When Love Comes Late

But in a swift move, Betsey snatched the phone from Stella’s hand and hurled it to the floor.

Stella’s face hardened, her brows drawing together.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Betsey shot a look at Waldo, her frustration boiling over.

“So, you’re going to shut me up because you can’t bring Lindsay back? You think you can do whatever you want and the law wouldn’t catch up with you?”

Waldo could feel his anger rising, his chest tightening as his blood pressure soared.

Standing in front of him, Stella took a steady breath, trying to stay calm.

“Tell me what you want.

”

Feeling like she had the upper hand, Betsey said with confidence, “Since you can’t return my daughter, I’ll take money instead.

”

Waldo, who had been struggling to control his anger, finally lost it.

He jabbed his finger at Betsey, his voice rising.

“You were the one who left Lindsay behind.

Lucia and I took her in because we felt sorry for her.

Now she’s missing, and you have the nerve to demand money? Do you really think Lindsay is still your daughter?”

Betsey didn’t even flinch.

With a smug grin, she fired back, “Don’t pretend to be so righteous.

Your sons are dead.

Maybe you’re the jinx.

”

“You.

” Waldo’s heart sank, the painful memory of his sons’ deaths crashing over him like a wave.

His breath caught in his throat, and he clutched his chest, feeling dizzy and weak.

Seeing him sway, Stella rushed to his side, her eyes flashing with anger.

“Enough!” she snapped at Betsey.

But Betsey, never one to lose an argument, looked satisfied.

“Want me to stop? Fine.

Give me three hundred million dollars, and I’ll be out of here the second I get it.

”

She then made herself comfortable in a chair, clearly showing she had no intention of leaving.

Waldo, his temper flaring, spat out, “You won’t get a penny from me.

Stay here if you want.

”

Without another word, he turned and led Stella into the ward.

Betsey, desperate to keep her leverage, rushed to block the doorway.

“You’re not going in there! If you don’t pay me today, I’ll make a scene and let everyone know exactly what kind of people the Clark family really are!”

Just then, a soft, familiar voice came from the corner of the hallway.

“Mom?”

Stella’s heart skipped a beat.

That voice-it couldn’t be.

She whipped around and saw Matthew coming toward them, pushing Lindsay in a wheelchair.

For a moment, Stella stood there, stunned, her mind reeling.

She could not believe it was Matthew.

Her voice trembling, she called, “Matthew? Is it really you?”

She couldn’t bear to wait any longer, terrified that Matthew might vanish if she blinked.