Chapter 393
“Why?” Joyce asked.
Kayla’s lips curled into a cold smile, her beautiful face frosted with icy contempt. “Isn’t this what you brought on yourself?”
Joyce bit her lip, staying silent.
“Did I force you to scheme against my husband? Did I force you to hook up with that loser and make a scene? Did I force you to get pregnant?” Kayla’s voice was icy, each question sharper than the last, leaving Joyce completely speechless.
Seeing Kayla’s fierce defense, Maggie felt a surge of confidence. She pointed at Joyce, her voice trembling with anger. “You ungrateful brat! All these years I’ve treated you like my own, and this is how you repay me? Lying and scheming against me!”
“Godmother…” Joyce tried to speak, but her voice was weak.
“Don’t call me that! I don’t have a goddaughter like you!” Maggie’s words were final, cutting off any last shred of hope Joyce had.
Joyce’s last hope was crushed by Maggie’s resolute words.
Playing her last card, Joyce blurted out, “Whatever you say, I really spent that night with Tuff…”
“Screw you! I was too wasted to do anything!” Tuff shot back, his face burning with embarrassment.
Aaron glanced over, thinking, ‘Damn, this guy’s tossing his dignity just to prove he’s innocent.‘
Joyce hadn’t expected Tuff to say that. She was left speechless, totally out of moves.
She was finished–defeated, with nothing left.
She flopped back on the bed, playing dead–might as well, since she was already the patient here.
“Ms. Lambert, playing dead won’t save you. You’re suspected of fraud. Come with us to the station,” Aaron said. coolly.
Joyce shot upright. “You’re actually turning me in?”
“What else?” Aaron shrugged. “From now on, every word out of your mouth might end up as evidence.”
“You guys are just bullying me!” Joyce panicked, but didn’t dare say another word.
Honestly, Aaron wasn’t a judge or a cop. Joyce was still free to say whatever she wanted.
Joyce’s parents finally understood everything that had happened.
Brylee, tears streaming down her face, pleaded with Maggie, “Mrs. Prescott, Joyce was just being foolish. She
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only did all this because she loves Tuff so much
“Gross, that kind of love just makes me want to puke!” Tuff retorted.
Brylee went on, “Mrs. Prescott, you have your son to stand by you. But my son… he’s already gone…
At the mention of Joyce’s brother, Dominick, Maggie looked uneasy and glanced over at Tuff.
A look of pain flickered in Tuff’s eyes, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.
‘Dominick… Dominick… Tuff repeated silently to himself.
“Then let’s call it settled!” Kayla’s voice was resolute and clear. “From now on, the Prescott family owes the Lambert family nothing. If you dare to spread rumors or stir up trouble again, you’ll have to answer to me!”
Joyce trembled.
Brylee quickly said, “No, no… we won’t.”
“Come on, Maggie, Tuff, let’s go!” Kayla took Tuff by the hand and Maggie by the arm, leading them out.
She stood tall, radiating the confidence and authority of a queen.
Tuff and Maggie let her take charge, following her out without a word.
Aaron stayed behind to clean up the mess, and of course, he couldn’t resist tossing out a few threats while he
was at it.
After that, he called Landon to give him the rundown.
Landon sounded satisfied. “Nice work. You can come home for New Year’s.”
“And after that?” Aaron felt a chill run down his spine.
“You’ll head to Srodonville and have Night Owl’s back,” Landon said.
“What?” Aaron blurted out.
He clutched his chest dramatically. “Am I just everyone’s go–to guy now?”
“That’s right. Wherever they need you, you go,” Landon replied with a laugh.
*****
The first snow of the year was falling over Lunova, thick white flakes swirling down and painting the whole sky in a hazy, endless white.
As they walked out of the hospital, Maggie withdrew her hand, looking embarrassed and mumbling, “Kayla…”
“Maggie, are you tired? Did the walk wear you out?” Kayla asked gently.
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Maggie shook her head. She was full of apologies, but just couldn’t find the words to say them.
