Love Too Late, Ashes Too Soon

Chapter 7

Just then, the doorbell rang, loud and frantic, cutting through the silence like a siren.

Frank didn't even flinch. He actually smiled, like he'd been waiting for it.

"Knew you wouldn't be able to sit still," he muttered as he strolled to the door. "Autumn, you finally showed up, huh?"

He swung it open casually.

But it wasn't me.

It was his secretary, face pale with fury, eyes brimming with grief. He shoved a stack of documents into Frank's chest.

"Here. Take a good look at the medical report," he snapped. "Look at who you tossed in the garbage today."

Frank frowned, confused, but the secretary wasn't finished. His voice cracked as he went on:

"Do you even realize how devastating the results were? The entire inside of the steamer was covered in bloody fingerprints. She was in so much pain, she nearly broke her own fingers trying to pry it open. But she couldn't, because you had it chained shut!"

Frank's expression twisted. But the secretary's voice only grew louder.

"And that child... do you know how pitiful he was? He was fully formed, Frank. He had fingernails. Eyelashes. He never even got to open his eyes and see the world. You steamed your own son to death."

"Frank Foster, you didn't just kill your wife. You killed your child too. You're not a man. You're a monster."

The secretary grabbed his collar, shaking him violently.

"She gave up everything for you! Her house, her shares, she poured it all into this company. You think you built this empire on your own? You think you became Mr. Foster without her? You're standing on her ashes!"

Frank's face darkened. "You're being dramatic. This is just another one of her games, isn't it? Trying to trick me."

"That money, that 'injection of funds', wasn't from Jennifer. It came from Andy."

Frank blinked. "What?"

"Andy," the secretary said, his voice shaking with rage. "The one who wired the money. The same name Autumn used every single time she negotiated international deals for you. She was Andy. And you never once noticed, because your eyes were glued to Jennifer the entire time."

He gave a cold, bitter laugh.

"You were so in love with Jennifer, you couldn't see anyone else. Not even the woman who stood by your side, bled for you, and built your empire from the ground up. You loved her so much, you killed your own family for her."

He paused, then threw one last dagger.

"Still think she's worth it? Go check the trending topics."

Frank shakily pulled out his phone. His wedding announcement, the one with the photo of him and Jennifer, was blowing up.

But not the way he'd hoped.

"LMAO, poor guy married a walking scandal. There's literally a hundred-page PDF circulating exposing this woman's dirt."

"For those who don't know: Jennifer used to sleep around with rich heirs to climb the social ladder. Got pregnant by one, married him, then the baby turned out to be someone else's. Divorce. Abortion. Blacklisted."

"She tried it again with another guy, same playbook. His wife found out, dragged her to the clinic, then had her blacklisted again. I was wondering where she disappeared to. Turns out she landed another sucker."

"Wait, wasn't this Foster guy already married? What a POS."

Frank's face went sheet-white.

Jennifer came running down the stairs, tears streaming down her face.

"Frank! Look what Autumn's doing! She's spreading lies online to ruin me! She's so jealous, she won't let me be happy! I, I can't take it anymore!"

But Frank wasn't looking at her. His voice was low. Cold.

"Is it true?"

"What?"

"The things people are saying. Is any of it true?"

Jennifer froze. Then her voice shot up like a whip.

"Of course not! You, you're actually doubting me?! After everything I've done for you?!"

But Frank only laughed. Bitter. Broken.

"Done for me? What exactly have you done, Jennifer? Because from where I'm standing, it was Autumn who gave everything. You just showed up to collect her credit. That investment that saved my company? That wasn't yours. And that story you told about a one-night stand with me, was any of that even real?"

He looked at her like he was seeing her for the first time.

And maybe, just maybe, he finally was.