Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

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

Adam? What about your scheming secretary and butler?

just going to be

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

be part of the solution,

all I see is a man broken by his own decisions,

I sigh. What’s the harm in letting him help

up? As long as I

with the gravity of

cook-off is over, because I need the extra help around here. And I’ll be keeping

distance.”

softens, as if I’ve just thrown him

I’d still go with you if I even

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

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

turning away to hide the complicated swirl of emotions threatening to

Karl?”

glimmer of hope lighting up

me regret

mine as if he could find the solution to all

“I won’t let you down. Not this

With a last lingering glance, he walks

my thoughts.

…

two days since I told Karl he could return to the restaurant. I’m

let Karl back into my life yet

the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, and

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

her and Karl. I

so how

signaling the arrival of a guest.

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

shuffling his way in.

greet, trying to mask the turmoil of emotions

“What brings you

blend of apology and professionalism.

May I speak with

for him to follow me. Once we’re in my office, I let him take the chair

exhaling as if carrying the weight of the world on his

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