All Chapters of Ex-Convict To Mysterious Power : Chapter 101
- Chapter 110
173 chapters
Chapter 101
Cole stared at her for a few long seconds.Bella swallowed. He wasn’t listening. He never listened when he entered this “mission mode.” She was already crying inside, but she stepped out of the car anyway because fighting Cole was like arguing with a brick wall that paid taxes.As they walked toward the store, her soul left her body. Her clothes suddenly felt two dollars. The tiny bag she wore felt like it came free with noodles. Everything in this place screamed money—loud money.The men at the door opened the entrance for them, bowing with smiles that somehow still managed to feel judgmental. Their eyes flicked from Cole to her like, Wow. Charity work today? Nice.Cole didn’t care. Not even a blink. He walked like the CEO of the building.“Let’s go back, please,” she whispered, tugging at his sleeve.Cole did not answer. Of course he didn’t.Inside, one of the workers gave them a warm, practiced smile. “How can we help
Chapter 102
Cole walked toward the girl—slow, calm, terrifying. His presence felt colder than the store’s AC. The girl instinctively stepped back.“Do you have a father?” Cole asked quietly. His voice wasn’t raised, but it carried like a blade.“Y-yes…” she stammered.“Does he have a father?”“Yes… yes…” She blinked rapidly.“Good,” Cole said. “Go ask both of them to teach you some respect. Because they’re not going to be around forever.”The girl’s jaw dropped. Her guards shifted uncomfortably.Cole gave her the same disgusted once-over she had given Bella.“We’re here as customers,” he said flatly. “And you’re talking like you own the building.”“Her parents own this place,” one of the security guards finally managed to say.“Good,” Cole replied calmly. “Then I want her to serve my sister. The owners exist to serve the customers.”Silence.Even the air froze.Two shoppers paused, pr
Chapter 103
Bella was still in shock.Ten thousand dollars… on shopping?For one outfit, some makeup, and whatever else they put in the bag?Who even did that? Presidents? People who printed dollars in their bedroom?And now—She stared at the menu in the restaurant Cole had brought her into.This place was insane.The cheapest thing on the list… was a bottle of water.For one thousand dollars.A thousand dollars?Would she never be thirsty again after drinking it? Would it forgive her sins?Bella slowly looked up at Cole.His expression made it very clear: Don’t even try to object.She squeezed her eyes shut and just picked a meal. Twenty thousand dollars. She didn’t even need the waiter to bring it—she had already calculated it in advance, her soul quietly leaving her body.“Cole… where are you going to get all this money?” she whispered as they waited.“That’s not something you worry about on a date, Bella.”“Cole—”“Listen.” He leaned forward. “Your value is not tied to money. I could’ve driv
Chapter 104
7:18 p.m.Cole’s phone buzzed. Amanda.He picked immediately.“Where are you?” she asked.“At home.”“Cole, can you still make it? Grandma just called me—she organized a party for us. It’s a small one, but… can you come? It’s starting by 8:30. If you get here before 8, we’ll beat the time. I’m so sorry for the late notice. And Bella—can she stay alone?”As if her name summoned her, Bella walked out of her room, heading to the dining table for water.Cole covered the mouthpiece. “I have to go see Amanda. Will you be okay alone?”“I’m always alone when Mom’s not around,” Bella shrugged. “Plus, I’ve got two topics to cover tonight. That’ll take about two hours.” She headed back inside with her cup.Cole returned to the call. “I should make it.”“Okay,” Amanda said with relief. “I’ll be waiting at home.”He grabbed his keys. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Bella!”“Okay!”Cole rushed into the car and drove straight toward the hospital. He had stayed in touch with the doctor all day—no change. His
Chapter 105
Amanda had been waiting for Cole to show up. Finally, around 8:32, he appeared. She rushed toward the door—then paused.He didn’t come in his car.Why?She moved to the window and peeked outside. Cole stood there with a dark, furious expression. Like something ugly had just happened. She’d never seen him look that angry.She quietly returned to the door and opened it just as he pressed the bell.“So sorry, Amanda. I had to stop somewhere,” he said.“Oh, it’s nothing,” she smiled quickly. “Honestly, it’s even good that we make them wait a little. They’ll take us more seriously that way.”He smiled back, but it was forced—so forced she almost asked him what was wrong. But fear held her tongue. She didn’t want to pry.“I picked these for you,” she said as she led him to his room. “You can shower and change while I finish what I was doing.”He nodded.She lingered one second too long. He lifted his shirt—revealing those abs—and she caught her own reflection in the mirror. She was blushing
