Chapter 0142


    The butler loosens his grip, a look of disbelief contorting his face. But before he can leave, Gianna,


    who''s been watching the whole scene unfold like some sort of soap opera, steps in.


    “Wow, Karl,” she sneers, her lips curling into a contemptuous smile. “So now we’re letting not just


    cheaters but liars and thieves back into our home?”


    The room goes silent. A rush of blood fills my ears. I can’t believe she just said that.


    Karl’s face reddens, his eyes shing with something that looks a lot like betrayal. “Both of you, out.


    Now.”


    Gianna tosses her hair over her shoulder, ring at me onest time before stalking out of the room,


    her heels clicking angrily against the hardwood floor. Gerald follows, throwing me a disdainful nce as


    he leaves.


    The door ms shut, and I’m left standing there, my heart pounding in my chest, my eyes blurring with


    tears I refuse to let fall.


    “I’m sorry,” I murmur, wiping away a stray tear. “I never should havee.”


    I turn and make my way to the door, but Karl’s voice stops me. “Abby, wait.”


    I don’t turn around. I can’t turn around. I’m too scared to see the expression on his face. What if it


    mirrors Gianna’s or Gerald’s? What if he thinks I’m guilty too? What if there’s still a hint of her lipstick


    on his lips?


    Instead, I rush out of the room, bolting up the stairs and to my room, ignoring the confused stares of the


    dinner guests.


    …


    A soft knock on my door interrupts my thoughts a little whileter. I’m sitting on my bed, my mind still


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    swirling, when Karl walks in. He looks drained, as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders.


    “May I?” he asks, gesturing to the empty space beside me on the bed.


    I nod, scooting over to make room. He sits down, and for a long moment, we’re both silent, lost in our


    thoughts.


    “I know you didn’t steal anything,” Karl finally says, breaking the silence. “And I feel like I should exin


    myself too. About... Gianna.”


    My throat clenches. I’m about to tell him that I don’t want to know, but it’s toote.


    “It was a misunderstanding,” he says. “She said she has feelings for me, and she kissed me. But I’m


    not interested in her. I hope you know that.”


    For reasons that I don’t want to admit to myself, I feel almost relieved. Almost.


    I swallow, trying to feign indifference. “What goes on between you two is none of my—” I begin, but I’m


    quickly cut off.


    “No, Abby,” Karl says, his voice firm. Before I can stop him, he reaches over to grip my hand. His


    fingers are warm and smooth. “I’m not interested in Gianna. I never have been, and I never will be.”


    For a moment, my mouth hangs open slightly, as though the words want toe but can’t seem to spill


    out the way they should. What would I even say, though? That I’m d? That seeing her lipstick on his


    face filled me with more pain than I thought possible?


    Then, before I can say anything once again, Karl speaks up once more. “Now, I have to ask... did you


    see anything... important on myputer?”


    I hesitate, unsure of how much I should reveal. Finally, I decide that honesty is the best policy. “I saw


    an email exchange between you and Adam,” I say cautiously. “About some rare ingredients.”


    As the words leave my mouth, I watch Karl’s face turn pale, his eyes widening ever so slightly. For a


    split second, he looks vulnerable, almost afraid. It’s a look I’ve never seen on him before, and


    something about it chills me to the bone.


    “What’s wrong, Karl?”