The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 80

Chapter 71: Visitation-2

He hung up and turned to us, his expression softening when he saw Tom’s scared face.

“Hey buddy, you okay?”

Tom nodded against my shoulder but didn’t let go of me.

“Why don’t we watch some penguins?” Caleb suggested gently. “All three of us, on the big couch.”

+25 Points

We settled in the media room, Tom between us, the familiar comfort of emperor penguins filling the screen. Slowly, Tom relaxed, his breathing evening out.

“I’m sorry,” Caleb said quietly over Tom’s head. “I don’t know how she got past security.”

“It’s not your fault, Jade has always been resourceful when she wants something.”

“She’s not getting near Tom again,” Caleb’s voice was cold. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Tom had fallen asleep, exhausted by the drama. Caleb carefully lifted him and carried him to his room. I followed, watching as he tucked Tom in with gentle hands.

“He’ll have nightmares,” I whispered.

“Then we’ll be here when he wakes up.” Caleb adjusted the blankets. “Both of us.”

We stood there looking at our sleeping son, united in our need to protect him.

“The press conference,” I said finally. “This is going to be all over the news by then.”

“Let it be,” Caleb said. “Let them see that Jade is unhinged, that she’s harassing us. It only strengthens our

case.”

He was right, but I hated it. Hated that Tom had to be part of this circus. My phone buzzed. A text from my attorney: “Pictures of Jade at the penthouse are already online. The media is going crazy. This might actually help your case, showing her real character.”

I showed Caleb and he nodded grimly. “See? Silver lining.”

“I don’t want silver linings, I want Tom safe and away from all of this.”

“I know.” Caleb’s hand found mine in the darkness of Tom’s room. “We’ll make that happen, whatever it

takes.”

I should have pulled my hand away, should have maintained distance, but his grip was warm and steady and I was so tired of being strong alone.

“The press conference is in a few hours,” I said.

“Then we should probably practice what we’re going to say.” Caleb’s thumb brushed over my knuckles. “United front, remember?”

“United front,” I echoed. But as we stood there holding hands in our son’s room, I wondered if we were preparing to face the media or each other.

Chapter 71tion-2

Jade POV

25 Points

1 slammed the door to my apartment so hard a picture fell off the wall. The photographer had already sent

me the images, Bella looking devastated, Caleb looking protective, that little brat clinging to his mother.

Perfect.

My phone rang. It was my Father. “Did you get what we needed?” Richard’s voice was eager.

“Better, I got pictures of them together looking like the loving couple they’re not, plus bonus images of Bella losing it when I mentioned the baby.”

“Excellent, send them to me. We can use these to show the judge that Bella’s unstable, that she needs family support.”

I scrolled through the photos, pausing on one of Caleb touching Bella’s hand. The way he looked at her made my stomach turn.

“He’s never looked at me like that,” I said bitterly.

“Because he’s a fool,” Father said. “But we’ll use his foolishness against him. If we can’t get custody, we’ll at least get enough access to Tom to leverage Caleb. An heir to the Black fortune is worth more than anything Bella could have built.”

“What about the press conference tomorrow?”

“We’ll be there,” Richard said with dark satisfaction. “Front row, showing everyone that we’re the wronged party. The loving family trying to reunite with our grandson.”

“They’ll destroy us at that conference.”

“Let them try, I’ve been destroying people longer than Bella’s been alive. She thinks she’s so powerful now, but she’s still the same weak girl we threw out years ago.”

I wanted to believe him, but I’d seen Bella in that penthouse. She wasn’t weak anymore. She was the Iron Empress, and she’d claimed everything I wanted. “I need to go,” I said. “I have plans to make.”

After hanging up, I looked at the pictures again, Caleb and Bella united against me, and I felt the jealousy burn through me like acid.

This wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot. If I couldn’t have Caleb, I’d make sure Bella suffered for taking him.

And that little boy between them? He was just collateral damage in a war Bella had started the day she was born the spare instead of me.

I dialed a number I’d been saving for the right moment.

“Hello?” Lane’s voice was smooth.

“It’s me, I need your help with something.”

“What kind of help?”

3

Chapter 71flation-2

+25 Points

Ismiled at my reflection, cold and calculating. “The kind that destroys someone completely. Interested?”

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