The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 167

Chapter 167: To be Abandoned.

realized he no longer cared with unconditional adoration

And somewhere deep in the hollows of his shattered psyche, B to decipher it. The family he had once loved and looked up to

was severed...broken beyond all hope of repair.

Martin Jones felt the tension gradually begin to seep from his body as he settled back against the crisp hospital pillows. The past few hours had been utterly surreal - being visited by the detectives, recounting every agonizing detail of Gina's betrayal, learning that she had already made an attempt on his life through a hired hitman.

But the officers' parting words had brought him a sense of relief he hadn't realized he so desperately needed to hear.

"We've got them both in custody now, Mr. Jones," Detective Carr had stated in a tone of grim satisfaction. "Your wife and her accomplice are going away for a long time for what they put you through."

Knowing that Gina was finally facing real consequences for her deplorable actions helped to ease the lingering sense of fear and vulnerability that had plagued Martin. He was safe now, he reminded himself. Those intent on snuffing out his life for monetary gain were neutralized and would soon be brought to justice

A quiet rap at the door drew his attention, and Martin watched as a young nurse's aide poked her head into the room with a warm smile.

"Good evening, Mr. Jones," she said in a chipper tone. "I'm just doing my regular rounds to check in with our patients. Is there anything I can get for you this evening? Something to eat or drink, perhaps?"

Martin considered the offer for a moment before giving a small shake of his head. "No, thank you. I'm feeling quite alright for now."

pausing, tilting her head inquisitively. "If you don't mind me asking, sir...have you had any visitors come by yet to see you since your recovery? Only, I want to be sure I direct them to

-

consciousness and relaying his statement to the authorities,

was here earlier," he replied slowly, feeling a reflexive pang of resentment at being forced to refer to Gina that way. "But other than the

expression morphed into one of surprise and concern. "No other family? Not even your

Chapter 16/ Terbe Abandoned.

into his tone. "If you're referring to my nieces left by my late sister....no, they haven't bothered to look in

all those years ago. His nieces had never approved of his wife, nor did they like his

Martin had hoped his near-brush with death might cause them to put aside

Anya and Emma were even aware of his current situation. Especially when his mother was still bedridden from a stroke. Surely hospital staff would have attempted to track down his next-of -kin after his emergence from the coma, if only

asked the nurse's aide in a

to hesitate for a moment before inclining her head in assent. "Of course, let me just retrieve that for you from the belongings desk.

returned within a few minutes carrying Martin's sleek smartphone carefully cradled in her hands. He accepted it

selected the number for Anya. His younger niece, the one who had always been his self-professed "daddy's girl" from the moment she took her first breaths in this world. Surely

he prepared to pour out his heart to his sweet Liv. Before he could so much as speak her name, however, a chilly female voice cut through the line. "Hello?

It's me, your uncle. Please, I

a weighted pause, as if his niece was considering her response with deliberate calculation. Then, without another word, the line abruptly went dead as she severed the call. Martin felt a rushing sound fill his ears, his hand beginning to tremble where it gripped the phone. There was no

To be Abandoned

are trying to reach

niece had