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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN
Last Updated:
2025-01-21 22:28:16
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Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN
The private room at Shawn Memorial Hospital had all the amenities money could buy, but it still felt like a prison to Richard Stone. He was propped up against expensive pillows, an IV drip beside him more for show than necessity when Barrett slipped in."You look terrible," Barrett said, closing the door quietly behind him.Richard's face was pale and drawn, sweat beading on his forehead – the desired effect of the pill Barrett had given him earlier. "That's the point, isn't it?" He grimaced, reaching for water. "Tell me some good news."Barrett set his briefcase down, loosening his tie with trembling fingers. The confident lawyer who'd won countless cases was nowhere to be seen today. "Judge Marion isn't buying it. She's demanding daily medical updates from different attending physicians.""That's what we pay them for, isn't it?" Richard snapped, then immediately regretted the outburst as pain shot through his head."That's just it." Barrett lowered his voice, though they were alone.
Last Updated : 2025-01-22Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN
The night was endless, a fight Eliza couldn't win. JJ's fever raged like a fire, his tiny body too hot, his cries piercing. Her designer blouse—once a symbol of her old life—was now wrinkled, stained, and clinging to her as she darted back and forth, wet napkins in hand, trying to cool him down."Shh, baby," she whispered, though her voice was barely there. "Mommy's here."But nothing worked. JJ’s cries only grew louder, echoing off the thin motel walls. The cheap room felt smaller and smaller, closing in on her with every minute. No money for a doctor. No help. Just her and her sick little boy.She tried everything she could think of—cold clothes, gentle rocking, soft lullabies. The tricks she used to pay others to do were now her last hope. The hours dragged, heavy and cruel.Finally, sometime before dawn, JJ’s cries stopped. His fever eased, and his breathing slowed. Eliza sat on the edge of the bed, completely exhausted. She had not slept, nor even rested her eyes even for a secon
Last Updated : 2025-01-23Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN
Barrett straightened his suit and took a deep breath before stepping into Richard's room. The man was sitting upright on the hospital bed, his wrists cuffed to the rails, his face a mixture of frustration and concern."Finally," Richard snapped as Barrett entered. "What took so long? Where’s JJ?""I’ve made arrangements for you to see him," Barrett replied, his tone calm and measured. "The guards will unlock you, but there are conditions. No outbursts. No arguments with Eliza. You’re here for JJ, and that’s it."Richard scoffed. "I’m not a child, Barrett. Just get me to my son."The guards, standing at the doorway, exchanged glances before stepping forward to unlock the cuffs. Richard flexed his wrists as soon as they were free, his movements sharp and impatient.Barrett gestured toward the door. "Follow me." Barrett led Richard to the waiting room where Eliza sat, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She looked up as they entered, her face paling when she saw Richard."What is h
Last Updated : 2025-01-24Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN
Isabella walked into the hospital cafeteria and looked around the room until she saw Eliza seated in a booth in the corner. The woman appeared smaller than Isabella could recall, and a frightening vulnerability had taken the place of her normal self-assured manner. Eliza had a mixture of desperation and hope in her eyes as Isabella drew closer. "Thank you for coming," She said in a voice that was almost audible, a little bit above a whisper. "Start talking," Isabella responded, sliding into the seat across from her. "What's going on? Why I'm I here?"Eliza's story spilt out - the medical crisis, Jackson's abandonment, Richard's rejection. She explained JJ's critical need for a blood transfusion and how she'd exhausted every possible option. "You're AB negative," Eliza concluded, "and you're his only hope."Isabella listened carefully, her initial anger slowly giving way to concern for the innocent child caught in this web of adult complications. She thought about JJ - a child who ha
Last Updated : 2025-01-25Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN
“Take this and deliver it to my son,” Victoria said, more as a command than a request.“Ma…” his objection was cut short by Victoria's steely gaze and commanding presence that left no room for argument.Barrett carefully folded Victoria's letter and tucked it into his briefcase. Her intensity was unchanged, even behind bars - she was a woman who always found a way to exert control.Two days later, Richard sat in his cell, looking like a shell of his former self. “Your lawyer is here to see you,” the guard announced as he banged on the gate rails of Richard's cell“Richard, it's nice to see you, how are you holding up?” Barret asked although he already knew the answer to that one just by looking at him. He tried talking to Richard about their court hearing happening the next day, but he seemed lost and resigned, so Barrett resorted to his last option. He discreetly handed him the letter his mother had written.“What's this?” Richard asked uninterested“Something from your mother, She
Last Updated : 2025-01-26Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY
