Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon Chapter 135

Kevin's POV:

The Thornton estate loomed in front of me like something out of a movie.

I crouched behind a line of hedges, my heart racing with anticipation.

This was it.

After years of scraping by, drowning in debt, and living paycheck to paycheck, I was about to score big.

Amy had texted the address earlier, along with detailed instructions on how to avoid the security cameras.

My sweet, naive Amy—always so eager to please, so desperate for my approval.

It almost made me feel guilty for disappearing on her these past days. Almost.

I checked my watch: 11:55 PM. Perfect timing.

Amy had promised to meet me at the service entrance.

I slipped through the shadows, following the path she'd described.

Sure enough, as I rounded the corner of what looked like a small garden house, I saw her standing there, nervously glancing around.

"Kevin!" She rushed toward me, her voice hushed. "I was worried you wouldn't find it."

I pulled her into a hug, feeling her thin frame against mine.

She'd lost weight. "Hey, babe. Miss me?"

She pulled back, her eyes searching my face.

"Where have you been? I tried calling for weeks after you disappeared. I thought something terrible had happened to you."

I shrugged, keeping my voice casual.

"There are too many people coming after me for debts, so I have to hide."

I gestured toward the main house, my eyes widening appreciatively.

"But looks like you landed on your feet. This place is insane. How'd you swing a job at the Thornton estate?"

Amy wrapped her arms around herself, looking uncomfortable.

"I needed work after you took all our savings. I happened to meet Mr. Thornton, and seeing that I was pitiful, he allowed me to come to the manor to work as a nanny."

I whistled low, taking in the massive property.

"Must be nice living here while I've been sleeping on friends' couches."

"You could have called," Amy said, her voice hardening slightly. "I was worried sick."

"I'm here now, aren't I?" I flashed her the smile that always used to work on her.

"Look, let's cut the crap. Where's the good stuff? I need a big score tonight."

Amy stared at me for a long moment, her eyes scanning my face.

Something flickered in her expression before she nodded slowly.

"The main jewelry collection is in the east wing," she said, pointing toward the right side of the mansion. "Third door on the left. Mrs. Thornton keeps her diamonds and emeralds there. Worth millions."

My heart raced with excitement.

"Perfect. You sure no one will catch me?"

"I'll keep watch out here," Amy said quietly.

"I'll text you if anyone comes. You have ten minutes, maybe fifteen at most."

"That's my girl," I said, already imagining the fortune waiting for me.

I slipped inside, finding myself in a pristine kitchen that was bigger than our entire apartment.

"Jesus," I whispered, running my hand over the marble countertop. "These people live like kings."

I moved silently through the house, marveling at the opulence.

Following Amy's directions, I made my way toward what I assumed was the east wing.

But when I turned a corner, I was stunned.

Two men in dark suits stood blocking the hallway, their expressions stone-cold and professional.

Security. Shit.

"Hold it right there," one of them said, his hand moving inside his jacket.

"Wait, wait!" I raised my hands, forcing my face into an expression of innocent confusion.

"I'm just looking for my wife—Amy. She works here. I'm Kevin, her husband. I was supposed to meet her but I got lost in this huge place."

The guards remained unmoved, their expressions like granite as they steadily advanced toward me.

My palms began to sweat, and the confidence I'd felt earlier evaporated.

"Listen, I'm telling the truth!" My voice rose an octave as panic set in.

I took a step backward, bumping into something solid—another security guard had appeared behind me.

"AMY! AMY, I'M HERE! TELL THEM WHO I AM!"

"Stop shouting." A sharp, feminine voice cut through the hallway.

I spun around to see a slender woman standing at the end of the corridor, her eyes blazing with barely contained fury.

She continued, her voice cold and measured.

"You're not worthy of her at all."

"Who the hell are you?" I demanded, my fear momentarily eclipsed by confusion and anger.

"This has nothing to do with you!"

The woman didn't bother to explain further. She simply nodded at the security team.

"Take him to the basement room. "

"Wait! You can't do this!" I struggled against the guards as they gripped my arms, their fingers digging into my biceps.

"This is kidnapping! I just came to see my wife! AMY! AMY, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

My voice echoed through the hallway as I thrashed and fought, my efforts utterly useless against the professionally trained security team.

Then, like an answer to my prayers, Amy appeared at the end of the corridor.

"Amy! Thank God!" Relief flooded through me.

"Tell them who I am! Tell them I'm your husband and this is all a misunderstanding!"

Amy stepped forward, her face completely devoid of the warmth or fear I'd seen earlier at the garden entrance.

Her eyes were cold, her expression detached as she stared at me.

"Amy?" I whispered, confusion replacing relief. "Babe, say something."

"There's nothing to say, Kevin," she replied flatly.

The truth hit me like a physical blow.

How easily I'd gained access to the estate. Her convenient disappearance let me straight into the main house.

"You set me up," I snarled, fury replacing my panic.

"You lying, backstabbing bitch! After everything I've done for you—"

"Everything you've done?" Amy's voice finally cracked with emotion.

"You mean abandoning me? Stealing our savings? Disappearing for months without a word? Or do you mean the times you used me as a punching bag when you were drunk or angry?"

"Save it," Amy said, "We're done, Kevin. I'm filing for divorce. "

She stepped back, her posture suddenly shifting as she faced the woman.

"Miss Lane, I'm sorry for all this trouble."

Two men appeared behind Miss Lane—one tall with piercing eyes and an air of absolute authority, the other with a grimly determined expression.

"Mr. Thornton, Mr. Cole," Amy nodded to them in turn, "everything is proceeding as planned."

The first man—Thornton—stepped forward, his cold gaze assessing me.

He said quietly, his soft voice somehow more terrifying than if he'd shouted.

"Secure him properly and take him downstairs. "

Before I could process what was happening, one of the guards slapped a piece of duct tape across my mouth.

Another twisted my arms behind my back, securing them with zip ties.

The last thing I saw before they dragged me away was Amy looked at me with disgust.