Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Call the Cops

Back at the Collins estate.

When Jackson and Aiden got home, Victoria had already finished setting the table, dinner hot and ready.

She looked up, surprised to see Natalie wasn’t with them. Once she got the full story, she sighed. “Jackson, is Ms. Foster refusing to come back because she still blames me for what happened three years ago? I mean, she’s been in prison. Where else could she possibly go if not here?”

“Let her do what she wants,” Jackson replied coolly.

Still, when he thought about the way Natalie looked earlier, he couldn’t help but frown.

She wasn’t just thinner–she looked like a completely different person. She had a look in her eyes he hadn’t seen before–distant, guarded, tough.

Did she really have it that rough in prison?No. That couldn’t be.

But that didn’t make sense. Victoria had told him women’s prison wasn’t that bad. She said most of the inmates were nice.

He’d pulled strings to make sure she was fine. She had food, clothing, and decent treatment. Three years inside? It was basically a long time–out for what she did.

Victoria, though, looked a little uneasy. “But what if Mr. Gabriel asks about her? He specifically asked you to go pick her up.”

Gabriel Collins–Jackson’s grandfather–had always been fond of Natalie.

Years ago, she’d saved his life. Because of that, he had insisted Jackson marry her and even paid a fortune to make it happen.

Even after she went to prison, Gabriel still saw her as part ever wanted as his granddaughter–in–law.

of the family–the only woman he

cem concerned. “Relax. She is be mad at me, but she’d never turn her back Jackson didn’t on Aiden. His graduation’s coming up–she’ll be there.”

Aiden had skipped three grades. He was only nine and already finishing elementary school. Everyone knew how much Natalie adored her son. There was no way she’d miss something that important.

Aiden pouted and leaned into Victoria’s arms, whining. “But I want you to come to my graduation, Ms. Victoria,”

Victoria tapped his nose with a smile. “Alright, but only if you help get your mom to come home first. She’s been gone long enough, don’t you think?” Then, as if it were nothing, she added. “And maybe… she doesn’t need to actually show up at the graduation. I mean, she’s been in prison. That kind of thing gets around. I’d hate for the other kids to treat you differently.”

Aiden paused for a second. Get her back? Is Ms. Victoria asking me to lie?

The thought flashed through his head–just for a moment–before it slipped away.

If his classmates found out his mom had been in prison, no one would want to talk to him.

And since his dad didn’t object, Aiden nodded obediently.

Victoria smiled again and glanced at the food on the table. “What a shame… I made all this just for Ms. Foster. Looks like it’s going to waste.”

But then two full days passed–and Natalie never called.

It really seemed like she meant what she said. She didn’t reach out. Didn’t ask about Aiden. Didn’t check in. It really seemed like she was serious about the divorce–and about cutting them off completely.

Jackson’s frown deepened. Finally, he pulled out his phone and dialed her number.

But all he got was a robotic message. “This number is no longer in service.”

He froze.

That’s when it hit him–she’d been gone three years. Her old number must’ve been disconnected long ago.

He had no way of reaching her.

A strange tightness settled in his chest. Something between frustration and something he

didn’t want to name.

Jackson snapped at his assistant over the phone. “Find out where Mrs. Collins is living–and get me her new number. If she’s out of prison, I want to know exactly what she’s up to. She doesn’t get to walk away and tarnish the Collins family name.”

statues were gone.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify