Chapter 0443


    Chloe doesn’t mince words. Her tone is a bit harsh, although not necessarily in a mean way. | can tell she’s concerned, which | of


    course expected.


    | hesitate for a moment, my mind racing for an exnation that won’t cause even more concern. “I’m staying with Karl,” | finally


    admit. “I needed to leave the city.”


    Leah’s brow furrows. “Why?” she asks. “Is everything okay?”


    | let out a sigh, realizing that there’s no point in hiding the truth any longer. “The restaurant case escted,” | admit. “The


    detective working the case said that | should probably go somewhere that’s a bit safer. Away from the press and angry citizens,


    you know?”


    Chloe’s eyes widen in shock, and Leah''s expression mirrors her surprise. “So you''re staying with Karl?” Chloe exims. “Why


    didn’t you tell us? You could have stayed with one of us, not with him.”


    | bite my lip, feeling their disappointment emanating through the screen. “I didn’t know how to tell you,” | confess. “I thought it


    would only be for a few days, but now it might be longer.”


    “Well, as long as you''re safe,” Leah says slowly, even though | can tell she’s restraining some of her concern.


    But Chloe’s frustration is evident. “Abby, have you been sleeping with him this whole time?”


    Her words tumble out like an avnche, and | can tell that it perturbs even Leah. Chloe has never been one to mince words, but


    it still hurts sometimes. | can tell that this is going to be no small feat to make Chloe understand why Karl and | are doing what


    we''re doing. | can’t even begin to imagine what she''ll think when we announce our fake rtionship.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    My cheeks burn with embarrassment, and | clear my throat nervously. “Look, it’s not like that,” | lie, even though | know |


    shouldn''t. The truth is that Karl and | are sleeping together, casually, but | just can’t bring myself to admit it. | keep telling myself


    that it’s just because it’s personal, but | don’t think that’s the only reason.


    Leah''s voice is more measured as she chimes in, which is a wee relief. “Abby,” she says, “we''re just worried about you,


    that’s all. You have to be careful. Karl has his own agenda, and we don’t want you getting hurt, you know?”


    | appreciate their concern, even if it''s mixed with a healthy dose of skepticism. “I know,” | say, my voice softening. “I''ll exin


    everything, but for now, | could really use your support. Do you guys wannae, or...?”


    Leah nods, her expression more


    understanding. “Even though | don’


    officially work foeheeeoufate


    lQpatacsind and visit, help you out if


    you need it,” she says. “Besides | took


    this week off of work, so it''ll be nice


    to get out of the city.” Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    | can’t help but smile at Leah’s willingness to lend a hand. “Thank you, Leah,” | murmur. “That means a lot. But don’t feel bad if


    you change your mind.”


    Chloe, however, doesn''t seem quite


    as convinced. “I''lle, but yo@rad


    ter gaséa ￥fpianation,


    Abby,” she warns. “We''ll talk more


    when we get there.” Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    As the FaceTime call ends, I’m left


    feeling a strange mixture of


    emotions: embarrassment, guilt,


    maybe even a little ped dea dew


    willtapelwhen Karl and |


    exin everything to Chloe and


    Leah—for all | know, it might even


    end in mes—but soon, it''ll be all out


    on the table. What they do with that


    information is up to them, but I’ve


    made my decision, and I’m not


    backing out now. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Now, all | have to do is wait for the day they arrive, and for the hammer to fall.