Chapter 25

CIARA'S POV

I finished cleaning my shop, making sure that all the hair on the floor had been properly packed and dumped into the bin. I was tired. Not just physically, but mentally.

I was tired of the guilt I was carrying, tired of looking over my shoulder because I was expecting Tristian to burst in at any moment and accuse me of betraying him, I was tired of everything.

When I had agreed to Daniels and Julian’s plans, I hadn't expected that it was going to boil down to this. I had expected a smooth and clean operation, an operation that wasn't going to stress me in any way. But the reverse was the case now. It was not only stressing me out, I was afraid of what was going to happen next.

“Ma, we've not been paid for last month.”

It was Lucas, staring at me, his eyes asking questions. I never delayed their salaries, I always made sure I paid my workers. But this time, even though the money was there, I was afraid to use it, I was scared of using my own money because I didn't want Tr