Semua Bab 100 Days With My Nemesis: Bab 81 - Bab 90

NORA A long silence stretches between us. Then Mars lifts his gaze to mine, his gaze heavy."Otto was the perfect heir."I stare at him, frowning. "What does that mean?""It means while they taught me how to endure pain, they taught him how to cause it without getting blood on his hands."My stomach churns."He knows about the lessons?" I whisper.Mars gives me a slow nod. "He was there for some of them."The room falls deathly quiet.Fragments rush through my mind—Otto opening the door in silk and studying my wedding ring. The way he said, 'Everyone is always being tested, Mrs. Gregory.'I tighten the robe around myself, suddenly feeling cold."Why didn't you tell me this before I went?""Because I didn't remember his name until you said it." His voice is hollow. "And now... I remember enough."His gaze hardens. "Otto never does anything without an agenda."I glance towards the black folder resting on the armchair. My dream sits inside that folder. So does a trap.Mars watches

NORA I don't like this at all. Hell, I don't like the way he's staring. However, my curiosity is still winning. I have to know what I'm dealing with. I won't be surprised if he's a vampire from the 1800s.Could explain why he thinks stalking and obsession is romantic. Or why he's nearly thirty and still looks twenty-three. And his ridiculous stamina—What the fuck, Nora? Get your shit together."You broke three men apart like they weren't human," I say, and his eyes slip closed in exasperation.He exhales slowly through his nose. It feels like he is counting himself down from something. When his eyes open again, they seem even darker. A shudder runs through me."Please," he says.The word should soften me. It doesn't. Especially not with his gaze tracking my hands, the distance between us, and the heavy ceramic soap dispenser beside my elbow.He is assessing the room. Assessing me. The realization makes me want to hightail it out of here."You're doing it now," I whisper.His ex

MARCELLUS Nora walks out of the restaurant without looking back. I follow. The wheelchair is too slow. Every push of the wheels feels like it's working against me. By the time I reach the entrance, she's already standing at the curb with her arms crossed, scanning the street like she's searching for an escape route."Nora."She doesn't turn."We're going back to the villa,” I say."No." Her voice is flat. "I'm not going back with you right now."I grip the armrests until the metal bites into my palms."I know you're pissed. But you're also not thinking straight right now."She finally looks at me. There's no heat in her eyes. Her gaze is so cold, so unlike her."Between the two of us, you're the one who hasn't been thinking."A taxi pulls up. She raises her hand, and the driver slows.I push forward. "Don't."She opens the door."Nora—""I need space, Mars." She pauses with one foot inside the car. "If you follow me, I will not forgive you."The door closes and the taxi pulls

NORA My husband's face goes blank. I don't know why Mr. Hartmann is calling. Either way, we still haven’t negotiated. I can't do that over the phone. However, I can't ignore him. So I answer the call and bring the phone to my ear."I trust that I have given you enough time to think," he tells me, and I nearly roll my eyes."I'll see you tomorrow," I say, and he hums."Will you now? Well, I'll be expecting you. Same time. Same place.” He hangs up before I can argue.Arrogant jerk.When I lower the phone, Mars is still staring. He shifts, trying to push himself higher against the pillows. Pain tightens his face immediately."Don't." I press one hand against his shoulder. "You've already done enough damage for one day."His gaze dips to my hand, then it lifts to my face."You're leaving."My half-packed suitcase still sits open beside the wardrobe. Apparently, near-death exhaustion does nothing to dull his abandonment radar."I came to collect my things."His fingers close around

NORA Mars glances down at the pillow, worrying his lower lip between his teeth. "I... I couldn't sleep. The nurse was snoring. She was in the sitting room. But the noise—"I groan. "Are you kidding me right now?"His eyes dart away, and I fold my arms.He looks drained and embarrassed. Ridiculously handsome despite resembling a fugitive who escaped a medical ward with one decorative pillow."You promised," I remind him."I promised not to break the door.""You promised not to come into my room," I hiss at him, and he frowns."I'm not in your room."I stare at him. He is standing with the front half of his body leaning through the doorway. Mars slowly leans backwards."Technically." His mouth tightens. "I wasn't going to come in.""Then why do you have a pillow?"He looks down at it again as though he has only just noticed it."I thought I might sleep outside."My anger falters. "Outside the room?"He nods once. What the fuck, Mars? Why do you keep making my heart race like this?