Too Late for Regret novel Chapter 84

Willing to Concede Defeat

Chapter 84

Tiffany’s POV

Today hasn’t gone as planned. It should have been quick, painless. Ana should have had no evidence, and then the judge would have got onto her for wasting the court’s time. That’s how it should have gone. Instead, I’m sitting in a cell, furious. How dare she plot against me? It wasn’t that big a deal. I know she has more

evidence against me. The photos she shared weren’t even half of what I’d done to her.

I don’t know what she’s waiting for. Some sort of apology, at least that’s what Craig told me. He said I needed to apologize. He suspects that they haven’t yet brought out the most damning evidence. He knows Rodney. He said that Rodney was a shark. It’s part of the reason that no one wanted to take me on as a client. Craig

had been the best of everyone available.

He was really pissed at me. He felt that I was to blame for not admitting to what I had done. My excuse of it being so long ago didn’t really placate him. He knew I was lying to him. I loved every minute of what I did. I

got away with all of it because she was too pathetic to fight back against me. Sure, I’ll give Ana the apology she wants. But I won’t mean a word of it, and she’ll know that too. But she didn’t say I had to mean it; she just

said I just had to do it.

I’m not going to prison or a mental facility. Craig told me that is where I will end up if I don’t stop right now.

But I’ll get her back for exposing me like this. A few people knew what I had done to her in school. Everyone

knew Ana was being bullied, but no one was brave enough to step in and stop us. Most of the ones who knew

had just testified against me. They aren’t the problem, though, Ana is.

I can’t do anything from behind bars. So for now, I will suck it up and play nice. I will do what my parents

asked me to do. I will marry this guy and figure out how to use his money to ensure that Ana will never be a

problem again. She’s been the bane of my existence her entire life. I know I can’t be happy until she’s finally

dealt with. Which will require a solid plan.

I will need a mercenary, someone willing to carry out the task. Someone not afraid of going against the

Caldwell and Billinsley families. Someone who is ruthless enough to take care of my problem. I will ensure

they receive payment and provide any necessary assistance to complete this task. Knowing that I would be

able to get Ana back made this easier. I really don’t want to have to eat crow, but to get out of this mess,

that’s exactly what I’ll do.

I hate that I have to marry a man who is ten years older than I am, but at least he’s attractive, I knew why he

accepted me. He wants a trophy wife and children. I’m fine with the first part, but I’m not on board with having children for him. I’m not going to ruin my figure pushing out children, not for him. Now, if Seth agreed

to marry me, I’d happily provide him with two children. But that is because I know he needs an heir. The man

him Mom is pawning me off on really isn’t worthy of me.

Mom had told me to let go of the idea of Seth, but I’m not going to do that. I’ve wanted him since I was a teenager. He’s handsome, rich, and well–endowed. What’s not to like? I’m not going to give up on my dream just because Ana is being a petty b***h. That’s not going to happen. I’m ready to play the long game. I’m ready to wait it out until I can get rid of Ana. I already know that I will be the primary suspect. So I’ll ensure that whenever she gets attacked, I’ll have a strong alibi. After this shitshow, I’m not going to let anyone get

Willing to Concede Defeat

the best of me again.

If I’ve learned anything from this horrible experience, it’s to be more careful moving forward. I don’t want anyone to be able to turn on me again. I certainly don’t want to go to jail ever again. I thought, after all this time had passed since we did anything to her, that I was safe. I should never have put my hands on her again. That was a misstep, but it will be the last one I make.

Why should she get her own happily ever after with a hot husband? I have to marry someone I don’t even

know, and don’t even like. Yet, her husband was ripped. I could feel it when my punch landed. My hand hurts

from hitting him. How the hell did she end up so freaking lucky? He had literally leapt to her defense. I hadn’t even seen him coming, as my focus was on Ana. She didn’t deserve a man like that.

She barely deserved to get with that Roger guy she used to work with. She deserved to have a horrible mother–in–law and sister–in–law to make her life a living hell. It’s what she deserved. I saw them in the video outside their venue. The fact that she managed to hook a Billingsley and make him fall in love with her? I still can’t believe her luck. I don’t know how she managed to do that, but she won’t be able to enjoy it for long. Not

if I have anything to say about it.