Chapter 106
The party was small — a few relatives and two family friends.“Welcome,” the matriarch said warmly from her seat.Amanda smiled back, glancing around. Her parents weren’t present.Not invited. Clearly.“I thought all the family were supposed to be here,” she said.“We’re all here,” Tiffany said with a smile sharp enough to make sure Cole noticed her.“I can’t see my parents.”“About that, dear,” the matriarch said, resting her hands in her lap. “I have something to tell you.”Too grand for a family gathering, Cole thought as he walked in. The lights were soft, the tables were arranged with precision, and of course—two empty seats beside Tiffany and Tyler. Obviously reserved for him and Amanda.He led Amanda over. The room quieted when the matriarch stood.“I know this is supposed to be a celebration of your success and resilience,” she began, voice steady, “but something happened this evening, and I think it’s better we address it now.”The room shifted with immediate attention. Excep
Chapter 107
Amanda swallowed hard. “I’m not ready to have kids now.”“I’ll do it then,” Tyler said, his tone calm but firm. “Anything that helps the family grow, I’ll sacrifice for it. It wasn’t in my plans to have kids this year, but…” He glanced at the projector with a faux humility. “I’ll do it for the family.”The matriarch’s eyes flicked toward him. Her plan to sway Amanda had failed; she’d only managed to move one piece on the board instead of two. Better than nothing, she thought.“Alright, Tyler. Make us proud once again,” the matriarch said, her voice steady.“I’ll share my full plan tomorrow,” Tyler added.Murmurs of admiration spread across the room. “He’s the savior of this family,” someone whispered.As the celebration started and the music swelled, Tyler slipped quietly out of the hall. He ducked into the restroom and dialed his baby mama.“Babe,” he said, a grin spreading across his face, “I’ll be introducing you to grandma tomorrow.”“Really?” Her voice buzzed with excitement.“Ye
Chapter 108
The party ended around 11 p.m., and Tiffany left looking like someone stole her wallet. Every attempt to catch Cole’s attention had failed spectacularly. The man did not look at her once—not even by accident. His eyes were glued to Amanda the whole night like he’d just met her yesterday.Meanwhile, Cole and Amanda drove home. She’d suggested stopping at his place to check on Bella, but Cole already imagined Bella’s reaction: Why are you here? Why are you breathing? I said I'm reading.Yeah, no.“Let’s go home then,” Amanda yawned. “I haven’t had a real sleep since you came back.”“You can nap,” Cole said quietly. “About twenty minutes.”“I think I’ll do just that.” She adjusted herself, and Cole reached over to recline her seat a little more.“That’s crazy…” she muttered, impressed for no reason.He gave a small smile and kept driving.She sighed deeply. “Cole… why do I feel like this?”Cole glanced at her.“I know, I managed to stop Grandma from talking trash about you again but… my
Chapter 109
Cole shot her a sideways glance and let out a low sigh.Always so dramatic.“Or… if you’re not interested in that deal,” Amanda said, softer now, “you can just tell me what you want. Anything.”A beat passed. Maybe she was being inconsiderate. His mother was lying unconscious in a hospital somewhere, fighting for her life. Cole had to be holding back more than he let on.“Cole, you can really talk to me,” Amanda added quietly. “If you’re not okay… you can talk to me.”“I’m good. You don’t have to do anything for me.”“Actually, Cole…” She cleared her throat. “Your mom isn’t really in Hawaii, right?”“Yeah.” He turned into the compound. “I don’t want Bella knowing what’s actually happening.”“Is something happening?”She tried not to look like someone who already knew everything.He glanced at her again—this time like he was weighing how much trust she deserved
Chapter 110
Minutes later, they were back in the car, quiet except for the soft hum of the engine.“I’m so sorry, Cole,” Amanda hugged him tightly, crying into his chest. “I didn’t know this was what you were going through. I didn’t know… I’m sorry,” she sobbed.Cole patted her gently, holding his own emotions in check. Meeting someone who cared about his mother as much as he did—it hit differently. And right there, he didn’t regret the three years he spent in prison for her.“Why didn’t you tell me…?” she asked once they were in the car, wiping her face with a handkerchief. Her eyes were red and swollen.“I didn’t want to put a burden on you,” Cole muttered.“What burden! Cole, I think you’re getting this wrong,” she said theatrically.Lecture mode activated, Cole thought, silently.“Cole, you went to prison for… like I said, that’s a lecture for another day. But the least you could have done was tell me about your mother. How… how