Chapter 8
Teddy finally hobbled up to Roy on his crutch, trembling like a leaf from his recent coma. His face as white as a ghost, he asked, “Roy, you did that to Alan? You got that witch to drag Alan to the mountains and did him in?”
Roy was screaming his head off, “It’s all your fault, you old man! You favored Hank and let that damned bastard son of yours lord it over me. You only thought of me when the Morrison family hit the skids. You split me and Karen up, forcing me to toil for the Hawkins family. You got what you deserved.”
Then, he broke into a maniacal laugh.
Teddy raised his crutch, ready to give Roy a piece of his mind, but ultimately clutched his chest and slowly keeled over onto the
stage.
As the life drained from his eyes, he still fixed his gaze on Roy.
The Morrisons rushed over, chattering like magpies, shouting Teddy’s name, trying to bring him back to the land of the living.
Some folks quietly slipped out of the venue, turning a blind eye to the Morrisons‘ plight.
Businessmen are all about the Benjamins. Come tomorrow, the Morrison family will be a thing of the past.
Chapter 8
The Hawkins Group exces were over the moon. The company was still the Hawkins Group, and they were not just out of the woods; they were about to become top dogs, their status skyrocketing.
From here on out, they’d hold their heads high wherever they went to discuss business, because their boss was loaded. And Frank’s dad was a science whiz, so they wouldn’t be getting arrested for any shady deals and lose their cushy jobs.
2/4
The police hauled Roy and Karen away. They were not just in hot water for illegal surrogacy; they were also prime suspects in a murder case.
Word was, in the interrogation room, Roy vehemently denied murdering Alan and pinned the blame on Karen.
For Karen’s part, Roy said he only did it because he felt sorry for the widow and her handicap, and couldn’t resist her sweet talk, so he went along with the surrogacy scheme and gave her a kid.
When Karen heard Roy’s words, she lost it.
If she hadn’t been so greedy, with her brains and looks, she could’ve landed a good husband and lived a quiet, happy life, instead of enduring shame and spending her twilight years in a wheelchair.
To think the child she loved with all her heart called her a bitch.
Karen went ballistic, cursing up a storm, “It’s all your fault, you ruined me, you liar, you liar…”
Chapter 8
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The court filed charges and quickly passed judgment when the evidence was airtight.
Roy was found guilty of surrogacy fraud, property grabbing, and premeditated murder, and got life behind bars.
Karen was convicted of premeditated murder, surrogacy fraud, and property grabbing, and also got life without parole.
After the verdict, I asked Frank if he wanted to go see them.
Frank stared into the distance, his eyes dark, and finally said, “I gave them a chance. If they had an ounce of decency, I would’ve remembered their kindness in raising me. But they only saw me as a means to an end.”
The day Roy and Karen were shipped off to prison, Noah was with us on a trip abroad.
Looking at Noah, lugging bags and sweating bullets, I joked, “Big shot, aren’t you too busy saving the world to take a break?”
Noah wiped his brow and grinned, “Nah, I’m done. I’m almost fifty; it’s time to kick back. When I was young, I was so wrapped up in my work that I neglected you and put you through hell. From now on, I’m at your beck and call.”
Looking at Noah’s hair, half of it snow–white, I gently touched it and said, “Noah, in this life, you let Frank and me down, but you’ve earned the respect of the country and society. That’s something.”
Chapter 8
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Noah took my hand and looked at me with love in his eyes. “Gloria, I’ve always loved you. I never married, not because of work, but because you’re the only one for me.”
Frank grabbed the bag from Noah’s hand and rolled his eyes.
“Dad, Mom, next time I’m not tagging along. Can you two please stop with the PDA in front of me?” he grumbled.
“Silly boy, is there a problem? No wonder you’re still single,” I teased Frank with a chuckle.
Noah blushed again and mumbled, “I just couldn’t win your mother over back then. It was all a misunderstanding. If it weren’t for her, I’d still be a lonely old man without such an amazing son like you. From now on, I’ll take good care of her.”
Frank chuckled and said, “Then you take good care of her. I’m outta here.”
Frank sprinted ahead, the sunlight bathing him in its glow.
Fortunately, the one I love and the one who loved me didn’t miss out on each other.
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