I nod at Aiden, and he hands me a hard drive. I clench my jaw as I look at it, my eyes finding my mother’s. She smiles, her smile bittersweet. I walk up to her and wrap my arm around her just as the police walk in.
Matthew freezes when he sees them, his face draining of color. They stop in front of him.
“Matthew Rousseau,” they say. “You’re under arrest for the attempted murder of Sarah Rousseau. Anything you say can and will be used in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.”
I shake my head at him. “Attempted murder is but one of your crimes, Matthew. The doctors and nurses that were on the Rousseau payroll? The ones that knowingly kept my mother in an induced coma? The police have certified confessions from them. They’ll be testifying against you.”
A tear drops down my mother’s cheek as they slap the cuffs around his wrist, his head hanging low. I tighten my grip on my mother as they lead him past us, my heart heavy. I’ve gone through years of us growing apart, but to my mother, it must feel like she’s losing her son all of a sudden.
I inhale deeply before addressing the shocked board members. None of them have said a single word. They’re probably scandalized, and it won’t take long for rumors about today’s events to start spreading—exactly what I wanted. Even if somehow, Matthew gets away with what he did to my mother, his reputation will forever be tarnished.
“I think that’s quite enough theatrics for today. I apologize for involving you all. I hereby call this meeting closed. You’re dismissed.”
Most of them rise from their seats, and many of them head toward my mother. How could I have forgotten? Most of these people are old friends of hers, people that have been here from the very start. Many of them were here when she grew the company into what it is.
Our security team stops them from getting too close to her and she shakes her head, raising her palm. “Soon,” she says. “We’ll all be able to catch up soon. I’m not going anywhere, ever again. But today… today my daughter and I have some business to take care of.”
She turns and walks away, and I can’t help but smile. I was worried today would be incredibly hard on her, but she seems to be coping well.
I follow her, impatient for what’s about to come.
Chapter 50
A lexander
Elena stares up at her family home, a sad expression on her face.
“Don’t worry, baby,” I say, wrapping my arm around her. “We’ll get you your home back.”
Elena shakes her head and rises to her tiptoes, pressing a lingering kiss to my cheek. “No,” she says. “My home is with you. Today, we’re regaining my mother’s home.”
My heart stirs and I smile down at her. She considers her home to be with me?
“Honey.”
Elena turns to look at her mother, her brows raised.
“Let me,” Sarah says, her eyes on the property in front of us. “Let me do this.”
Elena nods, her hand brushing down my arm until she’s got her hand nestled in mine. I entwine our fingers, the two of us following behind Sarah, a dozen men surrounding us.
Elena touches her earpiece and then nods at her mother. “Systems are down.”
Sarah inhales deeply and pushes the gates open. She walks slowly, heavily leaning on her cane, but she’s walking. After all these years, she’s walking.
I glance at my wife, my amazing wife. Never once did she give up on her mother. She fought for a scholarship and worked three jobs in an effort to afford the exceptional care Sarah received. She did that—a woman that grew up filthy rich. All for her mother.
Sarah walks into the house, and Elena and I follow right behind her. She walks into the living room to find Jade and Elise sitting on the sofa—her sofa. Jade sits up in shock, her hand going over her mouth. She looks like she saw a ghost, the same guilt that Matthew portrayed reflected in her eyes too.
“Jade,” Sarah says, her voice tinged with mock surprise. “What are you doing in my house?”
Jade rises from the sofa and walks around it, her face white. She stands behind the sofa, as though she’s trying to use it as a barrier.
“You… you were dead.”
Sarah looks down at her hands. “No,” she says. “I don’t think so.”
She takes a step forward, and Jade takes a step away from her. Meanwhile, Elise is on the sofa, her eyes wide. Elena nods at our men, and they move toward Elise, restraining her.
“You stay away from my daughter,” Jade says, her voice trembling. She glances around the room, realizing that she’s outnumbered.
Sarah ignores her and sits down on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other. “Can’t say I love what you did to the place,” she says, frowning.
She nods at the seat opposite her. “Take a seat.”
One of our men grabs Jade and forces her into the seat Sarah just pointed out, and I smile. I lean into Elena, my lips brushing past her ear. “Your mom is quite badass.”
She grins, and I wrap my arms around her. Elena rests her back against my chest, and I put my chin on top of her head. The two of us standing here as though we’re watching our favorite show.
“I thought we agreed that you’d stay away from my family,” Sarah says, spreading her arms out on the sofa. “So why are you in my house?”
Jade trembles and reaches for her phone, which just makes Sarah laugh. “Don’t bother,” she says. “Alaric is being detained by the Kennedys, and Matthew has been arrested for attempted murder. But worry not, Jade, soon you’ll be joining your darling son.”
“You… you—this isn’t your house. Not anymore. It’s mine. You need to get out,” Jade says. “I’m calling the police. You’re trespassing.”
I press a kiss to Elena’s neck. “Good move on Jade’s part,” I murmur, and Elena huffs.
Elise watches us, looking more panicked by the second, and I narrow my eyes at her. I haven’t forgotten that Elise is the reason my wife ended up at Vaughn’s—the very same place she’ll end up at, eventually. I’ll make sure of it.
Elena shakes her head. “It would be, if she actually owned this place. She doesn’t.”
Jade glares at Sarah, her cheeks slowly regaining color. “Everything that used to be yours is mine now. Matter of fact, it always was. Alaric was always mine, and you’re well aware that Matthew is too. It doesn’t matter that you raised him for years—he’s my blood. Alaric only married you for the money. It’s me he always loved.”
Sarah freezes—it’s subtle, but it doesn’t escape me. Elena’s grip on my hand tightens, and she takes a step forward, but I pull her back. “Your mom has got this,” I tell her. “Let her have this moment. It’s been years in the making.”
She nods, but she’s tense. I tighten my grip on her, hugging her close to me.
“That might well be true,” Sarah says. “But it doesn’t explain why you’re in my house. Alaric and Matthew… you can have them. They’re yours. But everything I’ve ever worked for? Everything I’ve ever invested in? You can’t have that, Jade.”