Chapter 11
The TV was sillon.
I didn’t mean to watch it,
I couldn’t look away.
A reporter stood outside a police station, holding a microphone.
+Charlotte Evans has been arrested while attempting to flee the country. Sources confim she was caught with company files, suspected to be stolen documents Imm MooerTech’s confidential project folders.”
1 sat on the couch, frozen.
i was in her room, painting. She didn’t need to hear this,
Lunawad
The screen changed. Now it showed her. Charlatte
Her hair was messy Hereyes were wild.
She screamed at the cameras.
“If I can’t have him, I’ll destroy him! He lied to me! Will Monce is a tralso!”
Then she said my name
“Anna! You ruined everything! You think you won?!”
I pressed the remote. The volume lowered, but her voice still echoed in my head.
My phone rangt.
Susz
I stared at the screen. I didn’t want to pick up. But what if it was important?
I sighed and answered.
“Hello”
“Anna,” Susan’s voice was quiet. “You saw the news?”
“Yes,” I said.
“I thought you should hear it from me. Charlotte’s in custody. It’s all over.
“Luw it on TV.”
Susan exhaled “Not only did she illegally transfer the company money, but she also stole internal data. Tried to sell it. She would’ve done real damage to the company if the legal team hadn’t acted fast.”
I didn’t respond.
“I know you don’t owe me anything,” she continued, “but I thought you should know will’s name is being dragged through the mud. She blamed everything on him.”
“She always does.”
Susan went quies.
* know you don’t trust him anymore,” she said. “But he really didn’t have anything to do with what she did. He’s been trying to find you.”
“Is he?” I scrunched my eyebrow, not expecting Will to find me even after be sided with Charlotte and chose to stay with Evelyn compared to Luna
“Do you still hate him?“.
1 paused
“No,” I said softly. “I never hate him, Susan But I don’t want to go back.”
“I’m really sorry, dear, but I told Will about your whereabouts. I think it’s time for you two to talk it through.”
The room was quiet, but my mind wasn’t.
So much had happened.
same on live TV.
Charlotte is screaming ay naine
Threatening to destroy Will.
ther betrayal was public now. Her lies are exposed.
But all I felt was calin
These was a time this would’ve broken me. I would’ve cried. Shaken. Panicked.
Now, I just closed my eyes
She was finally out of our lives.
Two days later, I was helping Lama with her homework when someone locked on the door.
looked through the prephole.
Will
My heart skipped. I didn’t move
He knocked again.
Topened the door slowly.
He looked tired. His beard was thicker. His eyes were sunken. But he was still will.
“William.”
Can Drome in?
1 hesitated at first, then stepped aside.
He walked in. Looked around the small living room..
“It’s nice.” he said “quiet,”
“It’s enough,” I replied.
He knocked again.
Lopened the door slowly.
was still will
He looked tired. His beard was thicker. His eyes were sunken. But he was:
Anna
“William.”
“Can I come in?
Thesitated at first, then stepped aside.
He walked in. Looked around the small living room.
“It’s nice,” he said, “Quiet.”
“It’s enough,” I replied
He sat down on the edge of the couch like it didn’t quite belong to him. I stayed standing, arms folded.
“How have you been?” he asked, his voice lower than I remembered.
I gave a soft, dry laugh. “You want to ask me that now?”
He looked down. “I know I messed up. But I need to talk to you.”
“Then talk”
Heeled, long and slow. “beard you. That day. Talking to my mother‘
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I overheard the part about the deal between you two. That our marriage… wasn’t real”
I looked away.
“I didn’t know the details,” he continued. “But I wough to understand that something about us wasn’t what I thought it was.”
“So you brougle Charlotte back?” I snapped. “You punished me and Luna without asking anything?
Will’s jaw clenched, “I didn’t know how to react. I felt like a fool. I felt betrayed.”
“And you think I didn’t?” I stepped closer. “You changed overnight. You shut me out. You started avoiding me. And Lunashe noticed. You didn’t even try to explain.”
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I was angry. Confused.”
“And instead of aslong me, you brought her back You let her stay in our house.”
“I thought He paused. “I thought she cared about me. And i was desperate. You weren’t there. You stopped talking to me, and I thought it all meant something.”
I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “You could’ve just asked One conversation, Will”
know,” he whispried. “I know.”
There was a silener.
“My mother told me everything. A few weeks ago. She told me.. you manded me to pay off your family’s debt.”
I closed my eyes. “I didn’t have a choice.”
Will looked at me, and for once, I saw no judgment there. Just but, just regret.
“But that doesn’t mean my feelings weren’t real,” I said softly. “I fell in love with you, Will. I tried. Every day. I was there for you. For Luna. I gave you everything!
He looked stponed, his lips parted
* But povu porter sarni it,” went, le trembling. “You saw duty Chigation. Not love. Not me
He stood slowly. “sw you. I just didn’t understand you. And now I don’t know if it’s too late.”
Lama perked from the hallow. She stared at him but said nothing
She nodded. “HI”
Then she went back to her mom
It’s bunny how Lana has grown awkward around him despite Will being her father, and they share the same blood.
Will looked at me.
e’s grown
“I came to my sorry. For everything”
பான
Ted my brows. “You’r sorry!”
He sighed deeply. “I didn’t know Charlotte would go that tar
She always goes too far. You just didn’twant to see it.”
“Too late,”
