I scrolled
There they were. Karl and Gypsy.
He was holding her hand. Then another shot, him brushind of hair behind her ear. Another photo: her leaning close.
3
I sat there, frozen.
The phone was still in my hand, screen dimming and then lighting up again with another notification. But I didn’t move. I just stared straight ahead. It was like something in my chest had unlatched, and now I didn’t know how to put it back together,
His lips were on hers.
The warmth from last night–his breath against my neck, the way he whispered that he missed me, how he said he couldn’t stop thinking about me–all of it felt hollow now. My fingers dug into my palms as I blinked fast, trying to shake it off.
What was that? What did last night even mean?
Was it just something to pass the time for him? Some billionaire boredom cure?
I couldn’t think. I stood up so fast the chair scraped against the floor. I grabbed my phone again, almost dialing the front desk to ask where he was. But I stopped. What was I going to say?
Hey, can you check if my fake husband is out making out with his ex again?
My heart was racing. I paced the room, hand in roy hair, trying not to lose it. I had to talk to someone. I needed out of this house. I didn’t want to be here when he came back. I didn’t want to see anyone’s face.
I dialed the only person who made sense in that moment.
Natasha
She picked up on the second ring. “Hey! Everything okay?
I tried to sound casual but failed “Can I come over?”
She didn’t hesitate. “Of course What’s wrong?”
“I just–I need to get out of here.”
“Say less, Come now.
I hung up, grabbed my bag, and left the room. I didn’t tell anyone where I was going Didn’t speak to the house staff, I didn’t even look back as I walked straight out the front door, booked the first ride that would get me to Natasha’s place.
The entire drive there, I kept picturing that photo. The angle of it. His hand on her waist. Her eyes half closed. That familiar smirk on his face, like nothing was wrong.
He said she kissed him.
Liar.
You don’t pull someone close like that if you don’t want it. You don’t look that at case if you’re being ambushed.
The driver dropped me off outside Natasha’s building and I headed up. My stomach was turning. I didn’t know if it was anger or embarrassment. Probably both.
When I stepped into her apartment, the scent of vanilla and coffee hit me. She was already barefoot in joggers and a crop top, waiting by the door with her hair up and arms open.
I walked straight into her hug
She squeezed me tightly. “You don’t look okay.”
“I’m not.”
She pulled back to look at my face. “What happened?”
I shook my head, trying to laugh but failing. “I don’t even know. It’s a mess.
“Then sit. You’re not saying anything until I make you something. You need food.
I opened my mouth to argue but stopped. Honestly, she was right.
Chapter 57
She dragged me to the kitchen and made me sit at the little island as she pulled things from the fridge. I sat there in her oversized hoodie, still not believing any of it was real.
“Start talking,” she said, chopping something on the cutting board. “Now.”
1 exhaled slowly. “There was this night. Last night. He came home late. Told me he missed me. Said he’d been thinking about me all day. I slept in his arms. Then this morning I wake up, he’s gone.”
“And?”
I pulled my phone out and showed her the article. I didn’t have the energy to explain. I let the photo speak for itself.
Her chopping slowed. Then stopped.
She picked up the phone, squinted at it, and then looked at me.
“You’re joking
“I wish”
“Was this before or after he said he missed you?”
“After. These pictures were taken yesterday afternoon.
Her eyes widened. “Oh my God. Ellen”
I let out a humorless laugh and shook my head. “Right?”
“What the hell do you think he was doing?”
I shrugged. “No clue. That’s the worst part. I have no idea how to feel about any of it. I thought… maybe something was changing. I mean, he’s not the easiest guy to read, but he said things that made me believe it wasn’t just business anymore.”
“And now you feel like it was just a performance,” she finished for me.
I nodded.
She slid a plate in front of me–scrambled eggs, toast, a few cherry tomatoes on the side.
“Eat,” she said. “And then we’re going to unpack this entire billionaire drama, because I swear, this man has issues
I started eating slowly. My appetite hadn’t totally left, but my stomach still felt knotted.
Natasha kept talking. Random things. Gossip from work, stories about her neighbors, even something dumb about a guy who tried to flirt with her at the gas station. She was clearly trying to distract me
And honestly, I was grateful.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that kiss.
But being here, in this space that smelled like normal life, where someone cared about me without conditions or contracts… it helped at least for a little while.
All of a sudden, loud banging echoed from outside, sharp and relentless. Both of us flinched at the nois
I turned to Natasha. “Are you expecting anyone?”
She furrowed her brows and shook her head. “No.”
The banging came again, louder this time. Natasha hesitated, then slowly moved toward the door. I stood back, heart racing.
The moment she cracked it open, the door flung wide
We both jerked back and screamed.
Karl burst in, drenched in sweat, chest rising and falling like he’d been running for miles. His shirt was clinging to him, his hair a disheveled mess, eyes wild and locked on me.
“Who…Karl, what are you doing…” I started, stunned.
Chapter 37
He didn’t say a word. He stepped forward, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me with him.
*Karl, stop! What are you..stop!” I twisted, trying to get free, but his grip was tight and unyielding.
Natasha’s voice called after us, confused and yelling, but he didn’t pause.
He yanked the door open and dragged me out of there, ignoring every protest I made.
色
