Ch 091: An Unexpected Guest

CHAPTER NINETY-ONE: AN UNEXPECTED GUESTALEX—-----“Home sweet home,” Camille sing-sang as she parked in front of Christian’s house.I didn’t move, or unbuckle, or reach for the door. I just stared out the window like she wasn’t speaking to me at all.She noticed and let out a short, amused breath. “Seriously? Don’t tell me you’re about to start acting like a child just because I drove you home. Alex, we’ve practically been hanging out together all day since you got discharged…”“So you’re tired of me already?” I turned to her, lifting a brow. I wore the most dramatic wounded expression I could manage, silently hoping she would buy it. “Guess that explains why you keep trying to dump me every chance you get.”“You’re insane, Alex,” she laughed. “Which is hilarious coming from the same man who spends his entire day lazing in my hospital office.”“Ugh.” I groaned, hating that she’s so damn perceptive. She’s impossible to manipulate. And she’s right; I’d turned into her shadow ever si

Ch 092: The Runaway Daughter

CHAPTER NINETY TWO: THE RUNAWAY DAUGHTERALEX————“Thank you, son.” Camille’s mother said when I walked toward her on the couch in the living room where she was seated now. I had just let her inside and gone to get her a glass of water. I handed it to her carefully.“You’re welcome.” I replied softly.I sat on the couch opposite her and watched in silence as she drank.There was no doubt she was Camille’s mother.Their smiles were almost the same. They both had brown bob-cut hair and bright blue eyes that stood out in any room. Sitting there, she looked like an older version of Camille. And it made me wonder why she was here. Why she had waited for Camille to leave before approaching me.Camille had never really talked about her family. So sitting across from her mother, I felt unprepared. I did not know what to say or how to act.“You know,” she began at last, breaking the silence. She placed the empty glass on the table and gave me a soft smile. “Nothing makes me happier than kno

Ch 093: Tears Of A Mistress

CHAPTER NINETY-THREE: TEARS OF A MISTRESSDAISY————I was just about to take a bite of my salad when a loud crash exploded from upstairs.It came from Chuck’s room.I froze for half a second, then rolled my eyes so hard it almost popped out of their sockets. He’d been throwing tantrums all morning. Slamming doors, breaking shit, yelling at the househelps. I’d done my best to stay out of his way, because when Chuck was emotional, he was unstable. And when he was unstable, he was violent.And yet, the bastard could not even let me eat in peace.It pissed me the hell off.I lowered my fork, trying to ignore it and return to my meal, but Josephine’s voice came just then from across the dining table.“Don’t you think you should go upstairs and get Chuck to come down for lunch?” She asked coldly. “He’s been up there all morning.”I slowly lifted my gaze to meet hers.Her expression was stiff and displeased. Judging.I arched a brow.“Are you saying,” I began carefully, hoping I had misun

CH094: Night Visit

CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR: NIGHT VISITZOEY’S POV—————-I barely slept that night.I kept tossing and turning like my bed was made of thorns instead of foam. Every time I closed my eyes, that masked man showed up again. That same face. That same strange, eerie familiarity that made my skin crawl, even in my dream.And every time I woke up, I found Christian right beside me.He would pull me close into his arms, and press a soft kiss to my forehead.“Bad dreams?” He asked in that rough, sleepy voice of his.I only nodded, too tired to explain.He would hold me tighter and murmur, “Go back to sleep. You’re safe. I’m right here.”And yes… being with Christian made me feel safe.But not in my dreams. Because the man kept coming back.This time, in the dream, he caught me just as I was about to fall. Again. His arms were around my waist, holding me steady. His face was too close.“Don’t you remember me, Zoey?” He asked.And that was when I woke up again.This time, the bed felt empty.I blinke

Ch 095: His Cold Mother

CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE: HIS COLD MOTHERZOEY“We’re here.” Christian said as the car came to a stop.The moment we stepped out, the cool night air brushed against my skin. He reached for my hand and helped me out of the car. Alex handed him a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates he had been holding the entire ride.Quietly, I followed as we walked into the cemetery.It was smaller than I expected. Neat and organized. Not the creepy, horror-movie type where you expected ghosts to start crawling out any second. Honestly, if not for the graves, it could pass for a quiet park.We didn’t walk far before Christian slowed down then stopped.I looked ahead. There’s a tombstone right in front of us: I knew immediately that it was his mother. My eyes moved to the name written on it.Mariane Suzanna Gallo.My chest tightened.So that was her name. Christian’s mother.A soft sadness settled inside me as I stood beside Alex, a few steps away, giving Christian space.He walked closer to the

Ch 096: The Real One

CHAPTER NINETY-SIX: THE REAL ONECHRISTIAN————After Dad and I finished honoring Mom, I moved behind his wheelchair and pushed him slowly away from the grave.We didn’t go far before he raised his hand. I stopped immediately.He didn’t say anything at first. Just stared at Zoey, unblinking, studying her.Zoey stiffened slightly under his gaze, then forced a small, polite smile.“Good day, sir.” She said softly, her voice careful. I gave her a small look, trying to reassure her.Then Dad finally spoke.“So… this is the girl who has you in a chokehold, huh?”Damn.Heat crept up my neck.So he heard that.I had planned to tell him about Zoey properly, not like this. At a cemetery, with him overhearing my private moment with Mom.I cleared my throat and stepped around the wheelchair, moving to stand beside Zoey. I placed my hand gently at the back of her waist.“Yeah,” I said, steadying my voice. “Dad, this is Zoey—”“When are you two getting married?”I paused, my eyes widening slightl