From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace novel Chapter 60

“I’m warning you, I’ve already called the police. Do you even know who Fabian is? He’s from the Gates family. If you hurt him, they’ll never let you walk away. He’s their only son. You… you can’t do anything to him.”

Bonnie looked at Laura trembling and scared, crouched down, and squeezed Laura’s chin, forcing her to look up.

“Wow, you’d do all this for Fabian? The Gates family should really send you a thank-you card. Laura, right? Why not take this chance to get a real title, make sure Fabian can never leave you?”

Laura, who had been a bundle of nerves, suddenly calmed down at Bonnie’s words. But a second later, she snapped back, putting on a show of resistance.

“What… what are you trying to do? I’m from the Austin family! Aren’t you scared of us? If you lay a finger on me or Fabian, neither the Gates family nor the Austins will let you go…”

“You talk too much.”

Bonnie couldn’t be bothered to listen anymore. She knocked Laura out cold and dragged her off toward the photo studio.

***

Friday morning, Laurinda got a call to come to the police station and sign a settlement agreement. The moment she walked in, she spotted Finn’s assistant and the Austin family’s butler waiting in the lobby.

Cain looked surprised to see Laurinda, and for a second, it looked like he wanted to say something, but couldn’t quite get the words out.

Laurinda barely glanced at him, then followed Kendal inside.

Once she’d signed the papers and collected the compensation, Laurinda didn’t rush off. She told Kendal she’d be right back and headed into the old detective’s office.

The officer had been trying to avoid her, but Laurinda showed up anyway. He let out a long sigh when he saw her.

“What are you doing here? You treat the police station like your own backyard or something?”

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