Husband With Benefits-Chapter 567: A Letter

Gabe ascended the basement stairs, wiping his hands on a rag as he emerged into the dimly lit living room. He paused, his gaze falling on Autumn, who sat on the couch in her workout clothes, her eyes distant and clouded with worry. She didn’t even notice his arrival. That was odd. Why had she not yet changed?

Walking over to her, he noticed her staring into space and raised an eyebrow, placing his hand on her shoulder." What happened?"

Autumn blinked, as if jolted back to reality, but said nothing, her stricken gaze sending him a devastated look before her eyes flicked to the coffee table where a letter lay.

Gabe followed her gaze and moved to take the letter from the table. It was from the court.

"He’s sued for exclusive custody.", her voice trembled as she spoke the words out loud, scared as the weight of the words threatened to overwhelm her. She’d known that this day would come. Especially when Gabe had gotten rid of the criminal case he had filed.

She gulped and looked at him. His calm gaze gave her hope as he spoke," We expected this, Autumn. Don’t worry."

Autumn nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know what to do, Gabe. He’s got money, lawyers... and I’m just... me."

"You’re not just you, Autumn. There is me as well." Gabe sat down beside her, placing the letter carefully back on the table. He took her hands in his, squeezing them reassuringly.

"We’ll fight this," he said firmly. "You’re not alone in this, Autumn. We’ll get through it together."

A tear slid down Autumn’s cheek, and she quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand. "But what if we lose? What if he takes her away from me? When he’s been quiet for so long... I thought he got scared off and... I think I was too optimistic...Did you see the end of the summons. If he wins the case then he would take Arabelle. I know we can reapply, but I cannot take the risk. What would he do to her if she was alone with him. I can’t lose her. They’ve already revoked the fact that he signed away the rights. That was in our favour."

Gabe looked away even as he let her head rest on his shoulder... it was finally time for him to ask the question that he had been waiting to ask her.

"Autumn... why did he sign away the rights in the first place. Even if he and your mother divorced, he could have insisted on joint custody."

Autumn frowned. And tried to think back. Those days, all of that had happened had been fresh in her mind...

"I think he created a fuss about the joint custody. He even tried to force my mother by slandering me and blaming me so that she would back down from the divorce. I was sure she would lose but then... something happened. I don’t know what.. But he signed away the rights and even agreed to let go of the house and an amicable divorce."

"But you don’t know why?"

Autumn shook her head. She had just been relieved that it was over, that her mother and little sister were finally safe.

Gabe sighed deeply, his mind racing with possibilities. He had always suspected there was more to the story, something hidden that had forced that man to back down. And now, Autumn’s story seemed to coincide with his suspicions.

"Okay," Gabe said softly, rubbing her back gently. "We need to find out what happened back then. There might be something we can use, something that will help us keep Arabelle with you."

"What do you mean?" Autumn asked slowly.

"It means that your mother had something on him that she used to get rid of him."

"My mother?" She frowned. "My mother was not so cunning."

"She was a woman who needed to protect her daughters, Autumn. She would have gone to any lengths. Try to think well if she mentioned something..."

Autumn shook her head. "My mother never talked about this. I... I think it was because of me. I just wanted to move on from everything that happened and not remember anything."

Gabe sighed. And tried to think. He had a feeling that whatever it was, it could be in this house. It was what his instinct told him. He thought back to the robbery from that night... ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"Do you think there’s anyone who might know? Any of your mom’s friends, or maybe some place she trusted to hide things?"

"Autumn thought for a moment, her brow furrowing in concentration. "There was... there was one friend, Mrs. Jenkins. She and my mom were really close. If anyone knows, it would be her."

Gabe nodded. "Then we need to look for her..."

"But she moved away last year... I don’t know anyone who might still be in touch with her. She sent a condolence letter when mother passed away..."

She paused. "I never looked through mom’s things. Maybe she left it here in her room. I think I placed Mrs Jenkins’ letter over there as well. Her address would be on the letter. And if my mom left a hint, it would be in the room. I’ll go and look now."

She stood up and raced to her mother’s room, leaving behind Gabe who was already making a call. He needed to look into the person who had handled the man’s divorce. That lawyer might have an idea what had caused his client to back down.

And another thing that they needed right now was something that Autumn had not paid attention to. The only sure shot way of getting rid of the man was to prove in court that he was a danger to Arabelle. And the only way to do that was to expose old wounds. Only when the truth about the Savoys’ divorce was revealed and the man thrown behind the bars, will it be possible to get rid of this problem forever...