Chapter 0138


    Her words throw me off. How long has this been going on? How long had Gianna secretly been wishing


    that Abby wasn’t in the picture? And how many lengths has she attempted to go to in order to ensure


    that Abby can’t be in the picture?


    I lean in, my voice tinged with both annoyance and incredulity. “My choices, especially about who I


    choose as my Luna, are not up for debate or discussion. Not by you, not by anyone. I intend to bring


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    Abby back into my life. She deserves that spot, and nothing you say or do will change that. Do you


    understand?”


    But then, just as I think I have a handle on the situation, Gianna''s next words hit me like a tidal wave.


    “Fine,” she says, huffing. “You’re a man, you can make your own decisions. But Karl, there’s something


    else.”


    I sigh. “What is it?”


    Gianna pauses for a few moments. The silence feels almost too heavy, but as she utters her next


    words, I wish that she hadn’t. “It’s not just that I think you can do better. I...I have feelings for you, Karl.”


    My eyes widen, my mouth agape as I process her revtion. “What? Is that true?”


    She looks away momentarily, her face flushed. “Yes. It’s been true for a long time, actually. Years.”


    “Years?” I find myself incredulous and bewildered. “Why am I hearing about this now? Howe I


    never noticed?”


    Sheughs bitterly. “Why would you? You had everything you wanted. You had Abby, you had your


    pack. Where did I fit into that grand scheme of things? I was just your secretary, someone who took


    care of your schedules, meetings, and paperwork. So, I kept it hidden. My feelings, my longing,


    everything.”


    I fall silent, my mind racing to make sense of this sudden andplex twist. My hand involuntarily goes


    up to rub my temples as I try to process her words, to sift through theyers of emotional and ethical


    dilemmas they present.


    Seizing the momentary pause, Gianna suddenly rushes toward me, arms outstretched, as if attempting


    a hug. “Karl, all I want is to be with you. And I’ve seen the way you look at me. I know you have those


    feelings for me, too.”


    But she’s dead wrong. As her arms wrap around me, I react without thinking. Startled, my reflexes kick


    in, and I find myself shoving her away. “Have you gone mad?” I nearly shout.


    However, she stumbles, her ridiculously high heels teetering dangerously as she almost crashes to the


    ground. Instinctively, I reach out and grab her arm, steadying her before she falls. “I’m sorry, I didn’t


    mean to—”


    “Karl—”


    She looks up, and for a fleeting moment, our faces are dangerously close. As though she feels


    emboldened, or perhaps just desperate, she leans in, tilting her chin up.


    Before I can stop her, her lips meet mine. I’m suddenly caught in a tangle that I didn’t mean to be a part


    of, and I’m too stunned to even pull away, which makes her seem to believe that I wanted this. Her kiss


    grows more fervent.


    And to make matters worse, the door bursts open before I have a chance toe to my senses and


    push her away.


    Gerald, my loyal butler, steps in. I manage to shove Gianna away, causing her to fall backwards on my


    desk, sending papers scattering across the floor.


    But when I see the look on his face—one of urgency, almost panic—I find myself momentarily


    forgetting about what happened with Gianna.


    “Gerald?” I ask, my eyes narrowing as I then see Abby being pulled along behind him, his fingers


    gripping her arm all too tightly. “What is this about?”


    Abby’s eyes meet mine, filled with aplicated mix of confusion, guilt, and agony as she sees me pull


    away from Gianna, her lipstick smeared across my face.


    “Karl,” Gerald interrupts, clearly unperturbed by the scene before him, “I caught Abby trying to steal


    information from yourputer.”