Too Late for Regret (Annalise and Roger) novel Chapter 140

Naomi’s POV

I was still stunned by what they said. We weren’t criminals, we were just trying to protect our daughter. We hadn’t hurt anyone. So why were they acting like we would be going to prison, too? My husband assured me that it would never go that far. He was going to get the best attorney he could, but he wanted to wait and see what they had on us first. I know they found. the new IDs, but those were in Tiffany’s suitcase, not ours. They don’t have any proof against us. I must admit that Charlie knew more than he should have. But knowing and proving are two different things. I trust Hudson to protect us both.

Hearing Alicia at the door made my eyes snap up. Alicia warned me after the first trial that if Tiffany didn’t leave Ana alone, she would move heaven and earth to deal with her. I saw her eyes narrow on me and knew this was going to get ugly. Especially since Seth decided to stir the pot.

“Mom, Mrs. Vaughn is blaming Ana for what happened,” Seth stated.

“Are you insane? How could it be my daughter’s fault? She went home. She didn’t seek out your daughter. Your daughter was supposed to go to jail. You and Hudson must have been behind this. Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve done. I will ensure that the police receive all the help they can get, Naomi. I can’t wait for you to get what’s coming to you,” Alicia said with a scoff.

“Nothing’s coming to me, Alicia. Tiffany was only angry because your daughter was being a vicious b***h. She could have let Tiffany go, but she refused. She had to insist that old news be brought back up again. Your daughter has no one else to blame but herself for what happened today. It was her decision to move forward, despite our begging her to leave it alone,” I replied.

“Your daughter attacked Ana, unprovoked. She put her in the hospital just a few months ago, which was the catalyst that started this whole thing. Your ability to make it seem like this was all Ana’s fault is ridiculous. I’ve had time to think back on everything, and I’m shocked at how I missed what a duplicitous person you were. You might not have known what your daughter was doing in high school. But you did know what you were doing. Making me think she was intentionally gaining weight to embarrass us. She did nothing wrong, and I can never take back my actions. I can only be the mother she needs me to be from now on, which includes dealing with you and your malicious daughter. It makes me sick that I allowed you to use me like that. I will never forgive you, or Tiffany, for what happened. I’m going to make damn sure that you both get what you deserve,” Alicia lashed out.

“I stand by what I said. Analise was given everything without having to lift a finger. So what if she were uncomfortable for two short years? It’s a small price to pay. Tiffany was second fiddle to Ana her entire life. Having to watch as you and Reid doted on her, as if she were a princess. You started spending the money that you used to spend on me on Ana. That’s why I had to keep coming by your home. I had to remind you that I was your best friend, your ride–or–die. Ana doesn’t have a mark on her now. She could have just had Hudson pay her for her pain and suffering. Why drag our family through all this? Like I said, Ana’s refusal to let the past go is why we’re here today. Anything that resulted from it is squarely on Ana,” I stated.

Seth and Reid grabbed Alicia as she tried to come after me. I was sure that if she had been successful, she would have put her hands on me. I wish she had. Then I could have sued her for assault. I decided right then to push her even further.

“Alicia, no matter what you do now, does it really count? You weren’t there for her when she needed you. It’s too late. It’s funny that you’re so willing to attack me when you were just going on about how wrong Tiffany was for what she did to Ana. Do you think that you’re above the law? That you can get away with hurting people? Because if you put your hands on me, I will do the same thing Ana did, and sue you, and this police station. I’m handcuffed to this table. I can’t even protect myself. What did you do? Pay them to stay away so you could do just that? I doubt we can get a fair trial here in this city. Tiffany sure didn’t. Whatever the Caldwells want is what ends up happening,” I stated confidently.

But it had the opposite effect on her. She suddenly calmed down, and they released her. She gave me a smile before saying, “You’re exactly right, Naomi. I’m not above the law, and neither was Tiffany. She earned every bit of the time that she was given. So how could you think that she deserved to be set free? To flee the country? The police are here, already working on getting a warrant to pull the jailer’s bank records. I wonder whose, name will be on the money transfer into his account?”

Her smug smile, as she tapped her jaw as if trying to figure out who was behind it, was too much. I was at the end of the table nearest the door, and I kicked at her. I couldn’t just let her stand there and mock us. She has always been such an entitled b***h. She deserved to be kicked. She was standing next to Ana in the doorway, but Ana was closer to me than she was. So to me, it didn’t matter who I connected with; they both deserved it.

Charlie pulled Ana back before my kick could connect. He immediately asked, “Did her foot hit you?”

They all suddenly panicked. Ana looked shocked at my clumsy attempt, but I knew I hadn’t connected. Her husband had pulled her back too quickly; otherwise, I would have. Seth and Reid grabbed Alicia again, as she was even more furious this time around.

I saw two officers standing in the hallway, once they walked away. The moment Reid noticed them, they snapped to attention. visit j{o]bn {i} b . c (o) m for correct chapters and updates ..“My daughter is pregnant. Naomi Vaughn just attempted to kick her in the stomach. Get the chief and tell him that I want that footage in my hands before we leave here today. It just happened in the last ten minutes. Tell them to burn it from the moment Naomi confronted my daughter until I asked for the video,” Reid told them.

One of the officers left to relay the message, and the other slipped into the interview room to stay with us. I guess he figured that we needed to be watched from now on. I stayed quiet. i knew I had pushed too hard, but I was so worried about Tiffany. I needed to know if she was alright. It was frustrating to be held here and not know how badly she was hurt.

“Ana’s pregnant,” Holden whispered. He looked gutted. I guess he hadn’t known either.

“Four months,” Alicia replied with a nod. She knew that Holden was hoping that Ana would forgive him and give him another chance. We all knew at that moment that it would never happen.

“Tiffany wanted to hurt Ana. She could have killed her. She could have lost her baby,” Holden mumbled. He looked at the officer before glancing at the camera. “I want to testify against Tiffany. She was out of control today. We all begged her to stop, but she refused. She went there to hurt Ana. We arrived just after they did. She didn’t care if she hurt all of us or not; she is ruthless and needs to be stopped. I can assure you that she’s not crazy. She’s just a vicious, jealous person. One who never learned that there are boundaries in life that shouldn’t be crossed. She knowns right from wrong, and I’m disgusted by her actions,” Holden stated.

“You can’t mean that, Holden. She’s your sister,” Hudson responded. His tone was low, as he didn’t want the cameras to pick up what he said.

“Oh, I meant it. Tiffany is much worse than either of you realizes. Yet you did all you could to try to cover up her actions. You gave her the money to bribe the jailer because she had no money. But you two just can’t stop yourselves from trying to protect her. Look at what she did to Ana over the years. How can either of you try to condone what she did?” Holden asked.