Chapter 41
Everything felt too strange, too coincidental, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off
Abold thought crossed my mind–Was York really watching me 24/7? How did he pull this oft
I sat there, thinking for a moment, then followed a trick I found online to access the router settings. Sure enough, there it was an unfamiliar device connected to my home network
1 held my breath and searched the living room, going over every inch. Finally, I found a listening device hidden in a flowerpot next to the TV cabinet. I thought back to York’s odd behavior whenever he visited–wandering around my place for no good reason. Now it all made sense.
Why would he do this! Furions, I muished the device underfoot.
1 grabbed my phone, about to call York and tear him apart. But when fired, the call didn’t go through. Maybe he’d realized something was up when the device lost connection and got scared to answer
The rain outside was coming down hander. Then, just when I thought things couldn’t get weirder, there was another knock at the door–Quinn was
back
“What now?” I asked, annoyed as blocked the door
He looked at me with a weird expression–half angry, half childish. Finally, he said, “It’s raining. I can’t drive home. I’m staying here tonight”
I was speechless. “But you drove here.”
“My hand hurts. I don’t feel like driving,” he said, sounding like a child with a lame excuse.
Then call Finn to pick you up,” I said, not wanting him to stay.
السجاد
He stopped dead in his tracks and glared at me, his forehead all wrinkled up. It was like he was saying, “Don’t even think al I’ll make you pay back every penny of those 10 million”
“Fine, fine,” I muttered, giving in. I was still pretty annoyed about it, though
saying no again or
There
was only one bedroom in the apartment, so I pointed to the couch ready to say something. But Quinn be me to it, grinning slyly. “You sleep on the couch.”
The winter chill hadn’t let up, and Enchester nights were freezing. After my shower, I grabbed a pillow and blanket from the bedroom, figuring Id make do on the couch for the night.
But Quinn stopped me, blocking my way. His s eyes were cold, and his face unreadable. Without warning, he ordered. “Stop. Warm the bed first”
That was it I couldn’t take it anymore. I frowned and snapped. I’m not your maid”
His eyes narrowed, his voice colder. “Until we’re officially divorced, you’re still my wife. This is part of your duty as my v
So he was refusing to announce our divorce just to keep control over me?
I let out a bitter laugh. “Quinn, when did you become so childish!”
wife”
“Childish?” His expression turned dark, and his eyes filled with anger. He grabbed my chin, looking down at me with a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Is this about York? What did he promise you? 10 million dollars? How long did you agree to be with him?”
His repeated insults pushed me over the edge. “Quinn, you’re out of your freaking mind!”
“You are damn right,” he said, sneering. Without warning, he swept me up and tossed me onto the bed. His body pressed down on mine, and then his lips crashed onto mine
I struggled, trying to break free. Furious. I demanded, “Quinn, what about Diana? How could you do this to her?”
Maybe it was hearing her name, but he paused. His rough movements stopped, and his eyes bore into mine. Her flight back to Nordia is tonight”
His eyes were hard to read, and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking
“Do you remember what I told you that night at the old mansion he suddenly asked
Hove. That night – when we were pretending–I remembered Quim telling me he never wanted a divorce and had no intention of marrying Diana. But wasn’t that all just part of the act!
“We’re already divorced,” I said slowly, my heart skipping a beat, I couldn’s tell if I felt sad or something else.
“If you want, you can move back in right now,” Quinn said seriously.
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Chapter 41
I stared at him, barely believing my ears. Was he asking me to come back!
“What do you mean?” I asked, completely confused.
He smiled. “What I mean is
Before he could finish his phone rang. He looked at the caller ID, frowned, and picked up.
- p. “What’s going on?”
A few seconds later, his face turned serious. He threw the covers off and quickly got dressed, heading for the door.
“Where are you going?” I asked, panic rising in my chest. What did he mean? He hadn’t finished explaining himself.
He paused, turned slightly, and muttered, “Something happened. I need to go to the hospital”
“Is it Diana!” I asked.
He nodded, and the door slammed behind him. Suddenly, the apartment felt emptier than before. Quinn was gone, like he’d never been there.
to get his attention. And, as always, Quinn fell for it. In the end, he cared
Diana probably didn’t want to go to Nordia, so she faked some emergency to g more about her than anything else.
What was I hoping for? Did I seriously think Quinn wanted to get back together?
I laughed bitterly. He wasn’t worried about me being with York. He was just jealous and trying to keep control. In his mind, if he didn’t love me, 1 didn’t have the right to be with anyone else.
“Asshole“” I muttered, the frustration bubbling over.
After changing the sheets, I buried my face in the pillow and tried to sleep.
The next day, I took the listening device with me and drove straight to Maple Media.
Since I hadn’t made an appointment, the receptionist wouldn’t let me in. I stood there, trying to call York, but he still didn’t pick up.
“Ms. Hinton, are you looking for Mr. Smith?” A man stopped me.
I turned around and saw York’s assistant. I recognized him from the few times we’d met. I nodded, telling him I had urgent business but couldn’t get through to York.
“Mr. Smith is in a video meeting right now. But it should be wrapping up soon,” he said politely, checking his watch. “Would you like to wait in the
office!”
Maple Media was a big company, and before coming here, I’d imagined York’s office would be as grand as Quinn’s.
But when I walked in, I was surprised. The office was minimalist.
In the 1,000 square feet of space, there was just a desk, a chair, a sofa, and a small cabinet.
The assistant told me to wait while he stepped out.
I walked to the window, looking out at the city skyline, lost in thought.
Then I heard York’s voice. “Can’t wait to see me, huh?”
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