THE LOST HEIRESS RETURNS AFTER DIVORCE
Chapter 131: I’m Not Asking For Permission

Chapter 131: I’m Not Asking For Permission

Heather gripped Alex’s hand tightly as they stepped into the hallway. Asher clung to her shirt, his small fingers balled into a fist.

They’d barely made it past the corner when gunshots rang out again—loud, sharp cracks that made Heather’s stomach drop.

She froze. The noise came from downstairs. What now? Wasn’t it supposed to be one man? Were there others?

Heather quickly pushed the boys into the corner against the wall. "Stay here," she whispered, pressing her palm against Alex’s chest to keep him still. She peeked around the staircase.

From where she stood, she could see the guards at the entrance firing at two men. One was already on the ground and not moving.

The other man, dressed in black, was trying to shoot back, but he was outnumbered. He wasn’t going to make it.

Her eyes locked on Adams. He was at the foot of the stairs, waving his hand fast, motioning for her to go back.

Heather didn’t waste time. She spun around and rushed up the stairs, pulling the boys along with her as fast as her injured foot would let her.

"Mommy, what’s happening?" Alex asked, but she didn’t answer.

How could she tell them people broke into the house that’s supposed to feel safe?

She dragged them into Alex’s room and locked the door behind them. Her hands were shaking as she dug through the nightstand drawer and pulled out the earplugs she kept for him.

She put them in Alex’s ears, then in Asher’s. "Don’t take these out," she whispered. "You don’t need to hear anything right now."

The house was quiet again. The gunshots had stopped.

Heather stayed in the room with them for what felt like forever, her back pressed against the door as if that would be enough to hold the world out.

Her palm was still bleeding, but she wrapped it up with fabric; there was no time for first aid now.

A knock finally came, and it startled her. "It’s Adams."

She cracked the door open, just enough to slip out. She quickly shut it behind her and locked it. The boys were safe inside.

Adams looked worn out. His suit jacket was off, his shirt untucked, his face tight with stress.

"Are you okay?" His voice was steady, but his eyes said everything else.

Heather nodded, but her body was still trembling.

Adams sighed. "I’m sorry. I wasn’t there. I should’ve been protecting you." His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. "They broke in when the maids were bringing in the food. The men hid in the delivery van. They held the staff hostage. I couldn’t stop them in time."

He looked like he hated himself for it.

"If anything happened to you..." Adams’s jaw clenched tight. His eyes flickered with something raw beneath all the forced calm. "Caius would’ve killed me." His voice lowered.

He would have killed himself before Caius does it. But... she made it. He let out a shaky breath. She was stronger than he thought.

Heather stood there, swallowing down the tightness crawling up her throat. She didn’t feel strong.

Her hands were still trembling, and her heart was still thudding against her ribs like it hadn’t realized the gunshots were over.

She barely made it.

"Who were they?" Her voice came out rough. "Were they Caius’s enemies?"

Adams dropped his head slightly, his shoulders heavy with tension. "It’s possible."

Her stomach turned. Typical.

Caius couldn’t keep his problems separate from his home, his family. His enemies found their way to her doorstep. And tonight... tonight, they almost killed her. And they would have killed Alex.

And for what? Because of Caius? Because of whatever business or mess he got tangled up in?

If she had died down there... if Alex had been caught in the crossfire...

Would Caius have just come back and said ’sorry’? Would sorry have fixed it? Brought her back? Brought Alex back?

She stood there frozen, replaying those gunshots in her head—the sound of fear, and of everything she fought to protect.

Adams must have seen the look on her face, because he cleared his throat, and his eyes dropped to the floor for a moment before meeting hers again.

"I called master Caius," he said quietly. "He’s on his way back."

Heather’s jaw locked. Of course now he was coming back. After everything was done. And the danger was over. After she fought for her life alone.

Before Heather could say anything else, she heard a voice calling her name. "Heather?"

For a split second, she thought it was Caius. But when she turned, she saw Jake pushing past two guards. He didn’t care that they were trying to hold him back.

"It’s okay," Heather said. "Let him through."

Jake walked straight to her, his eyes scanned her quickly.

"Are you okay?" he asked, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her bruised cheek.

His voice was steady, but beneath the calm exterior, there was an edge of real fear.

Heather nodded, though her body betrayed her, it was still trembling faintly.

"I’m so glad you’re alright..." Jake exhaled, his hand lingered at her arm, steadying her. "I thought... I thought something happened to you." His eyes, warm and sincere, searched hers, reading the exhaustion and shock etched in her face.

Adams cleared his throat. "Mrs. Thorne, you need to leave the house tonight. I’ll take you to the penthouse. You and the young masters."

The thought alone made her skin crawl. Another one of Caius’s properties. Another place with his name on the door. Another place his enemies could track down if they wanted to.

What if more men came? What if they followed them there? What if next time, she wasn’t lucky enough to survive?

She shook her head firmly. "I’m not staying in any place that belongs to Caius."

Her words made Adams concerned, he opened his mouth, but Jake’s voice cut in before he could speak.

"You can stay with me," Jake offered. His voice was calm, steady, but there was an edge of protectiveness under it. "Whoever they were, they won’t expect you to be there. My place is secure. I can keep you safe."

Adams’s expression hardened instantly, the irritation in his eyes impossible to miss as he turned toward Jake. He took a step forward, his stance rigid. "That won’t be necessary," Adams said, voice sharp but still controlled. "Mrs. Thorne won’t be—"

"Yes." Heather’s voice sliced clean through the room.

Adams stopped midsentence, blinking at her like he hadn’t heard right. His lips parted slightly, and for a second, he just stared at her. The disbelief on his face was clear.

"Mrs. Thorne," Adams tried again, his tone laced with quiet warning. "I don’t think that’s a good idea—"

"I’m not asking for permission," Heather snapped, her voice steady.

She wasn’t going to stay in Caius’s house, hiding like a target painted with his name. She wasn’t going to wait for him to sweep in after she fought tooth and nail to stay alive.

Adams wanted to argue, but he couldn’t. She was in charge, which meant she made the decision.

Heather went back into Alex’s room and gently picked up Asher. Alex reached for her, so she lifted him too, holding them both.

There was no point in packing clothes. This was just for the night. She needed to get out of here.

Adams followed them to the door, still uncomfortable but not stopping her. The guards opened the way as Jake guided them outside.

Heather didn’t look back. She just needed to get somewhere she could breathe again. Somewhere she can stay, knowing none of the workers will betray them.