Tuff jumped in, “Mom wants to say she’s sorry.”
“We’re family. No need to stand on ceremony,” Kayla replied, making sure Maggie kept her dignity.
Maggie was so moved she burst into tears. “Kayla, from now on, I’ll treat you like my own daughter…
“That’s good to hear,” Kayla answered warmly.
The Lambert family was no longer a threat, so there was no need for Kayla to keep clashing with her mother- in–law.
If they could get along, that was great. If not, just keep things civil. It was no big deal.
Tuff smiled, truly content.
The woman he’d chosen was smart, calm, and wise–never dramatic. But what really mattered was her forgiving nature.
“Mom, I’ll have someone drive you home,” Tuff said, motioning for the driver to pull up.
Once his mom was taken care of, he was already planning to steal some romantic time with Kayla.
“Why don’t you two come stay at Kingsley Manor tonight?” Maggie offered.
“Thanks, but we’re used to having our own space. Even back in Norava, we lived on our own,” Kayla replied.
Maggie felt a twinge of disappointment but didn’t push it. She got into the car, glancing back at them a few times before it drove off.
Kayla waved her hand, totally unfazed.
The next second, Tuff pulled her close, arms tight around her waist.
His lips crashed down on hers, a passionate kiss that left her breathless.
“We’re on a public street…” Kayla managed to say between kisses.
“So what?” Tuff shot back, not caring at all.
He pulled back, both of them gasping for air. “No one sets the rule that couples can’t kiss on the street.”
“Can we at least do this in the car?” Kayla said, still breathless.
“Deal!” Tuff grinned.
He’d been waiting for her to say that.
He practically threw her into the car and sped off.
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He drove all the way out to a secluded spot on the edge of town.
Tuff killed the engine, climbed into the back seat, and started ripping Kayla’s clothes off.
“Are you out of your mind?” Kayla blurted out.
“The tint’s good. No one can see in,” Tuff replied, his voice low and full of desire.
The seats were folded down, turning the back of the car into a spacious bed.
Inside, it was intimate and heated; outside, snowflakes whirled through the night.
Kayla had never experienced anything like this. She was nervous about being seen, but unable to resist him.
The car rocked in the snowy darkness, and she shivered under his touch.
“Honey, I love you… I love you so much,” Tuff murmured, his voice thick with feeling.
Kayla whispered, her voice trembling with emotion, “Me too…”
They confessed their love, wrapped up in each other, and made love with wild abandon, neither of them willing to stop as the night stretched on.
The snow kept falling, coating the trees and grass in a thick, soft layer of white.
All around was silent. No one was in sight, not a soul or a car anywhere.
When they finally stopped, Kayla lay exhausted on Tuff’s chest, her skin glistening as she murmured, “It feels like it’s the end of the world out there…”
Tuff gave a low laugh. “Silly, it’s just a romantic winter night.”
Seeing her all flustered and excited, Kayla looked so stunning he was completely powerless against her.
That wild, reckless passion had sent them both right over the edge.
Kayla thought, ‘That was absolutely amazing.’
Tuff grinned to himself, ‘We are so doing this again next time!‘
“The snow’s still coming down. Want to go for a walk?” Kayla suggested.
Tuff gave her waist a playful squeeze. “You sure you can even walk right now?”
Kayla laughed softly. “Let’s just chill for a minute before we go.”
“Deal,” Tuff said.
Tuff pulled his hand back, totally satisfied, and wrapped his arms around Kayla as they rested together.
They didn’t bother getting dressed or leaving the car until the sky started to darken.
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The snow was so deep that every step left a clear mark. Hand in hand, they wandered through the snows world, hearts full of romance.
Kayla pulled out her phone and snapped a selfic.
The camera caught them just as they were–snowflakes dusting their hair, making thern look like they’d grown grey hair in that moment.
It suddenly hit Tuff.
She wanted to grow old with him.
And of course, that was exactly what he wanted too.
