#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

Adam? What about your scheming

fired them, everything’s just

“I don’t expect you to clean up my mess. But

be part of the solution, not

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

harm in letting him help at the restaurant, especially

as

relent, each word heavy with the gravity of my

over, because I need the extra help around

distance.”

just thrown him a lifeline. “And

go with you if I even

can see a host of emotions flash through his eyes. Hope,

“You’re right,” he

to hide the complicated

Karl?”

glimmer of hope lighting up

me

he could find the solution to all

he murmurs. “I won’t let you down. Not this time.

With a last lingering glance, he walks away, leaving me alone

my thoughts.

two days since I told Karl he could return to the restaurant.

let Karl back into my life

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

news to Chloe when I see her next. No doubt she’ll be furious with me, and there could

her and Karl. I can still barely convince myself

how can I

the restaurant door chimes, signaling the arrival of a guest. The sound snaps me out of

host stand

shuffling his way in.

Mr. Thompson,” I greet, trying to mask the

brings

his eyes filled with an uncomfortable blend of apology and

May

Once we’re in my office, I let him take

exhaling as if carrying the weight of the world on

last-minute change to the cook-off,” he

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