All Chapters of Ex-Convict To Mysterious Power : Chapter 191
- Chapter 200
262 chapters
Chapter 191
Cole collected the phone.Damn.Amanda’s uncle.No matter what happened, this man could not know anything. So Cole did what he had perfected over the years—he wore a calm and polite face. “I’ll be in a sec,” he called to the other two as he stepped outside and answered the call.“Where the hell have you been all day?” the man snapped immediately. “If you dare change your mind and tell grandma about it, you’ll be so done!”“Good evening, sir,” Cole said calmly.Silence.Then—“Who the hell is this?”Another pause, heavier this time. Suspicion creeping in.“What are you doing with Amanda’s phone?”“She’s taking a nap.”“She’s—” the uncle scoffed, the sound sharp and disbelieving, like even he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. “What did you say she’s doing?”“You heard me the first time,” Cole replied evenly. “She’ll call you when she wakes up.”“…Is this Cole?” the uncle demanded. “You’re talking to me like this?”Cole’s mouth twitched. Not a smile. Something colder.“We don’t have
Chapter 192
Cole gave a short nod. If that was the permission he was asking for—to leave—then he had it.Dre turned away with barely restrained rage, walked back to the wallet, and picked it up.“Two seconds after I get into the car,” he said coldly, “and you’re not there, I’m gone.”Maria followed him out. As she passed Cole, she leaned in and whispered something he didn’t quite catch. It sounded like keep calm… or maybe don’t lose yourself. Either way, he didn’t respond.The door closed.Silence.Alone with Amanda, Cole slowly sat down beside the bed.He stared at her.His chest felt tight—like someone had wrapped iron around his ribs and was slowly pulling. Ten minutes. If he had arrived ten minutes later, Amanda wouldn’t be lying here breathing. She would have been… something else.A body.The thought alone nearly broke him.And she still had one hell of an explanation to give him.Why she had gone alone.Why she had trusted Wright.Why she had walked straight into death without even telling
Chapter 193
Cole raised a brow, slow and controlled.“Why are you still standing here?” Amanda scoffed. “Go on. Go meet her. Or has she already told you she’s done?” She laughed, brittle. “By the time you finally realize she’s fake, you won’t find me. I’d have moved on.”“Amanda,” Cole said, voice steady but strained, “do you realize that’s not what we should be talking about right now?”“What should we be talking about?” She smiled, fake-tired, fake-proud. “Oh—right. How I risked my life to save you.”“Who the hell asked you to do that?” Cole snapped, the cold finally breaking through. “Didn’t I warn you enough?”“At least I’m back,” she shot back. “I’m here.”“Yeah,” he said quietly, “and you don’t even know how you got here. Or what really happened.”“That’s why we should be talking about whether you’re going to leave and never come back,” she said sharply, “or you’re going to stop seeing that woman.”“I think you should rest,” Cole said, his voice suddenly too calm. “I need to go… out.”That
Chapter 194
Cole sat on the chair opposite Wright.The man was already ruined—bent out of shape, bones and flesh arranged like something a zombie had gotten bored with halfway through the job. One good pull at his head, one sharp twist, and whatever was left of his brain would be done pretending to function.Cole lifted the ring and waved it slowly across Wright’s face.“What do you need the ring for?”“I’m not the only one who needs it,” Wright said weakly.Cole leaned forward just enough. “I didn’t ask that.”His voice was low. Flat. It slid across the room like cold metal.Wright wheezed, blood splattering from his mouth. “I spent money—so much money. Resources. Connections. Just to get the ring made. And they took it away…” His breath hitched. “Just kill me.”“You still haven’t answered my question.”“They took the ring when we could have used it,” Wright rasped. “I had to send them far away. Their wives dead. And—” he broke into another violent cough, “—it was useless. They took the ring wit
Chapter 195
Amanda glanced around the building one more time.It was a really nice house. Too nice. But that wasn’t what bothered her.What bothered her was the man sitting opposite her.She had called Wright’s number seconds ago. Wright’s number. Yet this was the man who answered—and now he was here, relaxed, legs crossed, watching her like she was something he had already figured out.He hadn’t even offered her water.Oddly, that didn’t bother her either.If Wright was the kind of man who mysteriously changed forms, then fine. She didn’t care. She just needed this handled.“So,” she said, clearing her throat, “since you’re Wright, I guess you already know me? I’m Amanda—”“Amanda Whitmore,” the man cut in smoothly. “I follow you online. Pretty impressive fan base. I must say, I’m impressed.”Her brows knit slightly.For some reason, he looked… familiar. Not in a personal way. More like the kind of face you’d see on billboards or late-night screens.“Since you already know me, that’s fine,” she
