The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 169

Chapter 169: Emma's Dilemma

A shaky exhale slipped from his lips, and Ben sank numbly back into the sagging sofa cushions. What was he to do now? He only had this small apartment he had gotten on his birthday and nothing else.

When he finally found the strength to look within himself with unflinching honesty, he recognized a singular need burning bright through the shadowy haze of confusion and. betrayal.

He needed to cut through the lies once and for all, no matter how incendiary the truths that lay waiting on the other side may prove to be. Only then could he hope to pick up the shattered remains of his life and rediscover his sense of self-worth beyond the tangled roots of

his family tree.

Emma paced anxiously around her cozy living room, her bare feet sinking into the plush beige carpet with each step. The modestly furnished space was a sanctuary, simply decorated but filled with warmth and cherished memories captured in the family photos that adorned the walls. However, those happy memories felt like a lifetime ago, tainted by the turmoil of her failed marriage to Charles.

Her eyes kept darting towards the front door, her heart pounding in her chest as she awaited Richard's arrival. She had called him earlier in a panic, her voice trembling as she struggled to recount the harrowing experience of the nanny being unable to find her son Henry anywhere in the apartment. Just the thought of something happening to her precious boy made Emma's stomach twist into agonizing knots.

A soft click from the door made Emma jump, her nerves frayed. She watched in stunned silence as the door swung open, revealing Richard hurrying inside with an expression of deep concern etched across his features. An involuntary gasp escaped her lips as she registered his unexpected presence, her mind reeling as she tried to understand how he had accessed her

home.

Richard's voice was laced with worry as he rushed towards

like a soothing wave, and she sank onto the well-worn sofa, nodding shakily as she attempted to steady her erratic breathing. "Yes, yes he's fine. I'm so sorry I alarmed you," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "Henry was just playing one of his usual hiding games, and the poor nanny couldn't find him anywhere. But he's

across from her. "Don't apologize," he said gently, his tone infused with understanding. "I know how terrifying that must have been for you, after everything you went through with Charles." Emma shuddered at the mention of her

The emotional and psychological abuse they had inflicted upon her and Henry during those dark years had left scars that sati soul-deep. She had vowed never to let her son experience wach torment again, a "I just felt so

trembling hands in his own and giving them a reassuring squeeze. The simple gesture was incredibly grounding, a lifeline tethering her to the present moment. "You're not

program?" She knew Henry's emotional development had been deeply impacted by the ongoing effects of

a special school," Richard replied, his expression earnest. "One with child psychologists and counselors on staff who specialize in children like Henry; kids who have been

7

shouldering the immense burden of helping him work through his complex

with tentative hope. The prospect of having qualified experts guiding Henry's healing journey was deeply reassuring, yet she couldn't quite quell the protective instincts that made her leery of entrusting

at ease. "In fact, I've already started looking into some highly recommended programs in the area. We'll find the perfect

her cheeks flushing ever-so slightly. Ever since Richard had entered their lives, he had slipped so seamlessly into the role of father figure for Henry, his caring nature and patience a soothing balm on the boy's wounded psyche. The younger man's nurturing presence was as grounding as it was

find the words to

tattered blanket behind him. The four-year-old bounded