Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance novel Chapter 657

When Chad laid out all the evidence in front of Finley, the room practically buzzed with tension. It was like a scene right out of a crime thriller. "You know, spending a few years behind bars isn't the worst thing," Chad began, his voice steady and unforgiving. "By the time you're pushing eighty, you'll be considered an old-timer around here. Maybe even get your sentence lightened if you play your cards right. But let's not forget, by then, I'll still be here, our family fortune intact. The kids will still have their future. All you're losing are a few years, which, when you put it into perspective, isn't much."

When Chad brought up the evidence linking Finley to the Walker family's money laundering operation, Finley just glanced at it, unfazed. But as Chad laid everything out, declaring, "The amount involved in the money laundering is astronomical. Enough for a death sentence," Finley couldn't help but reassess the young man before him, a sharp investigator in his late twenties who he had underestimated.

"Chad, I heard you recently got hitched."

"Yeah, tied the knot with Molly."

Finley's thoughts drifted to a memory of a little girl, tears streaming down her face as she looked up at him. "And Tom?" he inquired.

"Gone."

Finley hadn't heard a word about Tom from his lawyer during the visits, which had left him uneasy. And now, Chad was bringing it up again.

With a heavy sigh, Finley's gaze, clouded with age, met Chad's. "If you've got solid evidence, why come to me? You’re looking to hear the story straight from the horse's mouth."

Sitting across from Finley, Chad admitted openly, "Exactly."

"I want to see your father-in-law."

...

When Chad discussed this with Andre, their focuses were different. Chad was adamant about bringing the truth of his wife's murder to light, while Andre was more concerned with avenging his family.

"I'll go talk to the old man."

After Andre briefed his father, Hansen, on the situation, he asked, "So, he's facing the death penalty?"

Andre nodded. "Chad's got enough evidence to seal the deal."

"Then we'll meet him. What about the baby girl?" Hansen asked, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by seriousness.

Andre finally understood what his wife felt the first time their son called her "mom". No wonder Wesley got a timeout that seemed to last forever. He walked up behind his father, bent down, and scooped up his precious son. He pressed the little guy's face against his own cheek, "Henry, say 'daddy' again."

"Ga-ga goo-goo"

Holding his son, Andre's hands tightened then loosened, afraid of either hurting him or letting him slip through his fingers. Hearing his baby's gibberish, Andre could finally relate to the saying, "You hold them in your hands fearing they might fly away, and keep them in your mouth fearing they might melt away."

Hansen looked over at Finley, who hadn't said a word the whole time, clearly resigned to his fate.

After showing off for a while and achieving his goal, Hansen told his sons, "You two head out. I need some alone time."

Once outside, Andre sat in the car, placing his son on the steering wheel, gazing at his chubby, adorable face. Then, he lifted him up again, holding him close to his heart, "My son can say 'daddy' now."

"Babble babble"

Holding his little bundle, Andre's heart felt like it was melting.