Chapter 196
“When was the last time you saw Bella?” Amanda asked suddenly.“What? Really?”“We need to go see her, Cole.” She tightened her grip on the steering wheel. “You know what? I think you’ve lost touch with reality. You’re living in some illusion where you think you’re in control—when really, you’re just a pawn. A piece being tossed around for other people’s amusement.”Cole glanced around the car.Was she recording something? Why did she sound like she was delivering a dramatic monologue?“Why did you do that to Dre?” he asked.“Oh, so you don’t have a reply to what I asked?” she snapped.“You’re acting strange. I can’t even understand—”“No, Cole. You don’t need to understand me.” Her voice was sharp now. “It won’t make sense to you yet, but you need to follow my lead. Your life is about to be destroyed.”She shot him a look. “That guy—the one with the ugly mark on his face? He’s a villain. You watch movies, don’t you? You know how this plays out. He’s fucking playing you.”Cole stared
Chapter 197
Amanda cussed under her breath and kept driving.“I promise you, I’m the only one seeing this clearly right now,” she said. “Because I’m not part of the matrix. I can see everything. I’ve always known that woman had something up her sleeve. I just never thought Dre would be in on it too.”She inhaled sharply. “You just have to cooperate with me, Cole. I promise you—I’ve got this.”Cole said nothing.You don’t argue when your wife is like this. You don’t correct, you don’t interrupt, because she hasn’t left you room to explain anything since the moment chaos entered their lives. Every sentence already has a conclusion waiting at the end of it.Instead of driving straight to Dora’s place—and walking into another interrogation—he quietly called Bella and asked to meet at a restaurant.Amanda didn’t question it.Minutes later, they were seated. Neutral space. Public. Safe.The waiter came, they ordered snacks they barely touched.Amanda studied him for a moment. “Are you okay?”Cole looke
Chapter 198
Amanda looked around, then back at Bella.“I’m not supposed to tell you this, but Cole might be in trouble soon.”“He cheated on you?” Bella asked, eyes narrowing.Amanda shook her head, glancing as Cole approached.Bella shot him a hard look.Cole raised a brow, walking closer. “If you ever make Amanda cry, I will no longer be your sister,” she snapped.Cole chuckled despite himself. “I know parents disown their kids… but siblings?”“We can be the first,” she said firmly.Cole’s smile softened. “I got us a new house. It’s getting furnished. If you want your room in a particular way, just send me a picture.”An idea lit up Bella’s face. “Can we go see the house together? Tomorrow? The three of us? I’d love Amanda’s input too.”Amanda’s eyes met Bella’s, a small smile tugging at her lips.Cole shrugged, a quiet acknowledgment.“I’ll text you the time after checking my classes tomorrow,” Bella said, then walked over to Amanda and hugged her.Instantly, Cole felt the rage he’d carried a
Chapter 199
“Hey,” Cole waved, then crouched beside him. “You okay?” He rubbed its head. Damn—he hadn’t eaten all day.“Let’s get you some food.” He hurried inside, Billy following closely, tail wagging.Some minutes later, Cole watched Billy devour his meal, rubbing the dog’s head absentmindedly. He’d gotten this dog from his mother when he married Amanda—a “funny” gift, she had said, but insisted he raise it. Amanda had been pissed at first, but she’d drawn the line when her parents suggested selling it.Cole shook his head, thinking how weird Amanda had always been. Funny how, when you’re broke and struggling, you never notice all the quirks that make someone extraordinary…because offending them was never an option.“Cole,” Amanda called.“I have to go, Billy,” he muttered, patting the dog one last time before heading inside.No clue how many minutes had passed outside, but Amanda had somehow transformed the room. Lights, soft music from a hidden speaker—it was like stepping into a club.“Aman
Chapter 200
Cole glanced at Amanda. She gave a tiny nod—go ahead, answer. She didn’t know who was calling, but ignoring it could make things worse. Maria might call again, and… damn it. He swiped to answer.“Hey,” he said, voice tight.“How’s Amanda?” Maria’s tone had that genuine concern lurking underneath, but Cole knew this was the wrong moment for caring.“She’s fine,” Cole muttered, running a hand through his hair, sneaking a glance at Amanda. Her eyes were narrowing—she already knew this wasn’t the hospital.“I’m at the gate. Could you please open it?” Maria asked.“Why?” Cole almost snapped.“What do you mean, ‘why’?” Maria’s voice sounded hurt, like he’d offended her personally.Cole gritted his teeth. Damn it. “What do you want?” he tried again, phrasing it as carefully as possible.“Of course…we have to hold hands for one hour or I’ll lose my speech. Today is the last day. I don’t want us to start again,” she said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.Damn. Damn. Damn. This