Lahat ng Kabanata ng Too Late to Beg I'm Already Gone: Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 60

Meritt's POV The warning from Mr. Vance echoed in my head all night and I couldn't sleep.Michael had hired private investigators and once again, instead of letting me go, he was using his wealth to hunt me down like a runaway dog. My passport was my only weakness. It was just a matter of time before they traced my flight to Rome.I woke up the next morning with the usual adrenaline and happiness. The thought of him filled me with nervous energy crawling under my skin. But I could not let fear bring me down. I had come too far for that. If Michael was coming, I needed to make sure I was strong by the time he arrived. I needed this theater job to become a permanent contract.I arrived at the Teatro di Roma an hour before rehearsal started.The atmosphere in the building was tenser than usual. Today was the evaluation day. The wealthy Italian investors who funded the musical production were coming to watch a full run of the first act. Signor Moretti, the general director of the theat

Meritt's POV I stared at the sketch in Clara’s hands. The dress was designed to make me look like a queen on the stage. But the neckline was open, and the styling notes demanded my hair be pulled back.The stage lights would reveal every single rough line on my left cheek. Thousands of wealthy strangers would sit in the dark auditorium and stare at my ruined skin.No…"I cannot do it," I said again, shaking my head. I took a step back from the stool and my hands were shaking so badly I had to fold them into fists. "Clara, please. You do not understand. People look at my face and they feel sick. My own husband could not even look at me in the daytime."Clara lowered the piece of paper with a soft expression. She did not argue with me, her warm and old eyes just stared at me."I will make you a thin lace veil," Clara said softly. "It will cover the left side of your face,” I smiled and she held my hand softly, looking intensely at me, as if she was speaking to my soul. “But Meritt, I

Meritt's POV The darkness inside the room was suffocating and I could not even see my own hands in front of my face.I pounded my fists against the door again and again, but it was no use. The locks outside rattled loudly, but they did not move an inch."Help!" I screamed at the top of my voice until my voice cracked. "Somebody help me!"I pressed my face against the door and listened closely. The sound of the music playing the opening part vibrated through the walls. The music was so loud it drowned out my voice completely. No one could hear me from here and the backstage crew was completely focused on the stage area now. Nobody was coming to this side.My chest tightened and the darkness only made things worse. I slowly dropped to the ground, gripping my chest hard as I fought for breath.And an old memory crashed into my brain without my permission.I was not in Rome anymore. I was back in the burning building six years ago. The thick smoke was filling my lungs and the heat was me

Michael's POVThe jet touched down on the tarmac at Fiumicino Airport with a thud.I did not wait for the stairs to be properly arranged. The second the cabin door opened, I rushed past my flight crew and stepped out into the cold night. A black SUV was already waiting for me on the tarmac.My security guard held the door open and I climbed into the back seat, my jaw clenched."Drive straight to the theater," I commanded, my voice low and calm. "Do not stop for red lights."The driver nodded and hit the gas at once and the vehicle tore across the tarmac and sped onto the highway leading into the heart of Rome.I sat back against the seat and stared at the screen of my phone.My body needed rest, my eyes were reddened and my suit jacket was now wrinkled from the long flight. I had not slept a full hour in five days. Ever since the morning I walked into my study and found her ring sitting on top of those signed divorce papers, my world had turned into a nightmare.I thought she was jus

Meritt's POVThe rain was pouring mercilessly against the windshield of the car. The wipers slammed back and forth, scratching loudly against the glass as we sped through the streets.I sat in the passenger seat, my wet dress cold and hugged my skin. My hair was still wet and hanging around my shoulders, exposing every single scar on my cheek."How did you get here so fast?" I asked, staring at at Mr. Vance."Signor Moretti, the theater director, called my office in New York the second your visa was flagged," Mr. Vance said, keeping his eyes glued to the road. "He paid for my express flight to Rome. The Italian arts council is heavily interested in your show, Meritt. They were not going to let Micheal and above all, an American pull a stunt like this without a fight.""He brought two security guards backstage," I said, my voice low. "He thought he could just intimidate me and force me to his car.""Michael is used to buying his way out of problems," Mr. Vance replied, turning the stee