NovelEnglish
Chapter 0140
That’s when I spot it—the door to Karl’s private office, slightly ajar, a sliver of light spilling out into the
dim corridor. I push it open, and the sight that greets me is comfortably familiar.
Bookshelves lining the walls, a leather armchair, and Karl’s sleek, darkwood desk hosting his laptop.
Except, the laptop screen is glowing, wide open. Karl must’ve forgotten to shut it down.
A voice at the back of my head tells me to leave it alone, to walk away. But another, louder voice—
perhaps fueled by my concealed desire to know more about what Karl has been up to all these years—
prompts me to step closer. I rationalize it by telling myself that I’m just turning it off for him.
As I move the mouse to wake the screen from its screensaver, an open email catches my eye. I know I
shouldn’t read it, but I can’t tear my eyes away. It mentions rare ingredients and specialized supplies.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtNormally, I’d ignore something like this, figuring it’s just some work that Karl is doing in his spare time,
something for the pack.
But it’s the name that makes my eyes glue to the screen—Adam.
“Hey, Karl,” the email reads, “I hate to say this, but I’ve already run out of those rare ingredients. I don’t
suppose you’d be willing to share the name of your supplier so I can order more? I’d really appreciate
it. Thanks. -Adam”
Adam, as in my ex-fiancee. Adam, who came out as g ay and broke up with me.
Why would he be in contact with Karl about rare ingredients? When did Karl supply him with any in the
first place, and why? More than anything, why didn’t I know about this before? The questions rush
through my mind like a torrent, each more confusing than the last.
And then, the atmosphere changes. I sense it before I see it—the room suddenly feels smaller, more
confined. I whip around, and there he is—Gerald, Karl’s loyal butler, his eyes narrowed into slits.
“What do we have here?” he sneers, a look of disdain curling his lips.
Caught red-handed, I stammer, my voice shaky. “I was just—I thought Karl left this on. I was going to
shut it down.”
His eyes scan me, sizing me up, then land on the laptop screen. “Oh, of course. How altruistic of you,
Abby. Or should I say, how cu nning?”
“Gerald, you’ve got it all wrong. I wasn’t—”
“Save it,” he interrupts, gripping my arm in a vice-like hold. “You’re coming with me.”
My heart pounds in my chest as he drags me back through the hallways. The tension in the air is
palpable as he finally pushes me into the study, the room where I had once shared so many private
moments with Karl.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmExcept now, Karl is there, and so is Gianna, his secretary. Their faces are inches apart, a swirl of
emotions that I can’t quite decipher. But Karl’s eyes meet mine, widening in confusion, surprise, and
something I can’t quite place.
“Gerald? What is this about?” Karl demands, his eyes still locked onto mine but his words aimed at
Gerald.
Karl slyly wipes his mouth with the back of his hand to conceal the evidence, but I saw it: the hint of red
lipstick smeared across his skin, not to mention the smirk on Gianna’s face as she meets my gaze.
Were they… kissing?
My heart sinks, even though I know it shouldn’t. Suddenly, the email, Gerald’s accusation, the
conversations at dinner, all seem like nothing. Suddenly, I’m caught up in a web of lies, wondering how
I got here.
“Karl,” Gerald says, his grip still tight on my arm, “I caught Abby trying to steal information from your
computer.”
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