Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 1184

Jordan spoke first. "The woman and I have some history, but the past is the past. I don't want to dig it up anymore. I consider the money gone as child support.

But from here on out, neither she nor that boy has anything to do with me. If they show up again, tell them to get the hell out.

If they keep harassing you, call the cops."

Jordan handled matters exactly like his personality—blunt and decisive. There was no room for sentimentality in his playbook.

Even when it came to his own flesh and blood.

"Is that young man really your biological son?"

"What does it matter if he is? He was ruined by his mother a long time ago. Did you think sharing my blood means I'll take care of him? Bring him into my inner circle?

I'd never keep a scheming wolf by my side. And my syndicate certainly won't employ an incompetent, malicious fool.

Years ago, my men tracked them down in the Javenaire Federation, and I went to see them myself. I talked to the woman.

I told her if she let me take the boy, I'd drop everything. I wouldn't even ask for the stolen funds back.

She wavered because dodging my men had exhausted her. With my resources, dragging her back would have been effortless.

And once back, given the fortune she stole, she'd face a life sentence at best.

She told me to ask the boy himself. She said, 'If he wants to go with you, I won't stop him. If he doesn't, there's nothing I can do.'

Julian was ten by then—old enough to understand. It had only been a year since they ran away. A year prior, we spent every day together, and he had been incredibly attached to me.

Do you know what he told me?"

Mira and Owen looked at him, waiting.

Both are fatal mistakes for a leader! If I couldn't correct my own flaws, I didn't deserve to lead."

He continued, "So, to punish myself, I never sought out another woman after that."

"That just left a deep scar, making you swear off relationships entirely because of one bad experience," Mira observed.

"In reality, most people—men and women alike—are decent. Finding someone to build a life with, to support and keep each other warm, isn't a bad thing.

You just had terrible luck and met a scammer.

You're only in your forties. If you find someone you connect with, you should go for it. Being alone is too isolating."

Jordan shook his head. "I have you two. That's enough for me. I have no interest in women."

Mira had half a mind to play matchmaker between him and Rachel, but she knew they had to feel the spark themselves.