Isabella, Seth, Louis, and Frederick gathered in a little corner out of sight during the break. There was enough tension in the room for a knife to pierce it. Isabella paced while her heels clicked on the ground. "I do not like this," she said, running her hands through her hair. "Barrett is too confident. What if Richard actually walks free?"Frederick leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "That's exactly what I want them to think."Seth raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?""I'm playing dumb," Frederick explained, his eyes gleaming. "Let them attack our evidence. Let them think they're winning. They have no proof of Richard's innocence - not a single piece. But me?" He tapped his briefcase. "I'm just getting started."He turned to Louis sharply. "Tell me you collected everything by the book. We can't have any of it thrown out on technicalities."Louis shifted uncomfortably. "About that evidence...There's something else you should know," he said, his voice
Last Updated : 2025-01-27Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE
Frederick stood at the podium, his earlier confidence now radiating through the courtroom. "Your Honor, I'd like to call Special Agent Tara Winters to the stand."A sharp-featured woman in a crisp jacket strode to the witness box. After being sworn in, she met Richard's gaze unflinchingly."Agent Tara, please tell the court about the Operation.""For three years, we tracked Mr. Stone's network of influence. I was in charge of cracking codes, following the trail and everything techy. We got encrypted USB drives detailing payoffs to judges, politicians, and law enforcement officials across five states; we got videos of Richard's trafficking of human, arms and drugs, which were labelled as medical supplies." Frederick collected all the said evidence and handed them to the bailiff.Richard's face was drained of color. He had always been too careful, but Louis and his team had somehow gotten to the root of his operations.Next came Marcus Reynolds, one of Richard's former enforcers; he jus
Last Updated : 2025-01-28Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO
The common room of the women's correctional facility was quiet except for the droning of the television. Victoria Stone sat alone; her greying hair pulled back severely, her prison uniform neat despite its wear. Her eyes were fixed on the screen where her son's face filled the frame."Breaking news," the anchor announced. "Richard Stone, once considered untouchable, has been sentenced today. The business mogul faces forty years before the possibility of parole..."Victoria's hands began to shake. The paper cup of coffee she held slipped from her fingers, spreading a dark stain across the linoleum floor. No one moved to help her clean it up."My boy," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Oh, my Richard."The news showed footage of him being led away in handcuffs, and Victoria pressed her hands to her mouth, trying to stifle her sobs. She saw what others might miss - how he held his head, just like his father used to. The same proud tilt of the chin, even in defeat."I taught him that,"
Last Updated : 2025-01-29
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Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TWENTY FOUR
James pulled out his phone. "I can call them. Set something up for tomorrow, if you want."Isabella nodded slowly. "Tomorrow then." She looked at Seth. “Is that okay with you?""Of course," he assured her. James stood, wiping his face one final time. "I'll let them know. And Izzy?" He hesitated at the doorway. "Thank you. For listening. For giving me a chance to explain."After he left, Isabella collapsed against Seth, finally allowing her tears to fall. "All these years," she whispered. "I thought I must have done something terrible to make them hate me so much. And it turns out...it turns out I just wasn't theirs."Seth held her tighter, his voice fierce. "You are worth so much more than their prejudices, Isabella. So much more than their narrow definition of family."She nodded against his chest, then straightened, wiping her eyes. The Rivera’s dining room felt too small, too intimate for the weight of the moment. Isabella strode in, her heels clicking against the floor, Seth's s
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE
Seth's overly large living room felt smaller with James in it. Isabella sat rigidly on the couch, watching her brother pace back and forth. The silence between them was heavy with years of hurt."Izzy," James finally began, using her childhood nickname. "I've been trying to reach you for weeks.""I know." Her voice was flat, controlled."I saw everything on the news. The Stone case, Victoria's death..." He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "It made me think about a lot of things. About what I did. About who I became."Isabella remained silent, her hands clasped tightly in her lap."I was wrong," James continued, his voice cracking. "So wrong. When Richard offered me money..." He shook his head. "I convinced myself that you were the one who was wrong. That you weren't living up to his expectations.""Expectations," Isabella repeated softly. "What kind of expectation requires a man to beat his wife to a pulp, lock her up for days, sleep with her cousin, and talk down on her consta
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO
The common room of the women's correctional facility was quiet except for the droning of the television. Victoria Stone sat alone; her greying hair pulled back severely, her prison uniform neat despite its wear. Her eyes were fixed on the screen where her son's face filled the frame."Breaking news," the anchor announced. "Richard Stone, once considered untouchable, has been sentenced today. The business mogul faces forty years before the possibility of parole..."Victoria's hands began to shake. The paper cup of coffee she held slipped from her fingers, spreading a dark stain across the linoleum floor. No one moved to help her clean it up."My boy," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Oh, my Richard."The news showed footage of him being led away in handcuffs, and Victoria pressed her hands to her mouth, trying to stifle her sobs. She saw what others might miss - how he held his head, just like his father used to. The same proud tilt of the chin, even in defeat."I taught him that,"
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE
