Chapter 15%
My grip tightened around the phone as I paced the hospital room, my voice filled with disbelief.”
Keith sighed on the other end. “I’m not.”
“You expect me to believe that after everything you’ve done?” I scoffed. “After the lies, the betrayals, and the fact that you nearly ruined my life?”
“I know I don’t deserve your trust,” Keith admitted. “I know I was a bastard to you. But my time in prison… it made me see things differently. His voice lowered. “I’ve lost everything, Katherine. And I know I can’t fix what I did to you, but I can do this. I can help you.”
I hesitated. His tone was different. Not the arrogant, manipulative Keith I once knew. There was something else in his voice- something I never thought I’d hear from him.
Regret.
Can I finally trust him now… but I didn’t have any choice. I wanted to end this immediately.
“Why now?” I asked, my voice softer.
“Because you deserve happiness,” he said, and for the first time in years, I believed him. “It’s up to you if you trust me or not. But I gave you the location. Do what you will with it.”
And then, before I could respond, the line went dead.”
I stood there, frozen.
Was he telling the truth?
Was Sasha really there?
I didn’t have time to think further before the door burst open.
Jeron.
His eyes scanned me immediately, sharp and calculating. “What happened?”
I swallowed, gripping my phone. “It was Keith. He called me.“}
His expression hardened. “Huh? How did he know your number? What did he want?“>
I exhaled, feeling the weight of the conversation settle over me. “He gave me Sasha’s location.“}
Jeron’s jaw tensed. “And you believed him?”
I hesitated before shaking my head. “I don’t know. But I think… I think he’s telling the truth. He seemed to regret what he had done. I’m not sure…”
Jeron crossed his arms, his gaze dark with suspicion. “It could be a trap.“}
“I know,” I admitted. “But what if it’s not?”
He studied me for a moment before sighing. “I’ll send my men to check it out.“}
I nodded, relief washing over me. While we waited, Jeron refused to leave my side.
I tried pushing him away. “You don’t have to stay here all night,” I muttered.}
“I do,” he countered, his voice firm. “Because no matter what, I’m not leaving you alone again.“}
I hated how much those words affected me. I hated how my heart still reacted to him despite everything. Because the truth was… I had fallen for him. And nothing was going to change that.”
Hours passed.
We stayed in silence, the only sound in the room being the beeping of the heart monitor.
Then–finally–Jeron’s phone buzzed.
He answered immediately, his expression unreadable as he listened. And then, he looked at me.”
“They found her,” he said, his voice even. “The authorities are taking her into custody as we speak.”
I exhaled sharply, my heart hammering against my chest.”
It was finally over.”
It was all over the news–Sasha, arrested for attempted murder. But even with her caught, she still refused to confess.
When reporters asked for a statement, she only smiled and said, “Katherine and Jeron will never be happy.“”
Her words lingered in my mind, sending a chill down my spine.!!
But I pushed it aside. She was caught. She would pay for what she did.”
The next day, I was discharged from the hospital. Jeron insisted on driving me home, and I didn’t argue. As we pulled up to the Covey estate, I hesitated. Then, finally, I turned to him.
I owe you an apology,” I said quietly.”
Jeron’s brow lifted. “For what?”
*For leaving you at the altar,” I admitted, my throat tightening. “For running away without giving you a chance to explain.” Jeron exhaled, his expression softening.
23
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12:05 PM O
The next day, I was discharged from the hospital. Jeron insisted on driving me home, and I didn’t argue. As we pulled up to the Covey estate, I hesitated. Then, finally, I turned to him.
“I owe you an apology,” I said quietly
Jeron’s brow lifted. “For what?”
“For leaving you at the altar,” I admitted, my throat tightening. “For running away without giving you a chance to explain.”
Jeron exhaled, his expression softening.
“You don’t have to apologize for that,” he said. “I understand why you did it.”
I blinked, surprised. “You do?”
He nodded. “You’ve been hurt before, Katherine. Betrayed by people you trusted. I don’t blame you for being scared.“}
I looked down at my hands. “I don’t want to be scared anymore.”
Jeron reached for me then, his fingers brushing against mine. “Then don’t be.”
For the first time in a long time… I smiled.
Maybe just maybe–I could let myself love again.
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