<b>Chapter </b><b>115 </b>


    Lydia


    “Then, are you ready to start speaking?” Mason asked, staring at Mr. Hale, who was shaking. He nodded.


    “Now do you know what we are talking about?” I asked. “Why did you take those photos, and who else did you send them to?” I questioned.


    “Nobody. I only sent it to you, too.” Mason red at him.


    The girl is now huddled on one side of the bed, face down, after being identified as a mistress, she is too ashamed to face us.


    “If you even think of lying to me, I’ll make sure you don’t only lose your job at KDS news, but you are cklisted.” It wasn’t an empty threat. Knowing Mason, he would carry this out without lifting a finger. It seems Mr. Hale seems to realise that too.


    He dropped to the floor, his knees hitting the tiled floor with a low thud. He pressed both hands together, and his shoulder shook. Truly, he messed with the wrong people.


    “And I’d make sure your wife gets that photo. Let’s see what will happen to your family after the news of your affair spreads all over the city.” I


    added crossing my hands over my chest.


    “Please, please, I know I am wrong. I was trying to get some extra ie.” Was he trying to use the pity card?


    “I have a four year old son who is ill and in need of help, and I needed all the money I could get. It was never my intention to hurt you.” He began sobbing.


    “And you thought trying to interfere with my peace and dragging my children into whatever scheme you have was the right way to go about your predicament?”


    “I’m sorry, I know I was wrong. I’m truly sorry.”


    “Who else did you send the picture to?” Mason asked, his voice as cold as ice. “And don’t you even think of lying to me. You’re one lie away from ruining your entire life.”


    “I… you know… There were…” Mr. Hale swallowed, still shaking like a drenched rat, “I had other pictures. But the one I sent to you.” He raised his head and moved his blood–red eyes from Mason to me. “The ones with the kids I sent to both of you alone.”


    “What other pictures did you take?” I asked.


    “A photo of you and Mason. When he knelt down in front of you at a restaurant.” He paused and bit his lower lip, “I sent it to Mr. Woods’s fiancée.” Now this exins how Julia got the picture.


    “Please, forgive me just one time.” Mason bent down and grabbed his chin in his hand. “Do you know what you almost caused?” He said through gritted teeth.


    “Do you think this can be cleared by a mere apology?” Mr. Hale let out a low growl as Mason’s fingers dug into his skin.


    Mason pushed his face to the side, freeing himself from his hold. Mr. Haley on the floor, clutching his jaw for a few minutes.


    He resumed kneeling, one hand still massaging his jaw.


    “I’m sorry about that. I may not be able to correct the past and all I did, but I am sure I’d be able to correct the future.”


    “I’ll give you the sh drive that has the pictures and make sure I don’t ever share it with anyone else.” He stood and rushed to the side, face now red from pain. He grabbed his bag from the couch on the side of the room, opened it, and brought out a small purse.


    his


    16:46 Mon, 11 Aug


    Aug


    “How can we be sure you don’t have other coples?” I asked as he handed us the sh drive. Mason took it from him.


    “I swear on my sick child, I have no other copy.”


    <b>41</b>%8


    “I don’t care if you swear on whatever, if I see any pictures like this with anyone, then you’d better start praying for life, cause I will end you,


    Mason said


    “We’ll trust your words this time. Don’t give us a reason to regret not dealing with you how we want to.”


    “I won’t, thank you, thank you.” Mr. Hale repeated as we turned to leave. Mason held the doorknob and turned it, he was about to pull open the door when Mr. Hale asked.


    “But permit me to ask what your rtionship is? Are the kids yours?”


    For some reason, I didn’t feel as relieved as I should have when I left the hotel room.


    We were quiet on our way back. The car soon stopped at a red light. Mason’s phone, which he had ced on the phone holder, rang. He answered the call.


    “We just left Mr. Hale. Take care of him.” He told his assistant.


    After the call ended, a few minutes passed before it began ringing again.


    He didn’t take the call the first or the second time. When it started ringing again, I was forced to turn to him, “at least take the call or do something.”


    The name “Mom,” with two red heart emojis, appeared on the screen.


    “I don’t want to take it. I can guess what she wants to say.” It was his mom, probably calling to nag him about his breakup.


    Mason took a turn. It was still drizzling at this point. “Do you think it’s a bad idea? What I did.”


    “What did you do?” I pretended I had no idea what he was speaking about.


    “You know, breaking up with Julia.” The car slowed down before stopping in front of another. This was a bad time to be stuck in traffic.


    “Why would you ask me that?”


    “Because even though I try to lie to myself, you,” he inhaled sharply, moving the car slowly again, and when he stopped, looked at me and continued, “you contributed big time to my decision, you and the kids.”


    “Don’t try to rope me into your decision. I didn’t ask you to end your rtionship.” There was no way I’d allow myself to be dragged into this. Absolutely <i>no </i>freaking way. He never consulted me before he made the decision or anything.


    “I’m not trying to pin you in anything.” He started, his breathing even. “I just want to be in your life again. I want to be a father to the twins.” his words broke.


    “You are the father of my twins.” He doesn’t have to be in my life to be with his children.


    “I know. But I want more. Call me greedy, but I want more than simply being their father.<i>” </i>he said.


    I closed my eyes and opened them, feeling my heart beat quickening. “I want to be in your life too, as your husband. I want to…”


    “No.” I cut him short, cing my hand in my ear to block out his words. “Just drive. I don’t want to hear it,” I said, looking out the window.


    “Lydia, please listen to me.”


    16:46 Mon, 11 Aug


    4180


    “One more word from you and I’m leaving this car.” I don’t care how I do it, but I would not be spending another minute in this car if he keeps this topic.


    He doesn’t say another word about it or try to make small talk. When the car stopped in front of my gate, he said, “I’m d I got the reporter.” He paused as I removed the seat belt from around me.


    “I kept my word. No one gets to see a photo of me kneeling in front of you.” I was about to speak, but he beat me to it, “I know you are worried about Julia.” This got my attention, and I turned to him, “But you don’t have to. She has too much pride and will never allow anyone to see a picture of me kneeling in front of you.”


    “That doesn’t change the fact that she saw it.”


    “I’m sorry.” He apologised.


    I didn’t step out of the car. Instead, I turned to face him, “When I returned after the prison fire incident, I had one goal in mind.” I paused. I never thought that there would be a day when I’d openly tell him about my hatred for him.


    Well, guess that day is today. If it helps him get over this delusion, then it’s good. The earlier he gets over it, the better.


    “It was to ruin you just like you did me in prison.” My eyes were blurry. I’m doing all I can to hold back my tears.


    “I know I abandoned you, and I’m sorry.”


    I didn’t reply to his words but continued, “Even if I forgive you for abandoning me, I’d never forgive you for the prison incident. Not when it


    almost cost me my twins.” After saying that, I stepped out of the car without looking at his face.


    I mmed the door as hard as I could and walked through the gate, tears streaming down my cheeks.