Chapter 156: Mason Hunter, Ruined.
Chapter 156: Mason Hunter; Ruined.
“Are you ready to go?”
Mason shifted in his chair as Joe’s voice jolted him out of his thoughts. He sighed but didn’t stand up.
He had lost count of how many times Joe had come in and said those exact words. Each time the blue door opened and Joe spoke, Mason’s hope chipped away.
Now he was drained, exhausted, as he waited for Joe to say he’d be back soon and then leave again, only to return and repeat the cycle.
But this time, Joe paused, his brow raised. “Don’t you want to leave?”
“Are you for real this time?” Mason asked flatly, his voice tinged with fatigue.
“Yes, I am. They granted us bail,” Joe said, opening the door wider. “Let’s get out of
here.”
Mason stood up, his legs wobbling as he did. He had spent the night in a police station and he still couldn’t believe it. Not that he didn’t deserve it–it just felt surreal.
He had been locked up in a dull, cold room, handcuffed for most of the day, without food and given only two cups of water.
His shirt was rumpled, his hair dry from not moisturizing, and the bones in his legs cracked as he stretched. Exhaustion gnawed at him as he left the room.
“You don’t seem happy,” Joe said.
Mason shot him a look. “If you had been seated in one place, handcuffed, starved, and filthy, would you feel happy after?”
“I’m sorry, I tried my-”
He silenced Joe with a raised hand and walked down the hall. Several police officers gave them strange looks as they passed.
Mason became conscious of his appearance and tried to prim himself up by running a hand through his hair, but it was no use. It was too dry.
He clenched his fists as they approached the exit. As soon as they reached the door, a swarm of reporters flooded around him.
“What do you have to say about your involvement with Rosie Stone?”
“We would like an interview with you. It’s Sky News.”
“Mason Hunter! What do you have against Thomas Stone?”
Mason stiffened, his stomach dropping at the sight of them. Microphones surrounded him, cameras flashed as he walked to the car.
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Chapter 156: Mason Hunter, Ruined.
He had completely forgotten about the media, and the realization that he had become the talk of the town made him uneasy.
“Mr. Hunter has no comment for now, thank you,” Joe said firmly, before sliding into the car after Mason.
Mason tried his best to keep a poker face. It was when the car zoomed off, did he allow himself to relax.
He sank into the seat, his heart pounding with–lines of sweat sitting on his forehead.
“I should’ve taken us out through the back. I totally forgot about the reporters,” Joe said, his voice apologetic.
Mason ignored him, looking out the window instead. He didn’t feel like himself–and he blamed Rosie for that.
If only he had done things his way, he wouldn’t be on the wrong side of the law… or the
media.
Now he was back at square one–no plan and now labeled a criminal.
Where was he supposed to begin?
“Here, your phone,” Joe said, handing it over. “You’ve got several missed calls.”
Mason groaned as he took it, his head suddenly pounding, fear and uncertainty swirling inside him. He unlocked the phone and saw all the missed calls; some from Jenny, some from Cheryl, others from unknown numbers.
He dialed Jenny first. He needed to know his business was safe. That was the only way he could pick up from the whole humiliation.
“Hello, sir,” Jenny’s tiny voice filled his ear. “How are you doing?”
“Good,” he replied flatly. “Any updates?”
“Just a few missed meetings,” she said. “Some news stations are asking when it’ll be okay to schedule interviews.”
He groaned. Of course. He was on the wrong side of fame too.
“Mr. Cassidy doesn’t want to work with you anymore, he-”
“What?” he gasped, shocked at the casual way she delivered the news.
“I said Mr. Cassidy doesn’t-”
“I heard you the first time!” he snapped. “Did you try to convince him? Did you even explain?”
His work was supposed to be the one thing to help redeem his reputation.
“Well, I couldn’t. I got his mail. Should I ask him why?” Jenny asked.
He clenched his jaw, his fists tightening. Jenny was stupid, he had always known that.
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Chapter 156: Mason Hunter, Ruined.
But in this moment, he hated that she worked for him.
“Mr. Hunter?” she said hesitantly. “What should I say?”
“Nothing,” he sighed, the exhaustion hitting harder. “I’ll email him myself when I get back.”
“Alright and I wanted to let you know that some of the employees quit too,” she added casually again.
He blinked, his chest squeezing. “What?”
“Some of the-”
“Fucking hell, Jenny! Are you trying to provoke me? Because it’s working!” he yelled, slamming a fist on his thigh. Beside him, Joe gave him a look.
Jenny’s voice dropped. “No… I’m just giving you all the updates-”
“I don’t want to hear it!” he growled.
He couldn’t believe this was his life, in just 24 hours.
“Alright,” she said softly. “I also want to remind you of the car you promised to get me. I would love a pink Ferrari.”
His anger flared, and he felt like his head was going to explode. “Fuck off!” he barked and ended the call.
Joe shifted beside him but didn’t speak.
Mason leaned forward, stomping his foot. “Fuck!”
He just wanted to scream, to collapse, but he knew it was no use. He was ruined. And now, he had to find a way to rebuild both his reputation and his life.
Just as the car stopped in his house, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen as he stepped out. It was his mother.
“Hello, Mother.”
“My precious son,” Martha said, her voice shaky with worry. “I’ve been so terrified. How are you?“.
“Good,” he lied, not wanting to distress her further.
“I couldn’t sleep. They wouldn’t let me see you,” she said. “Where are you? Are you home?”
He sighed, unlocking the front door. “Yes, I just got here.”
At least he still had a home. At least he still had Cheryl. But when he stepped inside, he was met with silence.
His stomach churned as he walked into the living room. Cheryl was supposed to be there, waiting for him.
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Had the reporters gotten to her? Was she okay?
His heart pounded.
“Cheryl?” he called loudly.
“She’s not home. She gave birth to your son yesterday,” Martha said. “But she won’t let me or Paige see him.”
He froze, emotion swimming inside him.
“Your choice of women is terrible, Mason. This one is no different from Ivy. She’s
probably worse, pretending to be sweet. I’m just glad you haven’t married her yet. She
”
“I’ll call you back, Mother,” he interrupted, ending the call before she could say more.
He pocketed the phone and dashed outside. There was no way Cheryl would keep his mother from seeing his son, she wasn’t that smart.
As he rushed out, he bumped into Joe.
“Where are you going?”
“My son is here,” Mason said, and for the first time all day, joy swelled in his chest.
His son. His child.
But instead of smiling, Joe frowned. “You can’t go anywhere yet. We still have things to settle. The law doesn’t—”
“Fuck the law,” Mason said through gritted teeth. “I’m going to see Cheryl and my child.’ He stormed to his car and got in.
Joe yelled after him, but he ignored him. He smiled as he told the driver to go.
He hadn’t even enjoyed the moment when his phone rang again. He stiffened at the name on the screen.
He answered. “Rosie? How… I thought-”
“You think too much. That’s the problem,” Rosie laughed.
Mason was confused first, before anger slammed inside him. “How come you got your phone when you’re still locked up?”
“Who said I am?”
He gasped, shock ripping through him. “Where are you?”
She ignored the question. “Let’s work together again, Mason. Time to take down the whole Stone family. What do you say?”
He was stunned but managed to speak. “Rosie… we are-
“Free,” she interrupted. “I’m out. You’re out on bail. Let’s fuck them up once and for all.”
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Chapter 156: Mason Hunter; Ruined.
Mason leaned back in the seat, his thoughts swirling.
Could he trust Rosie after everything?
Or should he just walk this path alone?
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