I didn’t even speak to Gretchen when I got here. She’s still crying and whining about how I got her in trouble. Yeah, right. I didn’t have to twist her arm to help me. She was all in on ganging up on Ana. Gretchen was the one who came up with the idea of seducing my brother to get him away from Ana. Gretchen kept her hands clean and let me do all the dirty work. She thought that kept her free and clear of any fallout. It didn’t.

I was incredibly disappointed in her saying what she did on the stand. She has no common sense at all, certainly no self–preservation. Her father works for one of the Caldwell branches. I saw Reid’s face. He isn’t going to leave this alone. He is going to come after my father and hers. He isn’t going to be giving anyone who hurt his precious daughter a pass on this. I’m not going to warn Gretchen about what’s about to happen. She should know that Reid Cladwell is coming for anyone who hurt his daughter.

Everyone who took the stand today should be anticipating what’s to come. Even if he can’t get to the guilty party, he will come after their families. They should all be afraid, well, everyone except Ashley. She never did anything to Ana; she stayed back. She saw what was happening, but she didn’t stop it. Not that she could have. When the bailiff came to get me, I was glad to be released from this cell.

I had made my decision, and I held my arms out to get the handcuffs off, but he didn’t remove the handcuffs. They cuffed me in the front because I was fighting them the whole time. If I had known about the cameras, I wouldn’t have tried to hit Ana in the first place: I didn’t actually know if they were serious about the cameras or not. Since her attorney requested the footage, I admit I’m worried. I’m going to tell Craig once I’m out there that I’ve decided to accept Ana’s request. I will apologize, just to make this all go away. Once she lets down her guard, that’s when I’ll strike.

When I was led into the courtroom, I saw that the jury and the judge were already seated. This had to be intentional. I knew he was the one who decided to do this to me. I’ve never been so humiliated in my life. I was shaking in anger as he uncuffed me in front of everyone. My mother, who was seated in the row behind me, looked like she was about to cry. My father looked as furious as I was.

I rubbed my wrists, hoping to garner some sympathy from the jury. I leaned over to Craig and told him, “I’m willing to apologize to Ana.”

Craig stood up, and the judge allowed him to speak, “Your honor, my client wishes to agree to the request from the plaintiff and apologize. She is willing to forego the rest of the trial if that is acceptable to opposing

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counsel.”

“Your honor, that was what my client originally wanted to do. That is, up until Ms. Vaughn attempted to assault her in this very courtroom. After careful consideration, Mrs. Billingsley has changed her mind. There will be no deal made with Ms. Vaughn. She is very concerned about Ms. Vaughn continuing this misplaced vendetta against her. I agree with her change of heart. There is no deal on the table anymore, as far as we are concerned,” her attorney replied.

“Just two hours ago, you agreed to a deal if I admitted fault on my social media. How could you change your mind about it? Do you know how badly this will hurt my parents? They never did anything to you, yet you’re fine with taking their only daughter away from them? You never intended to let me go, did you, Ana? This was your plan all along, Ana, wasn’t it? You’re cruel to give my parents and me hope only to rip it away once agreed to what you wanted,” I cried out. What type of game is Ana trying to play?

“Your honor, my client changed her mind after speaking to others about the deal. During that discussion, it was determined that allowing Tiffany Vaughn to keep her freedom was too great a risk to my client. Ms. Vaughn has not shown any repentance for her actions. Quite the opposite, in fact. We believe that Ms. Vaughn would most likely attempt to come after my client again. Releasing Tiffany is not in my client’s best interest. We are ready to resume the trial, whenever you are ready, your honor,” her attorney replied. Neither of them would even look in my direction. Even after I yelled at them. They’re so intent on smearing my good name that they won’t accept anything else but my total humiliation. I can hear my mother sobbing behind me, but I’m too stunned to move. She did this deliberately. Ana has always been weak and easy to bully. Even if she had something on me. She should have bent to the pressure my parents were giving her. She’s not going to stop until she gets what she wants. How in the hell did she know what I was planning on doing?

I wish I had been able to get my hands on her earlier today. She needs to have some sense beaten into her. This is my life that we’re talking about here. I’m already twenty–eight. If I go to jail for the next five to ten years, I won’t be able to get any quality men. I would have a record if that happened. That would keep any of the men I actually wanted to be with away, just from that. I would be like a leper after I was released. One who would quickly lose her looks if I were sent to prison.

“I want to replace my attorney,” I cried out as I stood from my chair.

Kat VonBeck