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

up. What about Adam? What about your scheming

fired them, everything’s just

expect you to clean up my mess. But I’d

part of the solution, not the

all I see is a man

in letting him help at the restaurant, especially with

As long as I keep my

with the gravity of my decision. “You can return to the

need the extra help around here.

distance.”

face softens, as if I’ve just thrown him a lifeline. “And the

really think I’d still go with

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

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

away to hide the complicated swirl of emotions threatening

Karl?”

he asks, a glimmer of

me regret

he could find

let you down. Not this

last lingering glance, he walks away,

my thoughts.

…

Karl he could return to the restaurant. I’m

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

ever done, and honestly, I’m mostly concerned about

to Chloe when I see her next. No doubt

a physical altercation between her and Karl. I can

so how can I convince

of a guest. The

the host stand reveals

shuffling his way in.

mask the turmoil of emotions bubbling beneath

“What brings

his eyes filled with an uncomfortable blend of apology and

Abby. May I

in my

exhaling as if carrying the weight of the

there’s been a last-minute change to the cook-off,” he starts, his