Billionaire's Regret: Losing Me And Our Son - Chapter 105: Chapter 105

When I woke up, it took a moment to realize where I was. The room was dark, damp, and smelled like mold. My hands and feet were tied tightly with rough ropes, and every movement made them dig into my skin.
Turning my head, I saw Rose slumped beside me, her eyes closed. "Rose? Rose, wake up!" I called, shifting my body to nudge her.
She let out a soft groan before blinking herself awake. Her face was pale with confusion. "Natalia... where are we?"
"We've been ambushed," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Gemma and her people grabbed us and locked us up."
The frustration hit me hard. I should've known better. Walking into that house without thinking had been reckless.
Before I could say more, the door creaked open, and someone strolled in, whistling a cheery tune that felt completely out of place.
A scruffy guy in a jacket wiped down a chair with his sleeve, grinning as he turned to call out, "Boss, they're awake!"
Gemma walked in moments later, clinging to the arm of a man who looked like trouble. His frame was massive, his presence intimidating, and a deep scar slashed across his cheek.
As soon as I saw his face, a jolt of recognition hit me. I'd seen him before—the night I walked into the wrong room at the karaoke bar.
"Ms. Hinton," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Long time no see." He tilted his head, a sinister smirk spreading across his face. "Forrest Green. Ring any bells? I'm the guy you were searching for U3."
My stomach dropped. The drug I had seen that night was U3.
Then it all clicked. Gemma's cryptic words about Aiden provoking her man. Forrest must've figured out Aiden was trying to infiltrate their operation. This was payback.
I stared at him, forcing myself to stay calm. "Look, we're not trying to mess with your business," I said, my voice even. "There's been a misunderstanding. All I want is to find the person who poisoned my adoptive mother."
Fighting wasn't an option right now. If we were going to survive this, I had to play it smart.
"Oh, it's a misunderstanding!" Forrest said with a mocking grin, pulling Gemma closer. His voice was syrupy with fake sympathy. "Baby, didn't you say Ms. Hinton here is part of the Smith family? And if I'm not wrong, Maple Media's worth a couple billion, right?"
Gemma tilted her head, a smug smile playing on her lips. She leaned into him like this was all a game. "That's right! But apparently, Ms. Hinton can't even cough up 3 million dollars.
"Maybe in her eyes, Aiden just isn't worth it. Poor fool—he was still calling her name when we knocked him out."
My stomach twisted at her words. They had hurt Aiden.
"I want to see Aiden!" Rose suddenly shouted, her voice shaking but determined. Her red-rimmed eyes glared at Forrest as she gritted her teeth. "Let him go! I'll pay the three million, just let us leave!"
She glared at Forrest, her courage pushing through the fear. Gemma's words had clearly struck a nerve. Rose already knew about Aiden's feelings for me, but she couldn't set aside her worry for him.
I stayed silent, caught between guilt and fear.
Forrest raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Well, would you look at that? Another hopeless romantic. You rich fellas really know how to keep things dramatic."
"If you're after money, bring Aiden here, now!" Rose demanded, her voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill
Forrest chuckled, shaking his head. "Money? If she were just Natalia Hinton, sure, 3 million dollars might've done it."
I narrowed my eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
His smile widened, dripping with malice. "You're Ms. Smith now—a walking ATM. I don't need your pocket change. I need you to make a call to Daddy dearest and get him to play along.
"I hear Maple Media's got a few cargo ships. Your dad's going to help me move some... items.""
My stomach churned. "You want to use the Smith family's ships to smuggle U3?" I said, my voice sharp. "That's not happening!"