Too Late for Regret novel Chapter 92

Chapter 92

Roger’s POV

Things went better than I had expected. The bodyguard who escorted me out jogged to the gate as I headed for my car. As I exited the gate, I saw him standing there. Waiting to see if anyone would be bold enough to try to enter while it was open. No one tried. That was probably the first smart thing that my mother and Sasha had done lately.

They tried to stop me, but I drove around them before they could get in front of my car. Mom is furious that neither Dad nor I told her where we are living. Regina tried to find out where we were, but after nearly getting someone fired for her little prank involving the forged title on the villa. No one was willing to even check the system for her now. They don’t want to get fired over her actions. It was well known that the guy who helped her before was almost terminated. The only reason they kept him was because he was one of the best employees there. But he’s on a year-long probation. If his foot slips, he’s fired.

I headed straight for my company. I can’t waste a minute of time with this. I needed to get these designs to production as quickly as possible. My new Director of Design, Trenton James, was outside my office to help

me speak to the manager at the manufacturing plant, Colin Peter’s.

I listened to both their suggestions, as they suggested making design number three the bulk of the

production. The necklace and pendant were both thinner and more delicate than the others. It also used less

gold as a result. It was the way to go as this piece usually sold out quickly in our stores. We were going to

manufacture a total of two thousand pieces. I was trying to cut costs as much as possible, so I had a

contest among employees yesterday. I needed someone to wear the pieces in our advertisements. I couldn’t

afford an actual model, not just yet.

Twenty of my employees showed up, and the winner was definitely the right choice. She wasn’t beautiful, but the ad focused on the jewelry. Not the person. So, she would wear the three necklaces when the pictures

were taken, but only her neck and upper chest would be visible in the ad. I would pay her $5,000 to model.

The photographer is supposed to take about twenty minutes to take the photos. I’m hoping that the pictures come out great. It was a last–ditch effort to get this done.

I had been subpoenaed to go to the trial. I knew why. My mother and Sasha had slandered Ana several times.

I was there to provide the truth. I was willing to do it, as I had been filled with guilt over what we had done.

wanted to try to speak to Ana today, but her husband was always with her. I know that there is no way in hell

he is going to step back for me to be around her. I also know that she loves him. There was no reason to even

ask her for another chance.

After finding out who she was, I wanted to slap myself. Marrying Sasha had been a colossal mistake. One of epic proportions. I thought back over everything the last three weeks, and I should have noticed the signs. Like Ana buying the villa for us to live in by herself. It was expensive, yet she did it without batting an eyelash. Her watch was expensive, more expensive than mine. She rarely wore jewelry, but when she did, they were always high–quality pieces.

Not the ones we produced, but larger diamond necklaces. Ones that cost a great deal of money. Her large diamond studs were both large and expensive. Nothing like what my company sold. She just hadn’t flashed

her wealth. There were signs, but I chose to ignore them because I ignored her. I was angry that she demanded I marry her in exchange for her help. I knew I had to, or else everything would be lost. But it didn’t mean I had to like it.

Dad surprised me the next morning by accompanying me to the trial. Apparently, he wanted to support Ana, as he was still furious with Mom. If he did that, it would send my Mom into the stratosphere. She was definitely going to lose it if he stood up for Ana. Things were going to get ugly today, I could feel it. After all her bad advice and pressuring me on what to do all these years, I needed to do this for myself.

Mom’s help had always backfired on me. I was looking forward to seeing her finally get what she had coming to her. I know that Dad was, too. We were silent as we entered the courthouse. I was nervous. Ana had done me a favor by selling me those designs, even though we both knew she didn’t have to. If you are reading this anywhere besides Dreame, it has been stolen from Kat Von Beck. The name of the novel is Too Late for Regret.

I thought I could convince her to come back to me, return to my company, and make it a success again. I’d talked her into being my partner. Into helping me achieve my vision. She did everything for me, including putting up with my mother and sister. But I know better now. She was serious; she wasn’t coming back. After we had gone through Security, I went to the courtroom to check in with Rodney to let him know that I was here. My father stepped up and told him that if he needed to testify, he would.

Her attorney thanked us both and informed my father that he would discuss it with Ana. He didn’t know if my father needed to step up or not at this time. We took our seats in the second row. The first row was occupied by several people. Clearly, saving the spots for people who hadn’t arrived yet. The room was filling up quickly. Reporters and cameramen were seated at the back. Ready to catch all the juicy details of the battle.

