Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 61 - Chapitre 70

CATHERINE “What do you mean we have to leave?” Ellie asked, her brows scrunched up in confusion. “We literally just got here and our house isn’t exactly safe thanks to your boyfriend.”I blew out a shaky breath, stepping fully into her room. “Look,” I started, eyes scanning for the closest bag. “It’s a really long story. One I’m not sure I want to talk about but I can’t stay here. We’ll go to Ohio.”Eli shot up from her bed. “Ohio?” Her voice went up an octave, then she let out an incredulous laugh. “Who do you even know in Ohio? I thought you said Mr Turners house was safe.”My pulse stuttered for half a second before I shoved down that burning feeling. I grabbed her school bag, walking up to the closet. A toothbrush, underwear, a change of clothes.“I know what I said,” I started calmly. “But the situation has changed. Now,” she frowned as I shoved the bag into her hand. “Let’s go.”She dropped it, folding her hands over her chest, glaring. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me

CATHERINEI leaned against the doorway, nestling a cup of coffee in my hand as I watched Ellie sleep, her face nestled between the sheets, her hands curling in the pillow. Her brows were still creased, her lips twitching like she was still thinking about everything that had happened. But we were safe for now. The heat of the cup seeped into my palm, reminding me that this calm was real. A shaky sigh escaped me as I turned, my feet padding against the hardwood floor and took me to the living room. It was empty, the night still dark as I sank into the sofa with a soft sigh.I couldn’t get a wink of sleep, thinking someone would break in and try to take her. I had killed a very dangerous man. People would want their revenge.I’m bound to youRonald’s words rang in my ear like a record that refused to stop. His face flashed in my mind, those eyes gleaming, begging me not to leave. My chest tightened. took a sip of my coffee, letting the warmth travel down my throat. I did what I had to.

CATHERINE The warmth of the coffee cup seeped into my palms, settling in my chest. The air outside was crisp, fog blurring everything in the neighborhood. Silence was what kept me from losing my mind this time.Three days in Ohio and the tight ache in my chest hadn’t loosened. My pulse still skips whenever the front door opens, half-expecting Ronald to appear even when I told him not to.I groaned, running a hand through my hair. “The hell is wrong with you, Cath. He’s the reason you’re here.”Right. That’s what I had been telling myself since shit hit the fan. My grip on the cup tightened, I could feel it slowly losing its heat. How long had I been standing on this porch? I couldn’t remember. All I knew was that I hadn’t had a wink of sleep, guilt was eating me alive. Guilt that I may have started all this.My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, hesitating for half a second when I saw the name that popped up.Marcus.My stomach tightened, the taste of coffee in my mouth goi

CATHERINEI was dragged out of consciousness by a steady rattling, low chatter and a sense of ambiguity. My eyes fluttered open as I sat straight. pain flaring down my neck from the awkward position beside Ellie’s bed. I barely registered it. I pushed the ache away, blinking to clear the haze of sleep.My brows furrowed the moment my vision cleared.Three nurses and the doctors hovered over Ellie, scribbling things in their notes and whispering in hush tones.“Is there a problem?” My voice was hoarse as I pushed myself out of the chair.The doctor glanced at me, a flash of something I couldn’t trace passing his eyes before he set his pen slowly on the notepad. “We are getting your sister ready for the transfer,” he said slowly, glancing back at the nurses like he was hesitating.“And?” I prodded, crossing my arms around my chest. “Should there be something I should be worried about? Is she okay?”“No, no.” He said quickly. “Your grandmother has already signed the paperwork and she’s

RONALDGrief was one of the things I was accustomed to.I had lived so much with it that it was now a part of my very existence. Perhaps that was the reason I couldn’t feel anything as I stood at the foot of my son’s grave. No tears. No outburst… just a hollow cloud.The burial had been private. Lydia made sure of that. She cursed out a storm, daring me to show my face on that day. That she would bury me alongside Jayden. The least I could do after everything was stay away.Now, staring at the headstone with boldly written letters, I waited, waited for something, anything. My grip on the stems of the flowers in my hand tightened. But nothing came, not grief, or sadness or pain.At least not in the way I was expecting. There was a pain that wasn’t physical, gnawing at my sanity.Who did this?I had no idea why I was so certain it wasn’t Simons, he was dead, no one knew it was me. I made sure of that. And yet Jayden had been found slumped over his bed in that rehabilitation center, hand