Chapter 39
I pushed open the bedroom door and stepped inside, letting the weight of everything crash into me at once. My back met the door as it closed, and I just stood there, hand still gripping the knob, chest rising too fast, My mind ran circles around Gypsy’s words. The way she smiled when she dropped the act, the way she walked off without even a limp. And the worst part? The look in her eyes when she said I was the one who replaced her.
I ran a hand through my hair and let out a breath, pacing across the room. She was faking it. She had to be. There was no reason for her to still be here unless she wanted to be dated on by Karl. Unless unless she wanted him back.
My jaw clenched as I turned toward the door again. I couldn’t keep this in. I had to tell him.
I stepped out and moved quickly through the hall, the marble floors cold under my feet. When I reached the living room, I froze at the edge of the doorway. Karl was sitting on the couch, head bowed slightly as he adjusted the blanket on Gypsy’s legs. She was leaning back with her arm draped along the side of the couch, smiling faintly as she watched him.
His hand brushed her ankle, and she flinched, just a little. He paused, checking her face like he actually cared whether she was in pain. My throat tightened as I stared. I didn’t know why it hurt, but it did,
He looked up.
His gaze shifted to me like he’d just remembered I existed” “Yes?” he said.
1 straightened and folded my arms across my chest. “Can we talk?”
He looked back at Gypsy, said something quietly to her, then stood up and walked toward me. I turned and walked ahead, heading down the hall toward the study. The door clicked shut behind us, and I turned around, facing him.
“She’s not hurt,” I said, the words coming out faster than I planned. “Gypsy. She’s pretending.
He raised one brow slightly, but stayed silent.”
“I saw her,” I continued. “Walking around. No limp. No pain. She admitted it to me.”
He tilted his head, arms folded now. “And why would she admit that to you!”
“Because I confronted her, I said, stepping closer. “She said she was curious to see the woman you replaced her with. She called me a bitch, Karl. And then walked off like nothing was wrong with her leg.
His expression didn’t change, but I saw something shift behind his eyes.
“I know it sounds crazy,” added, my voice tighter now. “But I’m not making this up. She’s here for a reason. And I think.. I think she wants you back”
He
stared at me for a long time. No words. Just that same unreadable stare.
I took another step forward. “You don’t believe me.
He exhaled slowly, jaw tightening. “Ellen, I’m trying. I’m really trying to be patient with you.
That stung more than I expected.
“She’s staying here because her father’s company collapsed. I’m helping her because it’s the right thing to do. I’ve done nothing but treat you fairly in this situation and now you’re accusing her of faking an injury?
My stomach dropped. “Because she is,” why the fuck was he acting like he wasn’t the reason the company collapsed to begin with?
His voice rose slightly. “You don’t know that.”
1 blinked, stepping back. “I do. I saw it. Why won’t you believe me?
He rubbed a hand over his face and then looked at me again, eyes sharper now. “Because this isn’t you being logical. This is you being jealous. And that’s not what this deal was for. You wanted security, I gave it to you. I’ve respected your space. I’ve taken care of everything. And now you’re losing your mind over something you can’t prove.”
The words hit like a slap.
I stayed frozen, hands clenched at my sides. My heart ached in my chest. “So you think I’m insane now?”
Chapter 39
He looked away, then back at me. “I think you’re pushing it. And I’ve been holding back a lot to give you space, but right now… you’re pushing it too far
The words landed so cold, so flat, they could’ve cut glass. I felt my eyes sting, but I blinked it away quickly.
“Fine.” I said softly. Thanks for the clarification”
I turned and walked out of the room, not even waiting for a response.
I didn’t even know what hurt more, the fact that he didn’t believe me, or the fact that I had let myself care in the first place.
1 lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, not blinking, not moving.
My chest felt heavy
I hadn’t left the room all day.
The sun had set hours ago, and the house was quiet. Or maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it just felt that way because I was numb to everything
SLOW.
I sat up s
slowly, legs dropping over the side of the bed.
The air felt too thick in here. I needed to breathe. I needed space. And if Karl was busy playing nurse to Gypsy, then it wouldn’t matter where I went anyway
He wouldn’t notice.
I grabbed my hoodie from the back of the chair, slid it over my arms, and slipped out of the room. The hall was empty. No footsteps. No voices. Not even Kent
I opened the front door without hesitation, stepped outside, and shut it gently behind me.
The wind was cool on my skin. I didn’t stop walking.
1 passed the garden, then the gate, then the end of the street, My arms folded tighter over my chest as I walked faster, wanting to get further, wanting to clear my head.
The neighborhood started to thin out behind me. Streetlights flickered overhead. I could still hear the faint echo of my own footsteps.
And then I heard something else.
A second set.
My spine stiffened
I slowed for half a second, then sped up again. The sound sped up too. A few paces behind me. Steady. Controlled.
I stopped suddenly and looked back.
Nothing.
Just a quiet street. Still, empty.
I turned forward again, heartbeat faster now, and quickened my pace.
The steps followed.
Louder. Closer.
I darted into a side street, half jogging now, my sneakers scraping the pavement. My breath was starting to hitch, my chest rising faster,
Then I heard it.
Clover.
Too close.
I broke into a run.
The moment my foot hit the corner, a hand clamped down over my mouth. I gasped, but the sound didn’t go far. Another arm locked
Chapter 39
tightly around my waist, dragging me back into the shadows of the alley:
I kicked. I struggled.
But the grip was firm. Cold. Focused.
The voice came next, hot against my car,
“Finally got you.”
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