Ana entered with her husband and another man a few minutes later. The reports quickly jumped up, wanting a statement from her, but her husband just led her away. He let the second man handle them. They waited for him to join them before the men who were seated moved over to allow them to sit down. Her husband sat on the aisle. I’m sure it was to keep my mother away from Ana, which was a smart move.

My mother arrived with my sister, and Sasha, right behind her. They were all dressed in formal attire. My mother had her favorite, and most expensive jewelry set on. They had all clearly spent a considerable amount of time getting ready that morning. It was clear that they expected the outcome to be in their favor today. Their attorney walked around them and went to his table, where he began preparing for court. He didn’t like them speaking to the reporters.

My mother spoke to the reporters in the back, pitifully sobbing into the cameras as she insisted, “I never wanted things to come to this. But Ana has never been respectful to me as her future mother–in–law. She was bossy and arrogant. She always thought she was above our family. That’s the exact reason that we’re here today. So many get trampled on by powerful families. It’s time for all of us to stand together against them. As we show the world that even if we aren’t extremely wealthy, we still have value.”

I’m sure that my mother worked on that little speech of hers for a long time. She’s still at it, twisting facts, as she was the one who bullied Ana./Treating her badly because she thought that she was defenseless. Now she’s acting like the victim in front of the whole city. I’m not sure that is the way to go. It seems like it might backfire on her. She stepped back and allowed my sister and Sasha to speak. Each one of them is acting like they didn’t want to be here either.

They had no one else to blame. Their own actions brought them here. They’re acting as if this were all Ana’s

Nagging Suspicion

More kurder

fault. I’m glad the reporters were here. I’m sure that this time around, it wasn’t my mother or Sasha who had called them. They glared at Dad and me as they passed.

“Scott, why did you block my number? I need to speak to you. Divorce after thirty–two years together? That’s ridiculous. Just call it off, and come home. I told you I was sorry, and I meant it. But I will never agree to a divorce,” she said before taking a step forward to head to their attorney.

She saw Ana and opened her mouth to say something to her, when Ana’s husband stood up. “Keep walking, Mrs. Cook. You no longer need to speak directly to Ana. You’ll have the opportunity to speak when you take

the stand.

My mother looked up at him and decided to do as he asked. He didn’t raise his voice, but his tone told her to keep moving. Once she took her seat next to her attorney. Her husband reached down and took Ana’s hand, holding one of the swinging doors open for her to go sit next to Rodney. She stopped to give him a kiss before she stepped through. Most of the room thought it was sweet. But not the three women at the defendant’s table.

“I swear she always acts like a slut,” my mother spat.

“Slander will get you nowhere,” Ana replied as she sat down next to Rodney.

“You’d better watch how you speak about my wife,” her husband snapped out.

My mother turned to speak to him, but closed her mouth when she saw that the Caldwells were standing there, looking at her. Their expressions said it all. Mom apparently still couldn’t control her mouth. The Caldwell’s presence here was the first hint of a problem for my mother.

I think that she was so used to bullying people into submission. That she honestly forgot who she was dealing with. She had done it to us our whole lives. It was second nature to her. But this time, her words would be coming back to her. The men in the front row stood up and exited the room to sit in the hallway. Leaving just six people in the front row. Two men sat at the far end of the bench. The Caldwell family sat in the middle, and her husband sat right behind her.

Things moved quickly. The judge didn’t seem to be surprised by the camera or the reporters. He outlined to the jury that any personal opinions they might have had prior to the trial should be disregarded. That any ruling they made based on opinion, and not evidence, could be overturned.

I suppose he has seen the numerous reports that have gone viral featuring the three of them. I wouldn’t be surprised. There was no other reason for him to have said it. Other than to ensure that it’s on record that they were all cautioned. With the Caldwells here, I’m sure he wants everything to go smoothly. Maybe the judge is suspecting something that we aren’t?

I watched one of the jurors smile at Sasha. She smiled back politely, but that’s a red flag. Sasha isn’t polite. She’s never nice to anyone unless she wants something from them. This random guy isn’t rich. Alarm bells start going off in my mind. I think she has a ringer on the jury.