Chapter 0156
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

everything’s just going

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

To be part of

the lie, the deceit, but all I see is

in

coming up? As long as I keep my

with the gravity of my

need the

distance.”

I’ve just thrown him a lifeline.

I’d still go with you

emotions

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

turning away to hide the complicated swirl

Karl?”

of hope lighting up his

make me

mine as if he could find the solution to all his mistakes there. “Thank

murmurs. “I won’t let you down.

last lingering glance, he walks

my thoughts.

I told Karl he could return to the

back into my life yet again—albeit at a

the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, and honestly, I’m mostly concerned about how

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

her and Karl. I can still barely convince

here, so how can I

signaling the arrival of a

the host stand reveals Mr. Thompson, the manager of

shuffling his way in.

to mask the turmoil of

brings

his eyes filled with an uncomfortable blend of apology and professionalism. “I hope I’m

anything, Abby. May I speak

me. Once we’re in my office, I let

if carrying the weight of the world

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

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