Chapter 363
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Chapter 363:
“Grandma,” Gaston said, his voice a low, commanding rumble. “Jocelyn’s career is just taking off. And quite frankly, I have not had nearly enough time alone with my wife. I am not ready to share her attention with a screaming infant just yet p>
It was the perfect defense — shielding Jocelyn from the pressure while simultaneously declaring his own selfish, obsessive need to keep her entirely to himself.
Grandma Wolfe chuckled, shaking her head. “You are almost thirty, Gaston. Stop being such a possessive tyrant p>
Under the table, Jocelyn lightly kicked his shin. Gaston simply tightened his grip on her thigh, his thumb stroking her soft skin.
The breakfast ended in warm laughter. Gaston kissed Jocelyn deeply before heading to Wall Street.
Miles away, in the dark, grimy underbelly of lower Manhattan.
𝘋𝘰𝗐𝗻𝗹o𝖺𝘥 𝖯𝖣𝘍s fre𝘦 оո 𝗀𝘢l𝗇𝘰𝘃е𝗹ѕ.𝘤𝗼m
Robert Schneider sat in the heavily shadowed office of a high-end criminal defense attorney — the kind of lawyer who specialized in making rich people’s problems disappear.
Robert looked like a walking corpse. His hair had turned entirely grey in a single week. His tailored suit hung loosely on his shrinking frame.
The lawyer slid a thick contract across the mahogany desk.
“The Collins family has put a massive lock on this case, Robert,” the lawyer said coldly. “The DA is out for blood. Getting Aspen out on bail is going to require calling in favors that cost serious money p>
He tapped a pen against a number at the bottom of the page.
It was an astronomical figure — a sum that would completely drain the very last hidden offshore account Robert possessed.
Robert stared at the number. His hands shook violently.
He closed his eyes and heard Aspen’s desperate, agonizing screams echoing from the detention center. She was his flesh and blood. She was the last piece of the Schneider legacy.
He opened his eyes. They were dead and hollow.
He pulled a gold pen from his pocket and signed the contract.
“Get my daughter out of that cage,” Robert ordered, his voice cracking. “I don’t care what it takes p>
The lawyer smiled greedily and pulled the paper back. “This money guarantees she will be moved to a private, protected block immediately — she won’t be touched by the general population,” he said smoothly. “I will pull every string I have, but the Collins family has put a suffocating lock on the DA’s office. The absolute earliest I can secure a bail hearing is next Wednesday. That is the best reality your money can buy right now p>
Robert stood up and walked out of the dark office.
He stood on the filthy Manhattan sidewalk as the cold wind whipped against his face. He pulled out his phone and dialed his wife’s number.
Elouise answered on the second ring.
“Robert!” Elouise shrieked through the speaker. “The credit cards are declining! How am I supposed to buy groceries p>
Robert’s face twisted into a mask of pure, unadulterated hatred.
“Elouise,” he said, his voice dropping to a terrifying, empty monotone. “I just wired the last of our money to the lawyers. We are completely broke p>
“What?!” Elouise screamed.