All Chapters of The Bet That Ruined Us : Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

The smell of breakfast woke Shayla. Eggs and toast and coffee. Simple food but it smelled like love and care.She got up and padded into the kitchen in bare feet. Grandma Madonna was at the stove humming softly to herself. She had the radio on low playing old gospel music."How did you sleep?" Grandma Madonna asked, setting a plate of scrambled eggs and buttered toast in front of Shayla."I slept well enough," Shayla said, sitting down at the small kitchen table. The wood was warm under her hands. "I am going shopping today. I need to buy new clothes instead of borrowing yours."Grandma Madonna smiled and sat down across from her with her own plate. "You do not have to rush, child. Stay as long as you need. This house is yours now too.""I know. But I need to do something. I want to feel normal again. Or at least pretend to feel normal."They ate breakfast in comfortable silence. The kind of silence that only exists between people who truly understand being hurt and betrayed by someon

The woman turned around.It was not Shayla. Just someone who looked vaguely similar from behind. Different face. Different eyes. Not her at all."Oh. I am very sorry," Grayson said. "I thought you were someone else."The woman just looked at him like he had lost his mind. Which maybe he had.Grayson walked back to his car slowly. Got in and sat there with his hands on the steering wheel.He was losing it. Completely losing his mind. Seeing Shayla everywhere. In strangers. In memories. In empty offices.His head was pounding now. Severe headache building behind his eyes. He needed to get home. He needed to take medication to keep himself from falling apart.His phone rang. The sound was jarring in the quiet car."What is it, Trevor?" he said, pressing the phone to his ear."Boss, are you okay?" Trevor asked. Concern clear in his voice."Why did you call me, Trevor Blues? Go straight to the point. I do not have time for this."There was a pause at the harsh tone. Then Trevor continued.

Shayla kept running. Her feet pounding against the uneven ground. Branches whipping her face. Thorns tearing at her clothes and skin.She could not stop, nor slow down or even risk looking back.Behind her, she heard shouting. Men's voices calling to each other. Searching and getting closer.Her lungs burned. Her legs felt like they were made of lead. But she pushed through it. Pushed through the pain and the fear and the absolute terror.The narrow road seemed endless. Just darkness and overgrown bush and no sign of civilization anywhere.Tears streamed down her face. Blurring her vision. Making it even harder to see where she was going in the pitch black.Grandma Madonna's face flashed in her mind. The way she looked lying on the floor. The blood. So much blood. The light fading from her eyes as she told Shayla to run.A sob tore from Shayla's throat. She bit down on it. Forced it back. She could not make noise. Could not let them hear her.She ran faster. Her heart hammering so har

Ayven looked around. There were only a few tombs visible. Marble and granite monuments scattered across manicured grass. Trees providing shade.They had come to see Grandma Madonna. His father had said she was not at her house. Had told him to wear a black suit.Ayven turned and saw one of the security guards handing Grayson a bouquet of flowers. Everything clicked into place."No. No, no, no."Ayven kept saying it. Over and over. His voice was getting higher, more panick in his toneThey walked across the grass. Past other graves. Past Grayson's parents' tomb.And stopped in front of a fresh grave. The marble headstone was simple yet elegant.MADONNA SHELLY CROSSBELOVED GRANDMOTHERREST IN PEACEAyven fell to his knees.The sound that came out of him was horrible. Broken. A child's grief too big for his small body to contain.He cried. His whole body was shaking with it.Grayson knelt beside him and pulled him into a hug. Let his son cry against his chest. Let his own tears fall si

[POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM]The interrogator had been questioning Monica for three days straight. Same questions. Different angles. Trying to break her.But she would not break. She would not say anything useful or give them what they needed.All she kept saying was the same thing over and over."I love Grayson.""I only did what I did to get what is rightfully mine.""He is supposed to be with me.""That woman stole him from me.""I love him. I love him. I love him."She said it like a mantra. Like if she repeated it enough times it would become true. Would justify everything she had done.The interrogator was exhausted. Frustrated. He slammed his folder on the table."Ms. Volkov, you are not helping yourself here. You set fire to a house with someone inside. You killed an elderly woman. That is murder. Arson. Multiple felonies. You are looking at life in prison. Help me help you."Monica just smiled. That same creepy smile she had been wearing since they arrested her."I di