Chapter 825
Cole yanked his arm back, keeping the ring just out of reach. His longer arms made it impossible for me to grab it.
“You’re so attached to this ring—don’t tell me it’s special,” he said, squinting at it as he flipped it over and over in his hand.
“Maybe there’s more to it…” he muttered.
“You’re delusional,” I snapped.
But he ignored me, laser-focused on the ring. I was too tired to keep arguing—being pregnant had me running on fumes—and before I knew it, I’d drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep.
That is, until something soft brushed my face.
Startled, I woke up to see Cole sitting there, his cat’s tail swishing against my cheek.
Of course. First foxtail grass, now a cat? Apparently, Cole had a thing for soft, fluffy things.
People like that? Deep down, they’re usually just desperate for a little love.
His smug grin didn’t help. “You slept like a baby. Didn’t even flinch. Guess you trust me, huh? Not worried I’ll sell you off?”
“You’re keeping me alive because I’m useful. That’s not trust, Cole.” I stepped out of the car, brushing past his cat, and froze.
In front of me was a massive mansion, wrapped in lush trees, vibrant flowers, and a sparkling fountain. It looked like something out of a fairytale—peaceful and ridiculously gorgeous.
So, this was my new prison, at least until Cole got what he wanted. Or maybe he’d use me as bait to mess with Hayden.
If I had to be a hostage, at least I wasn’t stuck in some dingy basement.
“Where is this? I want to go home,” I said, testing him.
“This is home,” Cole said, his grin widening. “You’re the first woman I’ve brought here. VIP treatment, just for you.”
As if to seal the deal, he nudged his cat toward me again.
I didn’t hate cats, but I wasn’t about to cozy up to one—especially not while pregnant. Animals carried germs, and I wasn’t taking any chances.
Cole wasn’t being cute. He was trying to mess with me, to keep the pressure on until I cracked. But I had nothing to give him.
Chapter 825
I needed to see Yara. If she’d swapped the urn’s contents, she was my best shot at figuring this out. But with Cole watching my every move, calling or texting her was out. If he caught on, he’d immediately suspect her.
Whether Yara had switched the urn’s contents or Hayden had staged all of this, I didn’t know. Until Hayden explained it, I couldn’t risk putting him—or anyone else—in danger.
“My stomach feels off. I need to go to the hospital,” I said, trying to come up with an excuse.
Cole pulled out his phone. “I’ll have a doctor come here.”
True to his word, a doctor arrived quickly and gave me a thorough checkup. Thankfully, everything was fine—the baby was healthy.
Well, at least I got a free prenatal exam out of this mess.
But I still needed a way to see Yara. Just as I was running out of ideas, she showed up—with Jace right behind her.
“Well, well,” Cole drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Look who it is. What’s this, a coincidence? Or are you two finally dating?”
Yara didn’t waste a second. She marched over and smacked Cole on the back of the head twice.
“You’ve completely lost your humanity, haven’t you?” she snapped. “Bullying a pregnant woman? What did your mother always say? Never harm the elderly, women, or children. And here you are, breaking two of those rules at once!”
“I didn’t even do anything to her!” Cole protested, sounding defensive. “She’s living better than the entire Johnston family—eating like a queen!”
“Would you be okay with gourmet meals if they were served in a prison cell?” Yara shot back.
“Aunt Yara, it’s not the same!” Cole grumbled. “You’ve never interfered with my business—why start now?”
“When it involves women and children—especially a pregnant woman—I’ll make an exception,” Yara said firmly.
Cole’s expression flickered. Then, tilting his head, he flashed a sly grin. “Oh, right. I almost forgot—you were engaged to Hayden once, weren’t you?”