Billionaire's Regret: Losing Me And Our Son - Chapter 97: Chapter 97

That was my insurance. My way to protect myself and everyone else while ensuring Elijah couldn't weasel his way back into my life.
"If you don't want to write it, then go confess to the cops," Finn snapped, his tone sharper than I'd ever heard. Even Finn, who was usually calm and reserved, couldn't stand Elijah's behavior anymore.
Elijah's jaw tightened, his face twisting in frustration. Finally, he gritted his teeth and muttered, "Fine. I'll write it."
A few tense minutes later, he handed me the paper. His confession was written out, his fingerprint stamped at the bottom.
Then, Finn walked Elijah out, leaving me alone with Quinn in the wine cellar.
I tucked the two documents away, and out of nowhere, Quinn, who was lounging on the sofa, asked, "What are you afraid of?"
I turned to him, puzzled. "Afraid? Am I?"
"Why let him off the hook?" Quinn said, not hiding his frustration. "Even if the Hinton family gets pissed, you don't need to worry. I'm not going anywhere."
His words caught me off guard. Was he saying he'd always have my back?
"I'm not afraid," I said, keeping my voice steady and pressing my lips together.
Quinn didn't get it. He couldn't. He didn't know what it was like to be betrayed by your own family. I looked away, not wanting to get into it. After a beat, I quietly said, "But thanks."
"Hey, it's okay to cry if you need to," Quinn said, his voice softer. He stood up and walked toward me. "I've got a shoulder for you."
I chuckled a little, trying to hide the emotion. "Cry? For what?" I shot back, but my voice cracked.
I looked up at him, meeting his eyes—dark and steady. Before I knew it, Quinn pulled me into his arms. His hand pressed the back of my head, pulling me closer, and I felt my face sink into his chest.
His voice, low and gentle, spoke right in my ear. "No one's around, and I won't remember it if you do."
Something about those simple words broke me. The minty scent of his shirt wrapped around me, and all the hurt I'd kept inside came rushing out. Tears fell, and I couldn't stop them.
Quinn didn't say a word, just let me cry, his hand gently stroking my back.
This was it—my goodbye to the past, to the man who had pretended to be my father for over twenty years. It was final, and it hurt like hell.
I didn't know how long I cried, but by the time it stopped, I felt empty, like all the tears had been used up.
After feeling done, I pushed him away and stood up straight, not really knowing what to say except for a quiet thanks.
"Thank you," I muttered, barely loud enough for him to hear.
Quinn's eyes were intense as he looked at me, his voice soft. "Are you really not thinking about moving back?"
I froze for a second. This was the first time he'd asked for my opinion.
Noticing my hesitation, he quickly added, "If it feels wrong, we can always get married again."
If I hadn't just cried, if I didn't see that hint of pity in his eyes, maybe I would've thought Quinn actually liked me.
I laughed, bitterly. Why was I still letting him get to me?
"Mr. Madden," I said, shaking my head, "you think it's cruel to let me walk away with nothing?"
I grinned a little, trying to keep it light. "If you really feel bad for me, why don't you just let me go from Madden Group? Or, you know, raise my salary?"
Quinn's brow furrowed, his face serious now. It was the same old thing; he couldn't stand being rejected.
I kept my smile, but it was thinner this time. "If you can't do it, then just don't bring this up again, alright? Let's just pretend I'm not pathetic, okay?"
I couldn't keep letting him mess with my head. I loved him once, but it wasn't the same anymore. Maybe I still couldn't forget him, but I definitely couldn't love him the way I used to.
"Quinn," I said softly, meeting his eyes, "we're done."