FROM SCUMBAG EX TO SCUMBAG HUSBAND のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 111 - チャプター 120

"That night. The night Elara disappeared. Your recovery was so sudden. So perfect. The doctors called it a miracle, but..." He paused, his eyes searching my face. "Is there something you're not telling me?"Ice flooded through my veins. Did he know? Had he figured it out?No. Impossible. I'd been too careful. Too convincing."What do you mean?" I asked, keeping my voice steady. Concerned. Confused."The timing," he said slowly. "You woke up the same day Elara disappeared. Don't you think that's strange?""Coincidences happen," I said carefully. "The doctors said my brain just needed time to heal. There's no way to predict when someone will recover from that kind of injury."He studied me for a long moment, and I held my breath. This was it. The moment where everything could fall apart.But then he looked away, shaking his head. "I'm sorry. I'm not thinking clearly. I'm seeing conspiracies everywhere. Looking for someone to blame."Relief flooded through me. "It's okay. I understand. Y

I walked to the window, staring out at the mountains. We were isolated here. Miles from the nearest town. No cell service. No internet. No way for her to contact anyone. I'd made sure of that. She was trapped here. With me. For as long as I could keep her. And I planned to keep her forever. Even if she'd never be happy. Even if she'd spend the rest of her life looking at me with those distrustful eyes. She was mine now. My Emma. My second chance. And I would never let her go. Upstairs, she was still pacing. Thinking. Doubting. I closed my eyes. "I'm sorry, Sarah. I'm sorry she's not you. But she's all I have. And I can't lose you again." She is Emma now. My Emma. And she would stay Emma forever. I heard her footsteps above me stop. Then start again. Back and forth. Back and forth. She was remembering something. I could feel it. Could sense it. Soon I'd have to increase her medication again. Keep her foggy. Keep her confused. Keep her mine. Because losing her would mean

I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing despite the fog.The empty storage room. The missing books. The dreams that felt more real than my waking life.And the biggest question of all: If Adrian was telling the truth, why did I feel like I was living a lie?I thought about asking to call my family. Surely I had parents. Siblings. Someone who would know me. Who could confirm Adrian's story.But every time I'd asked before, Adrian shut down. Said my family was estranged. Said it was too painful to discuss. Said I'd chosen to cut them off and we shouldn't dredge up bad memories.What kind of person cuts off their entire family?And if I had, wouldn't I at least remember why?My head started throbbing again. That sharp, stabbing pain behind my eyes that made it hard to think.I needed my medication. Adrian always gave it to me with breakfast. Said the doctors prescribed it for the pain and to help my brain heal.But what if it wasn't helping me heal? What if it was keeping me foggy? Keepi

But that didn't matter now. What mattered was that Elara was gone. And as long as she stayed gone, my plan would work.Killian would continue to fall apart. Would continue to be distracted, obsessed, unable to lead.And I would continue to consolidate power. To win over board members. To position myself as the better choice.Already, I'd been making decisions in Killian's absence. Signing contracts. Attending meetings. Presenting myself as the stable, reliable brother who could step in when needed.The board was noticing. The shareholders were noticing.Soon, they'd realize Killian was a liability. And I'd be there, ready to take his place.A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts."Come in."Marcus entered, his expression carefully neutral. "Sir. I have those reports you requested.""Excellent." I gestured for him to put them on the desk. "And Marcus? Has Killian called? Any updates on his wild goose chase?"Something flickered in Marcus's eyes. Disapproval? Anger? But his voice s

Killian's POVI walked out of the restaurant with no lead, pulling my jacket tighter against the cold mountain air. The town square was quiet. A few people walking around. A couple of shops open despite the late afternoon hour.I pulled out my phone and looked at Elara's picture for the thousandth time. Her smile. Her eyes. The way she looked at the camera like she was looking at me."I'm going to find you," I whispered to the photo. "I promise."I started with the coffee shop. Walked in and showed the barista Elara's picture.She shook her head. "Sorry, haven't seen her."The bookstore was next. Then the pharmacy. Then the small diner on the corner.Same answer everywhere. No one had seen her.My hope started to fade. Started to curl up and die inside my chest like it had so many times before.Maybe this was another false lead. Maybe the waitress had been mistaken. Maybe I was chasing ghosts again.But I couldn't give up. Wouldn't give up.I walked into a small grocery store near the