When Love Comes Late

Then he slipped quietly out of the ward and headed to the prison.

It had been some time since he last saw Kristian.

The ambitious businessman was now just a shadow of his former self, worn down by time.

As Matthew stepped into the visitation room, Kristian lit up with a twisted smirk.

“Well, well, Mr.

Clark… what brings you here?” he drawled sarcastically.

“Didn’t think you’d come alone.

”

Matthew wasn’t here for small talk.

He cut straight to the chase.

“Who helped you take Bella after the car accident? And who sent Stella to that orphanage in Bysea?”

These questions had haunted him for some time, and the pieces never quite fitted together.

Before becoming the wealthy Kristian, Ethan hadn’t been a power player back then.

So how had he managed to go head-to-head with the Lowell family and keep these secrets buried for so long?

Kristian leaned back, studying Matthew with a smug face.

“Starting to piece it together, are you? You want the truth? Fine.

But you’re going to have to earn it.

Get me out of here, and I’ll tell you everything.

”

The man was desperate, so he was willing to say anything.

His once proud and arrogant demeanor had been shattered by prison life, leaving him hollow, bitter, and desperate to leave that hellhole behind.

But Matthew didn’t care about his misery.

He completely ignored his demands.

“Stella is Kori Lowell’s daughter, isn’t she?”

The mention of the name hit Kristian like a punch.

He balled his fists hard, and even his stoic face slipped for a heartbeat.

How did Matthew know about Kori?

And how had he discovered the connection so quickly?

He struggled to play cool, and couldn’t help but squint when he met Matthew’s gaze.

“And what’s it to me who Stella’s father is? That doesn’t concern me.

”

Matthew’s tone came hard this time.

“I’ll give you one last chance to come clean.

Did you orchestrate the car accident that changed the fate of Stella’s family, or were you just the puppet?”

Kristian’s eyes darted nervously, the lie on his lips evident even before he spoke.

“Who else? Of course, I did it! No one helped.

I hated Kori-I wanted him dead, and that’s all there is to it!”

But Matthew wasn’t fooled.

He could see right through Kristian’s facade.

A cold smirk twisted on his lips as he pressed further, “Was it the Charles family of Lyllmann?”

The question hit its mark.

Kristian’s head shot up, panic flashing in his eyes.

The controlled demeanor he’d fought so hard to maintain crumbled right there.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he spat.

“Leave me out of this! I know nothing! Stop asking me!”

He tried to stand, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.