The Billionaire’s Regret -Alessa (by Bukolami) novel Chapter 20

**Shadows Beneath the Silent Moon**
**Rising Echoes by Aiden R. Vale**
**Chapter 20**

“What do you mean?” she questioned, her brow furrowing with confusion.

“Because of you, I’m on the verge of going to jail, and you dare to call it a favor?” she added, her voice laced with frustration.

“Do you trust me?” Rico asked, his gaze steady.

Alessa felt a surge of indignation rising within her, ready to unleash a torrent of words, but Rico swiftly shook his head, silencing her before she could speak.

“Do you trust me?” he repeated, his tone unwavering.

“No, I don’t,” she shot back, the words escaping her lips like an instinctive reflex.

A chuckle escaped Rico, and he shook his head, as if amused by her defiance.

“Well, you really need to. You’re going to require it,” he replied cryptically. Alessa felt a wave of confusion wash over her; his words were like a riddle she couldn’t solve.

“What on earth are you talking about?” she pressed, her voice tinged with urgency.

“No matter what unfolds, no matter who arrives, you’re with me,” Rico declared with a certainty that both intrigued and unsettled her.

“What?” she echoed, unable to process the weight of his statement.

“You are with me,” he reiterated, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race.

Alessa’s brows knitted together in bewilderment. She opened her mouth to voice her questions, but Rico averted his gaze, leaving her in a state of uncertainty.

With a resigned sigh, Alessa drew her knees up to her chest, careful to avoid her growing bump. She wrapped her arms around herself, seeking comfort, and closed her eyes tightly.

‘Should I really trust Rico? What does he mean by saying I’m with him? He’s the one who got me into this chaos; trusting him feels like a foolish gamble. But what if he has a plan? What is all of this even about?’

“Oh, God. Please help me,” Alessa whispered a silent prayer, exhaling heavily as the weight of her thoughts pressed down on her.

Her gaze lingered on her children for what felt like an eternity, lost in her worries, completely unaware that the movie had ended.

It wasn’t until she shifted her focus away from them that she realized the screen was dark.

Quickly, she fished her phone from her pocket, sending a message to her guards, anxiously awaiting their arrival. She couldn’t manage the twins on her own; the burden felt too heavy.

Within moments, her guards appeared, each one expertly lifting a twin into their arms, and together they made their way outside.

The clock had nearly struck midnight, and the building was eerily silent, devoid of any lingering patrons.

Alessa stepped out into the cool night air, her children nestled safely in the arms of their protectors.

She moved towards the waiting vehicles, her heart racing with a mixture of anticipation and dread. Just as she was about to enter one of the cars, a thought struck her, prompting her to turn back to her guards.

“Take my kids home. I need to go for a ride,” she instructed, her voice firm yet tinged with urgency.

The chauffeur promptly handed her the keys before heading to the vehicle her guards had arrived in. Alessa watched them as they settled in with her children, her heart heavy yet resolute.

Once inside her own car, she pulled out of the parking lot, her mind racing as she drove. The journey was brief, yet it felt like an eternity until she finally arrived at her destination. She parked in front of a bar, scanning the area to ensure she was in the right spot.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the car and entered the bar, her senses heightened as she surveyed the dimly lit room, searching for the one person she needed to find.

Her gaze settled on a man in the corner, nursing a drink with a deliberate slowness. She tilted her head slightly, feeling an odd mix of nerves and determination as she approached him.

Sliding into the seat across from him, she watched as he stared at her, his expression unreadable, until he finally dropped his glass in surprise.

“Took you long enough,” he remarked, lifting a briefcase from beside him.

“I was with my kids,” she replied, her tone sharp as she met his gaze with unwavering intensity. The man rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed, before flipping open the briefcase.

He turned it toward her, and Alessa leaned in, her heart racing as she confirmed the contents within. Nodding in acknowledgment, she felt a surge of resolve.

He closed the briefcase and handed it to her, the weight of it feeling both familiar and foreign in her hands.

“I’ll send you the money,” she assured him, her voice steady.

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