Frederick stood at the podium, his earlier confidence now radiating through the courtroom. "Your Honor, I'd like to call Special Agent Tara Winters to the stand."A sharp-featured woman in a crisp jacket strode to the witness box. After being sworn in, she met Richard's gaze unflinchingly."Agent Tara, please tell the court about the Operation.""For three years, we tracked Mr. Stone's network of influence. I was in charge of cracking codes, following the trail and everything techy. We got encrypted USB drives detailing payoffs to judges, politicians, and law enforcement officials across five states; we got videos of Richard's trafficking of human, arms and drugs, which were labelled as medical supplies." Frederick collected all the said evidence and handed them to the bailiff.Richard's face was drained of color. He had always been too careful, but Louis and his team had somehow gotten to the root of his operations.Next came Marcus Reynolds, one of Richard's former enforcers; he jus
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY
Isabella, Seth, Louis, and Frederick gathered in a little corner out of sight during the break. There was enough tension in the room for a knife to pierce it. Isabella paced while her heels clicked on the ground. "I do not like this," she said, running her hands through her hair. "Barrett is too confident. What if Richard actually walks free?"Frederick leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "That's exactly what I want them to think."Seth raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?""I'm playing dumb," Frederick explained, his eyes gleaming. "Let them attack our evidence. Let them think they're winning. They have no proof of Richard's innocence - not a single piece. But me?" He tapped his briefcase. "I'm just getting started."He turned to Louis sharply. "Tell me you collected everything by the book. We can't have any of it thrown out on technicalities."Louis shifted uncomfortably. "About that evidence...There's something else you should know," he said, his voice
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN
“Take this and deliver it to my son,” Victoria said, more as a command than a request.“Ma…” his objection was cut short by Victoria's steely gaze and commanding presence that left no room for argument.Barrett carefully folded Victoria's letter and tucked it into his briefcase. Her intensity was unchanged, even behind bars - she was a woman who always found a way to exert control.Two days later, Richard sat in his cell, looking like a shell of his former self. “Your lawyer is here to see you,” the guard announced as he banged on the gate rails of Richard's cell“Richard, it's nice to see you, how are you holding up?” Barret asked although he already knew the answer to that one just by looking at him. He tried talking to Richard about their court hearing happening the next day, but he seemed lost and resigned, so Barrett resorted to his last option. He discreetly handed him the letter his mother had written.“What's this?” Richard asked uninterested“Something from your mother, She
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN
Isabella walked into the hospital cafeteria and looked around the room until she saw Eliza seated in a booth in the corner. The woman appeared smaller than Isabella could recall, and a frightening vulnerability had taken the place of her normal self-assured manner. Eliza had a mixture of desperation and hope in her eyes as Isabella drew closer. "Thank you for coming," She said in a voice that was almost audible, a little bit above a whisper. "Start talking," Isabella responded, sliding into the seat across from her. "What's going on? Why I'm I here?"Eliza's story spilt out - the medical crisis, Jackson's abandonment, Richard's rejection. She explained JJ's critical need for a blood transfusion and how she'd exhausted every possible option. "You're AB negative," Eliza concluded, "and you're his only hope."Isabella listened carefully, her initial anger slowly giving way to concern for the innocent child caught in this web of adult complications. She thought about JJ - a child who ha
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN
Barrett straightened his suit and took a deep breath before stepping into Richard's room. The man was sitting upright on the hospital bed, his wrists cuffed to the rails, his face a mixture of frustration and concern."Finally," Richard snapped as Barrett entered. "What took so long? Where’s JJ?""I’ve made arrangements for you to see him," Barrett replied, his tone calm and measured. "The guards will unlock you, but there are conditions. No outbursts. No arguments with Eliza. You’re here for JJ, and that’s it."Richard scoffed. "I’m not a child, Barrett. Just get me to my son."The guards, standing at the doorway, exchanged glances before stepping forward to unlock the cuffs. Richard flexed his wrists as soon as they were free, his movements sharp and impatient.Barrett gestured toward the door. "Follow me." Barrett led Richard to the waiting room where Eliza sat, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She looked up as they entered, her face paling when she saw Richard."What is h
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN
The night was endless, a fight Eliza couldn't win. JJ's fever raged like a fire, his tiny body too hot, his cries piercing. Her designer blouse—once a symbol of her old life—was now wrinkled, stained, and clinging to her as she darted back and forth, wet napkins in hand, trying to cool him down."Shh, baby," she whispered, though her voice was barely there. "Mommy's here."But nothing worked. JJ’s cries only grew louder, echoing off the thin motel walls. The cheap room felt smaller and smaller, closing in on her with every minute. No money for a doctor. No help. Just her and her sick little boy.She tried everything she could think of—cold clothes, gentle rocking, soft lullabies. The tricks she used to pay others to do were now her last hope. The hours dragged, heavy and cruel.Finally, sometime before dawn, JJ’s cries stopped. His fever eased, and his breathing slowed. Eliza sat on the edge of the bed, completely exhausted. She had not slept, nor even rested her eyes even for a secon
