After Eight Years, She Left Me at the Altar for Her First Love novel · Chapter 26 of 48

Chapter 26: No Hands

The gate of the Wainright house was shut, and four guards stood behind the bars.

Celia's key code had stopped working at noon.

Troy gripped the iron with both hands, and the metal groaned.

"Troy," Molly said. "Let go of it."

He let go.

There were fresh dents in the bars where his fingers had been.

Up on the second floor, one window glowed.

That was the old nursery, the room at the end of the hall where Celia had slept as a child.

Troy had walked past its door every day for twelve years.

"I can't hear her," he said.

"You're too far away," Celia said. Her voice was steady, and her hands were not. "Listen. This is how Judith wins."

She said it fast, because she had been working it out since the garden.

"The founder's trust says a minor's shares vote with her court-appointed guardian. Judith holds the foundation's vote and my father's power of attorney. She is ten percent short of the company."

"And Hazel is the ten percent," Molly said.

"Yes."

"So she doesn't want Hazel."

"She wants the vote. Hazel is only the hand that carries it."

Troy looked at the lit window again.

His daughter was a vote.

He turned to Molly and Celia.

"Her whole case is that I'm violent," he said. "The parking lot, the club, Greta's shoulder. Every minute I'm angry in front of a camera is a minute she's paid for."

"So don't be angry," Celia said.

"I'm saying I won't be anything. No hands. Not on a guard, not on a deputy, not on Dane. Not until Hazel is home."

Molly searched his face.

"Say it again," she said. "So I can hold you to it."

"No hands until she's home."

"Even if they dare you."

"Especially then."

Celia nodded once.

"I'm witness to that," she said.

A side door in the wall opened.

← Chapter 25 · All chapters · Chapter 27 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend