Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire
Chapter 165: Losing Everything

Chapter 165: Losing Everything

Tim stood frozen for a moment, watching Sylvia and Dina disappear from sight before finally breaking from his spot. His face remained stoic, though inside, he was seething. Just as he was about to make his move toward Paul’s mother, a voice interrupted him, smooth but venomous.

"Looks like you’ve lost the Smiths at this rate," Michael Astor said, manoeuvring his wheelchair closer. "But gained a Lancaster. If you play your cards right, the Lancaster is definitely the better pick. But—"

Before Michael could finish, Paul’s mother stormed toward Tim, her face twisted in rage. Without warning, she slapped him hard across the face, the sound echoing through the air.

"This is your daughter’s fault!" she shrieked, her voice thick with hysteria. "My Paul is innocent! The police dragged him away because of your bastard!"

Tim clenched his jaw, his cheek stinging, but he remained composed. Gently caressing the red mark on his face, he met her furious gaze with a firm, cold stare.

"Be very careful how you treat me," he warned, his voice low and menacing. "None of this would have happened if your son had just behaved himself. If Paul had focused his attention on Dina instead of harassing Rain, this whole mess could’ve been avoided. But your son couldn’t handle the fact that my bastard daughter already dumped him."

Paul’s mother staggered, nearly losing her balance. Her daughter rushed to her side, holding her up before she collapsed completely.

Tim took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. "If I were you, I’d think twice before opening your mouth again. The Lancaster family is not one to trifle with." Without waiting for a response, he turned to leave, but Michael rolled closer, refusing to be dismissed so easily.

"This show is enjoyable," Michael said with a twisted smirk. "As I mentioned, you could gain a lot from this, but damn, it’s infuriating to see that Lancaster get his hands on something I want."

Tim’s brow furrowed as Michael continued, his tone dripping with bitterness. "You promised Rain would be mine. But with a Lancaster in the picture? That seems unlikely now, doesn’t it?"

Tim sighed, sensing the gravity of Michael’s words. Even someone as dangerous as Michael Astor understood the power that came with the Lancaster name.

"You can marry Dina if you want," Tim offered coolly, trying to deflect.

Michael let out a bark of laughter. "Hell no! Dina’s a second-rate woman I wouldn’t waste my time on. Like I said, I want Rain, and that will never change. But while I’m waiting..." His eyes gleamed with malice. "I wouldn’t mind entertaining myself with your legitimate daughter."

Tim’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, turning white with fury. Michael leaned back in his wheelchair, signalling his men to push him forward. "Send Dina over soon," he taunted, his voice laced with dark amusement. "I’ll make sure to entertain her well."

His laughter echoed as he rolled away, leaving Tim standing there, fists still balled in rage. He hated every second of dealing with Michael, but he knew he needed the man’s connections. Michael had a vast network of illegal operations, the kind of power Tim required for his ultimate plan.

But if the day came when he no longer needed Michael Astor, Tim wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of him.

*****

At the police station, Paul was dragged into a dimly lit holding area, his wrists bound in steel cuffs.

"You’re all going to pay for this!" Paul Smith grunted. His voice echoed off the cold walls as his frustration boiled over. He cursed under his breath, clenching his fists tightly, his mind racing but unable to fully process the situation.

How did everything go so wrong?

Paul had been so sure that Rain would come back to him, that he still had some control over her. But now... now he was in deep trouble, and the reason was painfully clear—the man

Rain married wasn’t just some random guy. It was Alexander Lancaster. The name itself sent a chill down his spine. The Lancasters were a powerhouse, a family that no one crossed without suffering the consequences.

"Lancaster..." Paul muttered bitterly, spitting the name out like it was poison. He replayed the events over and over in his head, but no matter how many times he tried to rationalize it, he couldn’t deny it—he was screwed. Rain had slipped out of his grasp, and now he was trapped, facing charges that could bury him.

His hands balled into fists, his knuckles white with tension. "This is all because of her!" he hissed, pacing faster. "She’s the reason I’m in here. And him. That bastard, Lancaster!"

The weight of the situation finally started sinking in. Alexander Lancaster wasn’t just some rival for Rain’s affection—he was a force far beyond what Paul could handle. And if Lancaster wanted him gone, then that was exactly what would happen.

But Paul wasn’t ready to give up, not yet. But deep down, Paul knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Not with a Lancaster involved.

Outside, as Paul expected, his father, stood in the waiting area, phone in hand, pacing furiously. The weight of his son’s actions crashed down on him like a tidal wave, but he wasn’t ready to let Paul suffer the consequences. Not yet.

"Get me the best criminal defense attorney in the country," Danny barked into his phone, his voice laced with desperation. "Money’s no object. I don’t care what it takes—just get him out of here."

But the officer in charge, a veteran of many high-profile cases, overheard and approached Danny with a stern expression. "Mr. Smith, you need to understand—these charges are non-bailable."

Danny froze, lowering his phone as he shot the officer a hard look. "There must be something you can do. It’s Paul Smith we’re talking about—do you know who I am?"

The officer didn’t flinch. "I know exactly who you are. And that’s not going to change the law. Attempted abduction, drugging, conspiracy... These are serious crimes, and your son is going to trial. There’s no bail for these charges."

Danny’s heart sank, but his face hardened with determination. "My son won’t rot in a cell. I’ll make sure of that. I’ve pulled strings before, and I’ll do it again."

The officer shook his head, unfazed by Danny’s bluster. "Not this time, Mr. Smith. Paul is going to face justice, and no amount of influence or money is going to save him from that."

Inside the cell, Paul kept pacing like a caged animal, his mind racing. He had been untouchable his entire life—until now. He knew his father would try everything to free him, but deep down, the reality of his situation began to settle in. The charges were serious, and even with his father’s wealth and power, the law was a different kind of enemy.

As Paul sat down on the cold bench in the corner of the cell, the weight of the upcoming trial began to crush him. He was no longer the Paul Smith who could do as he pleased—he was a man on the verge of losing everything.

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