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 secretary and butler? You think

just going

his head. “I don’t expect you to clean up my mess. But I’d like

part of the

I see is a man broken by his own

What’s the harm in letting

coming up? As long as I keep my distance,

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

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

distance.”

if I’ve just thrown him

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

see a host of emotions flash through his

acceptance. “You’re right,” he

complicated swirl of emotions

Karl?”

glimmer of

make me

nods, his eyes searching mine as if he could

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

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

my thoughts.

…

return to the restaurant. I’m still digesting the weight of

Karl back into my

ever

No doubt she’ll be

and Karl. I can still barely convince myself that I’m

here, so how can I

the arrival of

up from the host stand reveals

shuffling his way in.

mask the turmoil

“What brings

blend

Abby. May

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

the weight of

last-minute change to the cook-off,” he starts, his words