Billionaire's Regret: Losing Me And Our Son - Chapter 54: Chapter 54

"What is this?" Georgia snapped, reaching for the file, but York grabbed her wrist before she could touch it.
I barely saw him move—it was so fast, and clearly, he was trained.
York's laugh was cold. "Is this how the Madden family raises its kids?"
Before Alex could say a word, Georgia took matters into her own hands, clearly undermining him.
Alex's expression darkened, his mood shifting from bad to downright scary as he opened the file, scanned it for a moment, and his already grim face turned even more menacing.
After a few seconds of silence, Alex's cold stare pinned Georgia.
"Dad, what's going on?" Georgia, suddenly unnerved by his gaze, moved closer to see the document.
When she saw it, panic washed over her. "Dad, you've got to believe me! It's fake, a setup! I didn't do this!" she pleaded, scrambling for an explanation.
I had a feeling I knew where this was going, but I wasn't certain yet.
Then, like magic, York pulled a USB drive from his hand and grinned. "If you keep insisting that you didn't pay Owen to kidnap Ms. Hinton, I guess I'll have to turn this original evidence over to the police for them to check out."
York shot a quick look at one of his bodyguards, who began dialing.
"Don't call the police!" Georgia shouted, desperate, trembling. Her composure was completely shattered.
In the blink of an eye, she dropped to her knees in front of Alex, begging, "Dad, I did it all for the Madden family! Please, I'll explain everything later, just help me! I don't want to go to jail!"
Even now, she was using the tired excuse of "doing it for the family" to try to get out of this.
With a sharp slap, Alex hit Georgia across the face. "Get out!" he ordered.
Georgia, clutching her face in shock, cried, "Dad, I'm your only daughter! You promised Mom you'd take care of me!"
Alex glared at Drake, who immediately understood and pulled Georgia upstairs. A few moments later, he returned and whispered something in Alex's ear.
Alex narrowed his eyes at York. "Mr. Smith, you've brought me quite a gift. How should I repay you?" In a matter of minutes, Alex had already figured out York's identity.
York smiled and tossed the USB drive to Drake before grabbing my hand. "A simple trade will do."
Alex's sharp eyes locked onto me, sending a chill down my spine. York's words had been too suggestive, and there was no way to explain it now.
Before I could say anything, York pulled me out of the old mansion.
I pulled my hand away and frowned. "What do you think you're doing?"
York raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Is this how you treat the person who saved you?"
"You think I'll betray the Madden Group and show you the project plans just because you helped me?" I said, keeping my voice steady. I wasn't falling for his games.
York sighed. "Fine, no thanks needed. Just have lunch with me, then we can go our separate ways."
I hesitated. I didn't know what he was up to, but since he saved me, I didn't want to owe him anything.
I agreed, and York drove us to a trendy French restaurant. The food was beautiful, but I couldn't focus on it.
Curious, I asked, "How did you know I was at the old mansion?"
York's knife hovered above his steak, his eyes fixed on mine. "Do you believe me if I said I had people following you 24/7?" he asked, a playful smile on his lips.
I froze, not sure if he was joking. I didn't know him well, but York definitely wasn't someone to underestimate.
"You really believe that? You think I'm that crazy?" York feigned surprise, then sighed. "I just happened to save you. I was going to visit Alex to see if we could do business together."
His story didn't add up, and I wasn't entirely buying it. But since he wasn't being truthful, it wasn't worth asking more questions.
I nodded slowly. "Anyway, thanks. If it weren't for you, I don't know what would've happened."
"Are you divorced from Quinn?" York asked, his smile widening. "If you are, maybe we could give it a try. That way, my grandmother will stop bothering me."
I didn't even look up, putting my fork and knife down with a cool expression. "I'm done eating. This meal's on me, as a thank you." I waved the waiter over to pay.
"Natalia, you're a real piece of work!" A familiar voice called out from behind. "You're still after Quinn and now you're trying to hook up with other guys?"
I turned around to see Diana, looking furious, staring at me with hatred. My mood soured. "What are you doing still hanging around Enschester?" I said, unfazed. "I thought Quinn had sent you back to Nordia."
"You slut! I knew it was you who convinced Quinn to get rid of me!"
I hadn't seen Diana in days, and I had no idea she was this on edge. A few casual comments from me sent her into a frenzy. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she glared at me with pure rage.
A server walked by her, and without warning, Diana grabbed a cup of hot coffee and splashed it at me. I couldn't react fast enough and instinctively raised my hand to protect my face.
Suddenly, York stepped in front of me, shielding me with his body. The coffee splashed all over his back. I looked up in surprise as he winced, his face tightening in pain.
Diana, frustrated that she missed me, clenched her fists and punched York in the back. "Who the hell are you? Why are you protecting this slut? Get away from her!"
Before she could finish, I stood up and slapped her hard across the face.
"You bitch, how dare you?" Diana froze, staring at me in disbelief, then charged at me. "I'll make you pay!"
I grabbed her wrist without hesitation, lifting my hand again and slapping her even harder, my voice cold. "I'll slap you whenever I want. What, do you need a special occasion?"
In the past, I thought I had been the one to ruin things between her and Quinn, and I put up with her because I felt guilty. But now that Quinn and I were divorced, I realized she was just angry because Quinn didn't want her. And somehow, she was taking it out on me.
The two hard slaps left her stunned, standing there with her hand over her face, unable to do anything.
"Next time you try to mess with me, I'll slap you again," I warned, and without a second thought, I grabbed York and walked out of the restaurant.