Chapter 9
when Kelly got home, she grabbed her suitcase and started packing the rest of her things, working late into the night. Hugh never came back, but she didn’t care anymore.
The next day, she went to the immigration office to pick up her documents. On her way back, she booked a flight for that afternoon. When she pulled up to the gate, she saw Hugh’s Maybach in the driveway. She couldn’t help but pick up the pace.
When Kelly entered the bedroom, she found Hugh standing by her suitcase, as it about to open it.
Awave et panic hit her, and she blurted out, “Weren’t you with Natalie? Why are you back?”
Hugh tro. Slow, he tumed to face her, and she saw the anger thicker in his eyes.
He stepped toward her, his voice thick with exasperation. “Kel, what’s going through your head? I told you I’m done with Natalie”
Done with her? He’d even married Natalie to protect her
Kelly laughed, tears welling up in her eyes, but she didn’t call him out on it. “Guess I must’ve misunderstood.”
DE WOUL”
Not noticing anything strange in her expression, Hugh let out a quiet sigh of relief “There’s a family dinner tonight. Mom and Dad said I could bring y Kelly was caught off guard, Nell and Emilia actually agreed?
Noticing the stunned look on her face, Hugh stroked her head and handed her a bank card. “Kel, trust me. One day, I’ll make them accept you, and you won’t have to hide anymore. I’m drained and need some sleep. Let Ben go with you to pick out a couple of dresses, okay?
Kelly stared at the card for a long time before finally taking it. “Go get some rest. I’ll go alone.”
Hugh rubbed his temples and nodded. As Kelly tucked the documents she’d picked up into her bag, he lay on the bed and was out like a light.
She watched him, his face looking just like when he was 17. A wave of nostalgia hit her. She reached out for the last time, running her fingers down his! Maybe he felt her touch in his sleep because he grabbed her hand and muttered, “Nattie, knock it off.”
brow.
Kelly let out a quiet, exasperated laugh. She pulled her hand back, grabbed her suitcase, and headed downstairs. The house was quiet, with the housekeepers on their midday break. No one knew she had lett.
On her way to the airport, Kelly blocked Hugh’s number and deleted every way he could get in touch with her. After that, she deleted all her social media accounts.
The terminal was packed. She stared at the blinking departure board, then punched in one final number.
“Mrs. Johnston, I’m at the airport just like we agreed. I’ll be boarding soon,” she said
On the other end, Emilia’s satisfaction was clear in her upbeat tone. “Good. The rest of the payment will be transferred to your account as long as you stay away from tonight’s banquet. See you”
The boarding call came through.
Kelly gave a small shake of her head. “No, Mrs. Johnston. We shouldn’t see each other again” She hung up, tossed her phone in the trash, and walked straight to the gate, never looking back.
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Chapter 10
High tossed and tamed in his sleep. In his dream, he was pulled back into those dank, empty, painful moments from his past, b there for him wOWN PRE
“Kethe warbled, his face twisting in agony.
Caught in the nightmare, Hugh’s chest rose and tell in
but this time, the person who had once quietly been
even breaths in the dream, he reached out desperately, searching for the person who should’ve been there. But no matter how many times he called, there was nothing but sence
A sharp jolt of text vasked him from his sleep, his eyes snapping open Sweat clung to his forehead. The blackout curtains were drawn tight, and for a moment, he couldn’t tell if he was still trappost in the nichtmate.
High sat ups, his voice trembling “M
Nothing
He called out again, “kel ”
Still nothing
Huch staggered out of bed, almost losing his balance as he reached for the light. The moment the room came into focus, he let out a relieved breath
The nightmare’s hold began to fade, and he rubbed his forehead. He froze when he didn’t see the person he was desperate to find.
Where was Kelly?
His heart, finally starting to ease, began pounding again. Breathing heavily, he flung the door open.
The villa was unnerving quiet, with just a few housekeepers tidying up the Thing room. As soon as they saw him, they greeted him at once. “Where’s Kel” Hugh asked urgently.
“Ms. Ressler? We haven’t seen her. Wasn’t she napping with you?”
Hugh was about to respond when his phone buzzed with a familiar notification sound. Without thinking, he opened the message, and Natalie’s distressed voice came through “Hughie, my living room light’s out. I’m all alone right now. Can you come help me?”
He frowned, ready to decline, but another message popped up before hecould.
“Hughie, I know you’re taking Ms. Kessler to the johnstons‘ tonight. I be here alone. If I don’t get the light fixed.” Natalie’s voice broke off, fading into quiet, heartbreaking
sobs
Hugh told the housekeepers, “Call me if Kel shows up. I’ve got something to take care of.”
With that, he went back to his room, changed, grabbed his keys, and rushed out.
When Hugh got to Natalie’s place, he opened the door and found her lounging on the couch in a skimpy robe, her chest almost fully exposed. Her eyes fluttered open at the sound, dated like shar’d just woken up
“Hughie, you’re here!” Natalle exclaimed, her face lighting up as she jumped up and threw herself into his arms.
The feel of her body against his sent a slight shiver through him.
“Why are you dressed like this? You’ll catch a cold,” Hugh said, instinctively pulling her closer as she snuggled into him.
“I was scared. I’d be all alone tonight if you hadn’s shown up she said, her voice solt with hurt
Without thinking, he blurted out, “Come with me to the jolinston residence tonight.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Hugh regrested them. But before he could say anything to take it back, Natalie looked up at him, her eyes filled with unshed tears “Really, Hughie?”
