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

What about your scheming secretary

just

to clean up my

To be part of the solution, not

but all I see is a

harm in letting him

as I keep

gravity of

because I need the extra help around

distance.”

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

go with

I can see a host of emotions flash through his eyes. Hope, dismay, hurt. Finally,

“You’re right,” he murmurs.

away to hide the complicated swirl of emotions

Karl?”

a glimmer of

make me

mine as if he could find the solution to all his

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

to speak. With a last

my thoughts.

I told Karl he could return to the

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

the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, and honestly,

next. No doubt she’ll be furious with me,

her and Karl. I

here, so how can

the arrival of

of thought. A glance up from the host stand reveals Mr. Thompson, the

shuffling his way in.

I greet, trying to mask the turmoil of emotions bubbling

“What brings

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

May

we’re in my

if carrying the weight of the world

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

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