Chapter 27
Richard pried Miranda’s hands off him and said in a flat tone. “If she doesn’t like living with me, I can buy her a house to stay in
Miranda froze, thinking. Can’t believe Richard could be this cold to us. I’m literally begging him, and he still feels nothing
But what Richard did next made her blood nun colder.
With one wrist hanging awkwardly, he pulled out his phone with the other. Tll call the cops for you right now. It’ll be more helpful to
find Mia.
From the moment Miranda refused to involve the police. Richard had already guessed she knew exactly where Mia had gone. And her reluctance to call the cops only showed that she had something to hide.
Richard recalled the situation when he and Miranda woke up in the same bed. Back then, he told her to call the police and accuse him of assault.
She flat–out refused and wouldn’t even go to the hospital for an exam to prove anything happened. Everything about her screamed guilty.
Richard scoffed inwardly. After all these years, you’re still pulling the same trick. You really think nobody can see through your games?”
“No, you can’t” Miranda lunged forward and yanked the phone from his hand. panic written all over her face.
“Fine, I won’t call,” Richard said, holding out his hand for his phone. “But I can’t help you find her. That’s what the police are good at.”
After leaving those words, Richard turned to leave.
Richard had just taken a few steps when Miranda’s voice came from behind, full of desperation. “You can. Mia is held at Derrick’s place.”
The moment Derrick’s name came up, Richard stopped. He looked back, confused. “Derrick? Why the hell would he hold Mia for no reason?”
Miranda’s mind spun, and she quickly made something up. “Because Kate wants a divorce. Derrick refused, so Mia helped her leave. and…”
Like she’d finally been pushed to the edge, Miranda gritted her teeth and forced it out. “And Kate’s pregnant.”
That bombshell hit hard. Richard was still trying to process it when Miranda dropped another hit. “But she doesn’t want the baby. She said Derrick forced her, and she wanted a divorce.”
Richard was starting to lose the thread, but the moment he heard Katherine was forced to be pregnant, his face went ice–cold. “Why didn’t you tell me before?
His voice carried none of its usual calm–it was sharp, cold.
Miranda showed a bitter smile. “Tell you? Could I even get you to pick up the phone? If you’d been more patient with me, told you what’s going on with Kate.”
Lwould’ve
She covered her face with her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. “You know how Kate feels about you. She didn’t want me to say anything. so I had to keep it quiet.
“Richard, whatever the truth between us was back then, I’ve always raised Kate with a real heart. For Kate’s sake, please help Mia”
Richard stared at her for a long time, his face shadowed and unreadable in the dim light. Finally, he said, “If what you say is true, I’ll help you. Then he turned and walked away.
The second Richard heard something had happened to his daughter, he didn’t even care about his injured wrist. In the middle of the night, he drove straight to tiverbend Manor, rage rolling off him. He couldn’t wait for another second
If Miranda was telling the truth, every extra minute meant more suffering for his baby girl.
Richard had half–expected to be stopped at the gates. But all he did was show his face to the guards, and they let him through without a
word.
Suspicious. Richard pulled up to the house and saw a young man standing at the front door.
Richard’s skin crawl.
Richard’s face was just as grim. He got out of the car and walked over to Derrick. With every step, he couldn’t help but wonder what the hell his daughter had been through in this man’s hands.
“Good evening. Richard.” Derrick greeted him with an easy smile, like this was some casual meet–up.
Richard thought, Judging from his attitude, he seems to know I’d come.
He cut straight to the point. “Where’s Kate? I want to see her.”
Derrick invited Richard inside, and Maeve brought over some water right away.
Derrick said smoothly. “She’s sleeping. If you want to check on her, please keep it quiet,
He didn’t stop Richard from checking on Katherine. He knew that blocking Richard now would only make him look guilty–exactly the kind of guilt Miranda probably wanted to pin on him.
Derrick could already guess the crap that Miranda had been feeding Richard, and he knew it wouldn’t include her own crimes.
The bedroom door was ajar, only the soft glow from a floor lamp lighting the room.
Richard stepped closer and locked his eyes on the face he hadn’t seen in so long.
Ever since Kate got married, she’d barely contacted him, like she’d been waiting for an excuse to cut him out for good,
Not wanting to push her further away, Richard stayed away. And just like that, three years had gone by.
Now, Katherine looked so much thinner, and all the baby fat was gone from her cheeks.
The blanket on her was kicked down a little, and her slightly rounded belly showed. It had been four months, and the curve was getting hard to miss. Her slim frame made the pregnancy stand out even more.
Richard’s chest tightened upon seeing the scene. He still couldn’t believe the fact that he was about to be a grandpa.
But then he remembered Miranda’s words–that this child was the result of Derrick’s force–and the ache in Richard’s chest twisted into a knot.
Once confirming Katherine was safe, Richard eased the door shut and turned to leave.
Derrick was standing right outside, and with a tilt of his chin toward the stairs, they wordlessly headed back dowIL
Once they were in the living room, Richard went straight for it. “You held Ma, didn’t you?”
Maeve had already gone to bed on Derrick’s orders. Derrick nodded and replied, “Yeah, I do.”
Richard shot Derrick a sharp glare and asked, “Why?”
“Another thing Miranda said turns out to be true, thought Richard.
Richard’s biggest fear had always been his daughter suffering in Derrick’s place.
Derrick replied, “She tried to hurt my wife and kid. Is that reason good enough for you?”
He then told Richard about Mia spraying herself with musk perfume and deliberately getting close to Kate
“Of course, maybe she didn’t mean to. Depends on how you wanna see it,” Derrick added.
Richard went silent, his eyes narrowing as he studied Derrick. Derrick’s answers were steady, and his tone was calm. He looked nothing like someone with a guilty conscience.
Hut, Richard knew better than to judge someone by appearances,
He didn’t comment on Mia. Instead, he asked, “About the baby, how did it happen?”
His question was vague, but Derrick’s smile faded. He said plainly. “I forced her
(AANE HAINATATI HIUSE WATUS IOHL DERICKS ups, facrard s ost slammed into Derrick’s face.
AD
