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

fired them, everything’s just going to

he says, shaking his head. “I don’t expect you to clean up my mess.

part of the

all I see

in letting him help at

as I keep my distance,

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

cook-off is over, because I need the extra help around here.

distance.”

softens, as if I’ve just thrown him a lifeline.

“You really think I’d still go with you if I even had

pauses, and I can see a host of emotions flash through his

on acceptance. “You’re right,” he

complicated swirl of

Karl?”

he asks, a glimmer of hope lighting up

me regret

if he could find the solution to

“I won’t let you down. Not this time.

myself to speak. With a last lingering glance, he walks away, leaving me alone

my thoughts.

…

been two days since I told Karl he could return

my life

thing I’ve ever done, and honestly, I’m

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

a physical altercation between her and Karl. I can still

so how

of a guest. The sound snaps me

host stand reveals Mr. Thompson,

shuffling his way in.

mask

“What brings you

uncomfortable blend of apology

anything, Abby. May I speak with

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

exhaling as if carrying the weight of the world on

change to the cook-off,” he starts,