Billionaire's Regret: Losing Me And Our Son - Chapter 202: Chapter 202

"Where are you?" Quinn asked as soon as I picked up the call.
It suddenly dawned on me that night had fallen, and it was already eight o'clock in the evening.
Quinn had been busy with work lately, and I reckoned he was probably just getting home from the office.
"I'll be home in an hour," I told Quinn.
Too much happened that day, and I couldn't explain it all over the phone, so I decided to tell Quinn in person when I got home.
Just as I was about to hang up, Quinn suddenly asked me, "Have you eaten?"
I froze for a second before answering instinctively, "No."
"I'll wait for you so we can have dinner together," Quinn said softly. "Drive safe."
My heart skipped a beat. "Mm-hmm," I murmured.
After hanging up, I rummaged through my handbag for the car keys and headed toward the parking lot.
Hurlen Town wasn't very big, and after dark, the streets were mostly empty. I scanned the code to pay in the parking lot.
Just as I was about to open the car door, I suddenly heard faint footsteps behind me.
My heart leaped, and before I could turn around, a burlap sack was yanked over my head, casting everything into darkness.
"What are you doing?!" I cried out in panic.
I wanted to scream for help, but the next second, my head started to feel dizzy and light.
Just before I lost consciousness, I felt a man lifting me onto a vehicle.
When I came to again, I found myself lying on a soft, king-sized bed.
The room was lavishly decorated, but not a single window was in sight. It was a hidden room.
My head was still spinning a little. Rubbing my temples, I willed myself to regain full consciousness.
"Natalia, you're awake," came a familiar, gentle voice.
I looked up in shock and saw Shirley walking toward me with a cup of warm milk in her hands.
I froze, thinking I must be dreaming, and called out to her in a trembling voice, "Mom?"
"Mm-hmm," Shirley responded with a smile as she walked over to my bedside. She handed me the cup of milk and gently cupped my hands in hers. "You've been through so much lately, Natalia," she said tenderly.
It wasn't until I felt the warmth of Shirley's hand in mine that I dared to believe this wasn't a dream.
I couldn't believe it, as she was supposed to still be in a coma.
"Where am I?" I asked, still in a daze. "Mom, when did you wake up?"
"We're still at the resort hotel. This is a private suite, so there are no windows. Don't be scared," Shirley explained gently and patiently. "I woke up two days ago. York has told me everything."
I was completely stunned.
Two days ago, that was when I ran into York in the suite. We had a brief argument, and I left in a hurry.
Shirley had woken up while June was in the restroom, and York happened to be the only one in the room. So he told Shirley everything Ben had done.
Shocked and disappointed after hearing everything, Shirley decided to follow York's suggestion to pretend she was still unconscious and put on an act.
"Natalia, I didn't mean to keep this from you," Shirley said softly.
She and York had originally planned to gather more evidence of Ben's crimes, so they could use it as leverage against him.
Shirley used the word "leverage" rather than saying she wanted to "bring him to justice."
My eyes widened in shock as I blurted out, "Mom, are you seriously going to let him off the hook?"
Shirley pursed her lips and said calmly, "That was the plan... until today."
I stared at her. I knew she was kind, but at that moment, she was overly compassionate.
I can't believe she was planning to let the man who tried to kill her go!
"Why?" I couldn't help but press further.
Shirley gave a resigned smile and gestured for me to drink the milk while it was still warm.
I nodded and took a sip of the warm milk as she said softly, "I remember after Bernie's scandal came out, you asked me if I still loved your dad."
My thoughts drifted back. I nodded and said, "Yeah, I remember you said maybe Dad loved you more."
"You probably didn't get what I meant back then, did you?" Shirley sighed, her gaze growing distant. "After all, only he and I know the real reason we got married."
I thought it was because they were in love, but if it were that simple, Shirley wouldn't be making that face.
Both the Lees and the Smith families are old money, so my first guess was an arranged marriage.
"Was it an arrangement between the Lee and the Smith families?" I asked.
Shirley shook her head, lowering her gaze. "Before our family went into business, we had a scholarly background. Your grandparents were open-minded and opposed to using their children for a marriage alliance."
My curiosity grew even stronger. I asked, "Then what was the real reason?"
Shirley said softly, "Because my first love suddenly left me for another woman. Your dad had pursued me for years, and when I was heartbroken, he stayed by my side. At that moment, I thought that if fate wouldn't let me be with the one I loved, then maybe marrying a man who truly loved me was the best I could do. So I chose him."
Shirley's eyes welled with sadness as she recalled the past. "After we got married, your dad was as kind to me as ever. The next year, I got pregnant with you. By then, I'd already gotten over my ex and devoted myself to being a good wife and mother. We were truly happy until you were taken from us."
Her voice softened. "I never imagined you'd come back. I was depressed for years, and even convinced myself that marrying your father had been a mistake. I started to believe, almost superstitiously, that our marriage was cursed."
I got out of bed and hugged her. She patted my back and said with a bittersweet smile, "Looking back now, I guess I must have really broken his heart during that time."
That was why Shirley had always believed Ben loved her more—that she was the one holding him back. But to me, Shirley was just gaslighting herself.
No matter what, Ben's cheating was unforgivable, and trying to murder his own wife was just beyond evil.
I said firmly, "Mom, you didn't do anything wrong. Even if you never truly loved him, you never betrayed him—not once."
As I finished speaking, I felt her body tremble slightly before she let out a silent, long sigh.
I held Shirley tightly for a long moment before suddenly realizing something. "Wait, Mom, if you wanted to see me, you could've just called or had York bring me here. Why go through all this?"
I didn't understand why she had to abduct me
"The people who kidnapped you were sent by Ben." Shirley's expression darkened abruptly. She clenched her fists, and her brows furrowed tightly. "That monster actually wanted to lay hands on the daughter he'd just gotten back after all these years! That's the final straw. That's why I can never forgive him!"
A ringing filled my ears. I couldn't believe Ben actually wanted me dead!