think it could be someone connected to… Carter?” I hesitated to say his name, my mind racing through all the recent chaos.
Orthon frowned and shook his head. “I don’t think Carter would go this far. He’s rash, not calculated. This feels… different. I just need to find out who they are and what they want before they make a move.”
If I was frightened before, now I was terrified. The fact that we didn’t even know how far they could go made my stomach twist so hard.
What if they knew about the baby? What if they were here for my child? Oh God! My eyes began to water.
“Hey, hey,” Orthon immediately cupped my cheeks. “Don’t be like that. I am here with you, okay?”
“My baby…” I choked out. “What if…”
“There are no ifs. No one is going to hurt you or the baby. You have my word,” He told me. “You have your father and me and your baby has you, okay?”
He brushed the tears that already came sliding down. He kissed my
Chapter 24
forehead and held me in his arms. After a few minutes, I began to calm. down.
I didn’t like getting him worried like this but sometimes, it was just out of my control. Yet I still had to thank him for being my pillar of strength. Every time I was afraid, he was like that flicker of light in the darkness.
The door suddenly opened and we separated.
“Look at you lovebirds,” my father commented, rolling in. The person beside him made my blood run cold.
Betty Peyton. The woman that tried to kill me. I thought I was okay with her being out but now, I wasn’t so sure anymore.
Looking at her now, all I could remember was her angry face throwing whatever she could at me.
“Are you okay? You look spooked,” My father said.
“Uhm… yeah, yeah, I’m good,” I chuckled nervously.
“She’s lying,” Orthon cut in. “We’ve had a car following us around all day and when the guards went to check it, it was stripped empty. Even the plate was missing.”
My father rolled his wheelchair closer.
“What do you mean by a car following you?” he asked. Betty stood at a corner, listening quietly but didn’t dare come close.
Which was surprising. I guess jail does a lot of things to people. Usually, she would have been parading the living, showing off her designers and ordering us not to touch her husband’s properties.
I was still yet to figure out what exactly made my father pick her over my
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mom. Anyways, now was not the time to think or talk about that.
“A black Toyota,” Orthon explained. “It followed right from my family house down here. Even at my apartment, it followed my housekeeper. I don’t know who it is or what they want.”
“Now that is odd,” my father noted. “If that be the case, I am going to tighten security and have the police look into it. Until then, you cannot leave the house for any reason, Veronica. You are my only child and I would not have anything happen to you!”
“But the company…” I started complaining when Orthon shot me a look.
“You can always work from home, my dear. Don’t worry about the company. I am more concerned about your safety,” he said and I nodded.
“I also bailed her out as you asked. She has something to say to you,” My father continued. I glanced at Betty and she looked like she would rather be anywhere than here.
“She doesn’t look like she has anything to say, Dad,” I snorted but Betty’s face remained expressionless as she stepped forward.
She cleared her throat, capturing my attention. Poor thing! This must be really hard for her. Swallowing her pride and admitting her wrong. It must really bruise her ego.
“I… I wanted to say I’m sorry,” Betty finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. She avoided my gaze, her fingers fidgeting nervously. “For everything I did to you. I was wrong.”
My father nodded approvingly, as if this was the moment he had been waiting for. Orthon, on the other hand, crossed his arms, watching her with an unreadable expression.
“Sorry?” I repeated, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. “You tried to kill me. Betty. Sorry doesn’t quite cut it.‘
Yeah. I wasn’t just going to forgive her. Allowing her to come back here was one thing. But actually believing her words and forgiving her? That was a fool’s thought.
“I know,” she said quickly, her eyes finally meeting mine. “And I don’t expect you to forgive me, Veronica. I just… I wanted to say it. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I did. About the kind of person I became. Jail gave me too much time to reflect, and I realize now that I let my jealousy and greed destroy everything. I don’t expect redemption. I just want to try and make things right.”
My chest tightened as I listened to her words. Part of me wanted to believe her, but the other part was just wary. Wary because anyone could just make up a touching speech to win pity while sharpening the knife they were going to use for the second stab.
“Make things right? How? What could you possibly do to make up for what you did?”
Betty hesitated, her face pale. “I don’t know yet. But I promise I won’t hurt you again. Or anyone else. I’ll stay out of your way if that’s what you want.”
“Good,” Orthon said coldly. “That’s exactly what she needs you to do. Stay out of her life.”
My father sighed. “Veronica, I know it’s hard to trust her, but people can change. Maybe Betty truly means it.”
Funny how a while ago, I was the one convincing him to let her out.
I shook my head, unwilling to argue. “Let’s just drop it. If she’s staying
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out of my way, then fine. But if I see even a hint of her old self, I won’t hesitate to get her out of here.
Betty nodded, taking a step back. “You won’t hear from me unless it’s necessary.”
“There would be no need for that,” my father cut in suddenly. “She will not be staying under my roof!”
Even Betty was shocked at the statement.
“What?” She gasped. “Where am I supposed to go?”
“I don’t care. Go anywhere you want. You didn’t really think you would hurt my child and still live under my roof, did you?”
