Betsey reluctantly halted in her steps, though she continued to grumble and mutter curses under her breath.
Robin was a bit confused. His brows furrowed as he mulled over the situation. “Mom, Grandma, do you have any idea how I got released from the police station? It was Stella who put me in there. She definitely wouldn’t let me off this easily.”
“We received an anonymous text message after we left the Clark family residence,” Betsey answered. “We were told to go to the police station to pick you up. We don’t know anything else.”
“Is Lindsay aware that I was detained?” Robin prodded.
Betsey nodded. “She was there when we confronted the Clark family and asked for an explanation.”
Robin’s eyes lit up with understanding. “Lindsay must have got me out. Who else would have the resources to pull it off?”
“Impossible,” Betsey scoffed dismissively. “Lindsay? How could she even have that kind of influence?”
Robin just grinned and gave her a meaningful look. “You’re right, she doesn’t have that kind of influence. But Matthew does. Ha! Lindsay’s handicap is proving to be an advantage. As long as she remains disabled, Matthew has no choice but to agree to all her demands. She probably asked him to get me out of jail.”
“You should stay away from Lindsay,” Betsey warned. “After all those years apart, who knows what’s going on in that girl’s mind? She might still be holding a grudge against us. This could all be part of some elaborate plan to get back at us!”
Robin snorted, totally unfazed. “She wouldn’t dare! Don’t worry, Mom. I have enough leverage over Lindsay. If she makes the mistake of betraying me, she wouldn’t be able to escape unscathed. I’ll make sure she never gets accepted into the Clark family.”
As if on cue, Lindsay called right at that moment. Robin glanced at the caller ID and chuckled smugly. He picked up the call and spoke before Lindsay could get a word in. “Oh, my. I just got released, and here you are already calling me. Were you worried about me all along?”
“Robin,” Lindsay said anxiously. “You’re already out?”
Robin sneered. “That’s right. I’m free. But I’ll have you know that I’ve gone through hell because of you. How are you planning to compensate me for my trouble.”
Realizing that he was about to extort her, Lindsay snapped, “What do you want?”
“Just a million,” Robin drawled. “Give me a million dollars to make up for my mental and emotional distress. Besides, Mom and Grandma are also here in Seamarsh. We need some funds.”
“A million?” Lindsay screeched, shocked by his shameless demand. Her first instinct was to refuse. “Are you out of your mind? I don’t have that much money!”
“Listen, Lindsay. I didn’t breathe a word about the incident back at the police station. If you don’t give me the money, I just might let something slip; do you understand what I’m saying? Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Lindsay was shaking with anger, but at the same time, she was terrified that Robin would really reveal the truth. “Fine,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’ll transfer the money. But you will forget this matter starting today. Don’t you ever use this to threaten me again.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Robin promised. “I’m just waiting for you to become Mrs. Clark, so you can give me even more money.”
Lindsay ended the call and threw her phone on the bed in a fit of rage. “If only I had any other choice, I would have never resorted to asking that bastard for help.”
But the thought of Matthew actually releasing Robin at her request was more than enough to lift her spirits, so Lindsay promptly transferred a million to Robin’s account.
Once Robin received the money, he proudly showed the transaction record to Leona and Betsey. “Here, Mom, Grandma. Check this out. Didn’t I tell you? As long as I help Lindsay marry into the Clark family, she will be our lifelong benefactor. We’ll never have to worry about money again.”
Betsey’s eyes lit up at the long line of zeroes on the screen. She was grinning from ear to ear, utterly delighted by this development.
“Oh, you are simply amazing, my dear son! Now, we can finally enjoy ourselves in Seamarsh.”