The Billionaire Twins Need A New Mommy! - Chapter 404

Chapter 404: Silence
Moments ago…

“Ugh…” Lawrence grunted just as he woke up. He hadn’t opened his eyes yet, but his head throbbed painfully. Groaning, he dragged himself up to a sitting position, one hand clutching his head.

“Jasmine,” he called groggily, peeking through one eye.

The bedroom was dimly lit by the bedside lamp. Jasmine was nowhere in sight. He called for a maid to bring him a glass of water, but no one answered.

“Where the hell is everyone?” he grumbled, wincing as pain stabbed behind his eyes.

He sat on the edge of the bed for a while before mustering enough strength to stand. Lawrence shuffled toward the bathroom, where his reflection stared back at him—haggard and pale, with deep bags under his eyes. He splashed water on his face, hoping it would ease the pounding in his head. When that barely helped, he drank straight from the tap, letting the cold water soothe his dry throat.

That helped. Somehow.

Without thinking much about the eerie silence in the residence, he made his way to the kitchen for more water.

“It’s not that late yet,” he muttered after downing a glass. “Did everyone leave?”

Thinking about it, he vaguely remembered firing all the household staff earlier that morning. He hadn’t been in the right state of mind, and when he saw them, all he could think about was how they were just liabilities. They could always hire new ones later in a new place, after he’d fixed everything.

Shrugging it off, he rummaged through the fridge for food. The leftovers were cold, but he didn’t bother reheating them. He ate in silence, his mind foggy, the dull ache in his head pulsing with every heartbeat. When he finally finished, he trudged back toward the hallway, only to freeze.

There was someone on the stairs.

A shadowed figure was climbing to the second floor, slow and deliberate. Lawrence squinted through the dim light until he recognized the person.

“Mike?” he whispered, his brows furrowing as he watched the man move up the staircase and down the corridor. “What is he doing here? At this hour?”

Mike was someone Lawrence knew well. He was Jasmine’s cousin—or so she’d said. According to her, Mike had always been like a big brother to her, and Lawrence had accepted him as family. He had treated Mike like a younger brother, took him out to golf clubs, dinners, and even lent him money to start his business. In his eyes, Mike was trustworthy.

Curious, Lawrence followed him quietly. He didn’t call out. Maybe it was the headache, or maybe something in his gut told him not to. He tailed Mike until the man entered another room.

The door didn’t close all the way, leaving a narrow gap. Lawrence stepped closer, hand reaching for the knob, when Mike’s voice cut through the silence.

“We just talked this morning. Didn’t expect you to call me here. Anyway—see? I told you this would happen.”

“He screwed up. Well, I always knew he would.”

Deep lines formed between Lawrence’s brows as he listened.

Who are they talking about? he wondered, his hand hovering on the doorknob. But before he could move, Mike spoke again.

“So? Did you make him sign the divorce papers?”

The words hit Lawrence like a blow. His body went rigid, his breath caught halfway. He didn’t need anyone to spell it out. He knew exactly who they were talking about.

Through the small gap, he saw Jasmine’s face and Mike’s. Mike never talked like this when Lawrence was around. In front of him, he was polite, grateful, and humble. Lawrence had believed every word.

But hearing him now twisted his gut into knots.

Shock rooted him in place. He felt no pain, not yet—just a numb, hollow disbelief. His brain lagged behind reality, struggling to process what he was hearing.

Mike knew.

Mike knew about Jasmine’s secret accounts. He had known all along.

Lawrence’s heart started to pound violently in his chest. His pulse roared in his ears as his hands trembled against the doorframe. His thoughts blurred until Jasmine’s next words cut through everything.

“There’s no other way. Mike, you have to help me… get rid of him. It’s the only way for you, me, and Melissa to start over.”

Lawrence’s blood ran cold.

He took a shaky step back, eyes wide, staring at the door as if it might swallow him whole. Their whispers carried easily through the silent house, and every syllable struck him like a knife. Whether it was the still air or sheer dread sharpening his senses, he heard them too clearly.

Everything he had believed—everything he had forgiven—collapsed.

He had forgiven Jasmine for her part in the company’s downfall. He’d discovered the missing funds, but he’d told himself she hadn’t meant to hurt him. He’d convinced himself she was just scared, that she was trying to help. He had even told himself that LL Construction was their shared legacy and she wouldn’t destroy that on purpose.

But now, all those excuses shattered.

She hadn’t just betrayed him. She wanted him gone.

His throat bobbed as he gulped hard, his chest rising in uneven breaths. His mind screamed two opposing instincts—confront them and run. He staggered back again, not realizing his hand had brushed against the small table behind him.

CRASH!

The porcelain vase toppled and shattered against the floor. The sharp sound sliced through the quiet like a gunshot.

Inside the room, Jasmine and Mike paused. They turned toward the door at once.

“Jasmine,” Mike muttered under his breath, his tone tightening. “I thought you fired everyone.”

“I did,” she whispered, eyes darting toward the door. “Everyone left. And Lawrence is still—”

Her words stopped cold.

“Lawrence?” he asked.

“He should’ve still been asleep.”

But if he wasn’t—

Their eyes met as panic flashed between them.

Without another word, Mike hissed, storming toward the door.

The second he flung it open, his eyes met Lawrence’s across the hallway. For one frozen heartbeat, neither moved as they held each other’s gaze. Then Lawrence bolted.

“Hey!” Mike shouted, giving chase.

Jasmine froze, her pulse thundering in her ears. Their shouts echoed through the empty house, bouncing off the walls. Lawrence’s voice laced with fury and fear, Mike’s with panic and rage.

Then came the heavy thuds of footsteps, followed by a crash.

“Mike—!” Jasmine cried, stumbling toward the noise. She reached the end of the hallway just in time to see them struggling near the stairs.

“You bastard!” Lawrence roared, pushing Mike away, but Mike had him in a headlock. “You ungrateful bastard!”

They grappled violently, their movements desperate and clumsy. Lawrence’s face reddened, veins bulging from his neck as he fought to break free.

Jasmine stood frozen, her eyes wide as she watched them. The scuffle turned savage with Lawrence elbowing Mike in the ribs, Mike shoved back, both men gasping.

And then, it happened.

Lawrence stumbled backward. His heel caught on the edge of the step. His hand grasped the railing for balance, but Mike shoved him again.

“I’ll… kill you—!” Lawrence gasped.

Then, his body went over the railing.

Time slowed for the three of them.

Jasmine’s breath hitched, but she didn’t move. Lawrence’s expression flashed between fury and disbelief as he fell.

CRACK!

The sound of Lawrence landing was deafening. For the next second, the house went still. Eerily still.

Jasmine stood frozen at the top of the stairs, her hand on the railing was surprisingly calm. Mike panted heavily beside her, his chest heaving, sweat glistening on his forehead.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then, slowly, her lips parted, but no sound came out. Her eyes, however, finally flashed with relief. Because below them, Lawrence lay sprawled at the foot of the staircase, blood slowly spreading underneath his motionless body.