Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 97: Fool Me Thrice
Abby

The room is dead silent when Karl finishes telling his story. I’m in utter shock, and I think he is, too. In a

way, now that I think of it, it all makes sense. And yet, all these years, neither of us ever saw it coming.

“So your butler…” I pause, swallowing. “Conspired with your secretary to sow discord between us?”

Karl nods quietly. “It appears so,” he murmurs.

In a way, I feel a sense of understanding wash over me. And yet, it doesn’t completely absolve Karl of

his sins. No matter how much Gianna sunk her claws in over the years, he still did what he did by

giving those rare ingredients to Adam. And for that, I still don’t know if I can ever forgive him.

As though reading my mind, Karl’s eyes lock onto mine, and there’s an intensity in them that I haven’t

seen in years. His gaze is heavy, but it’s also completely genuine.

“I know that I never should have gone against you, Abby. I’ve messed up, and I’m sorry,” he says

quietly. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you’ll allow me.”

My chest feels like it’s been hollowed out, replaced with a cavern of disbelief and mistrust. Could this

really be the man who turned my life upside down?

“Sorry?” I find myself hissing. “You really think a simple apology can make this right? Regardless of

what Gianna and Gerald did, you still gave my ex rare ingredients behind my back to make him leave

me, Karl. That can’t be forgiven.”

His jaw tightens. “No,” he admits, his voice barely more than a whisper. “I know that there’s no way I

can undo the past, but I can try to make the future better. For you, and for your career.”

A part of me, a part I don’t want to acknowledge, wants to believe him. But the other part, the part that

remembers every night I spent alone, every tear shed in solitude, screams at me to keep my guard up.

“You’ve made a mess, Karl,” I say, controlling the tremor in my voice. “A mess that you expect me to

What about Adam? What about your scheming secretary and butler? You

just going

you to clean up my mess. But I’d like the chance

of the

scrutinize him, looking for the lie, the deceit, but all I see is a man

for redemption. I sigh. What’s the harm in letting

up? As long as I keep

the gravity of my decision. “You can return

need the

distance.”

if I’ve just thrown him a lifeline. “And

I’d still go with you if I even had the

see a host of emotions flash through his eyes. Hope, dismay, hurt. Finally,

on acceptance. “You’re right,” he murmurs. “I’m

the complicated swirl of emotions threatening to spill

Karl?”

he asks, a glimmer of hope

make me

searching mine as if he could find the solution to all his mistakes

you down. Not this time.

to speak. With a last lingering

my thoughts.

…

he could return to

to let Karl back into my life yet again—albeit at a

be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, and honestly, I’m mostly

her next. No doubt she’ll be furious with me,

Karl. I can still barely convince myself that

how can

of a guest. The sound snaps me

the host stand reveals Mr. Thompson,

shuffling his way in.

mask the turmoil of emotions bubbling

brings

filled with an uncomfortable blend of apology and professionalism. “I hope

May I speak with

Once we’re in my office, I let

sits down, exhaling as if carrying the

last-minute change to the cook-off,”