Chapter 259
Albert parked his car just down the street from the wedding.
He watched Dorothea step out, then stayed put for the entire ceremony, not moving until she and Latham drove off together. He sat there for five hours, torturing himself by watching her find happiness that wasn’t with him.
He’d thought about storming in, making a scene, but he knew all that would do was make Dorothea hate him even more.
His good looks were obscured by a hazy cloud of smoke. He let out a bitter laugh, flicked the cigarette away, and prepared to leave.
Just then, his phone rang. It was his dad.
“Albert, you got the divorce certificate, right p>
“Yeah, I got it.” Albert had used some connections to finalize the divorce with Carola, even before the cooling-off period was over.
He couldn’t let himself be tied to a criminal. It would tank the company’s stock price too.
“Good. Carola’s gone and done it again. She tried to bomb Latham’s wedding. Can you believe it? Only she would think of something like that p>
“Glad we’re divorced. Latham won’t ever let her get the chance to hurt someone again. But Albert, maybe it’s time to think about another marriage alliance p>
Albert went silent, stunned. He never thought Carola would lose it to this extent. Even after they split, he hoped she’d turn things around. He had no idea that asking for a divorce would be what finally broke her.
He let out a heavy sigh. “Dad, let’s put the alliance on hold for now p>
“On hold? What, are you waiting for Latham to have a kid before you finally settle down p>
The idea made Albert’s chest clench. He paused, his voice flat. “I get it, Dad. I’m hanging up p>
Maybe bringing someone new into the picture would get a reaction from Dorothea. Maybe that was the way to go.
Even now, Albert still believed Dorothea was just mad at him, nothing more.
Layton hurled a vase at the wall. “Tell me the truth. Did you help Carola p>
He’d cut off all her money to keep her from doing anything reckless. How did she pull off something this insane without help?
This time, she’d gone way too far.
Attempted murder, risking public safety, a stack of serious charges. Carola was never getting out. The thought made Layton physically ill.
“Dad,” Alonzo choked out, “I didn’t know it would get this bad. She begged me, I couldn’t say no p>
Layton thought about Latham’s
ruthlessness. He wouldn’t sp Brown
Layton He wouldn’t spare the Brown family. And he definitely wouldn’t spare Carola.
“Get upstairs. Pack your things. I’m calling in favors and getting you out of the country now. Don’t come back for a few years, I’ll wire money to your account once you’re gone p>
“Go, now p>
He had to save at least one of his kids. If Alonzo got caught up in this, they’d all be finished.
“But Carola p>
“No buts. You think you’re innocent? Helping her makes you guilty too p>
That finally shook Alonzo. “Okay, I’ll grab my passport p>
Layton was drained, emotionally and physically. How did everything end up like this?
He couldn’t stop thinking, over and over, about how he never should have married
Elise.
Dorothea had the driver take
Carmen home. After Carmen
stepped in to help her avoid so many
toasts at the reception, there was no
way she’d let anything happen to her
“Where’s your best man?” Dorothea asked.
Latham let out a dry laugh. “He’s off catching up with an old friend. Let’s just leave
him be p>