Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
I see the corner of her mouth tilt up. “I really hate you, you know that, right? I’m just too tired to cry or fight right now.”
“I know.”
“I never want to see you again after today.” She looks up at me, and I’m forced to face the carnage of my own making. “Will, you might think you care about me, but I think today you saw more of your wife disappearing again than me.”
Her words pierce straight into my chest. “That’s not true,” I say, but my voice breaks.
“Isn’t it? We can try to make this look like a fantasized version, but the truth is you can’t let go of Hayley, and I won’t make you. I don’t know if I can ever trust you after finding out that all of this was built on a lie.”
“I never lied.”
“But you did, Will—about so many things. I was a target. You orchestrated every part of my life over the last three months. You hide behind smiles and laughs, when, deep down, you’re one of the most miserable people I know. And I want to be with someone who can move forward with me. I won’t be compared to anyone else, and I don’t think you’re able to grow past that.”
My grip tightens around her as I retreat into myself, taken in by the shackles that have kept me beside my wife’s grave all these years.
“I was terrified to lose you today,” I say honestly. “Not because of Hayley. Because of you.”
She twists in my arms and puts her hand on my cheek. “I know, but it’s not enough. And that’s okay. Emotions are high because of what we’ve just experienced, but it doesn’t change the fact that we should still be parting ways on that bridge.”
I go to argue with her, but I can’t. And I can’t let go of her either.
My mind is a jumble of commotion, the thought of moving forward terrifying. But I know come tomorrow, with energy restored, she’ll hate me. Her viper tongue will be back, and it’ll lash at me for the secrets I kept from her. I know everything about her, and there are only small pockets of myself that I ever truly let her see.
She deserves better than me.
CHAPTER 49
Alina
When I wake up, Will is gone. I’m not surprised. And, in fact, I prefer it this way. The nurses check up on me, but all in all, I’m doing okay.
Everything about yesterday feels like a blur, and I’m still so in shock by the revelation of Jack hiring Will and re-entering my life, as well as the silent prayers I’ve made for Tilly. I’m sad to know she didn’t get out.
I turn my nose up at the breakfast they offer. Although there doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with it, my stomach churns with nausea. I haven’t been able to keep anything down since the fire, and, who knows, maybe it’ll take me a few days, but I’ve certainly been thirsty.
Honey arrives before I’m allowed to have visitors, coming in with a bagel and coffee. “I figured you’d be hungry,” she says with a smile, her pink, flowery, free-flowing dress swirling around her legs.
The moment the smell of the coffee hits my nose, bile rises in my throat, and I race to the bathroom to vomit into the sink.
“Are you okay?” she calls out.
I wipe at my mouth. I only vomited up liquid, but still, it’s disgusting. “Better than ever,” I lie, splashing cool water on my face. When I think I’m okay, I rejoin her, and she has the coffee on the other side of the room.
“I’m going to keep this as far away from you as possible,” she jokes.
My bottom lip wobbles. “But I love coffee.” So why am I not so much of a fan today?
“Maybe try to eat this. I’m sure your body is out of sorts from yesterday. How are you feeling?”
She offers me the bagel, and I take it, feeling rather famished, and this mountain of carbs looks just like what the doctor ordered.
“I’m fine. I’ll be able to leave today,” I tell her, then take a bite, savoring the cream cheese, grateful my stomach’s not so sensitive to it.
“How did everything go with Will last night?” She takes the seat beside me.
I sigh, staring at the bagel. It was all just really messed-up. “We’re done. It was only a fling, and besides, he lied to me about everything, you know? I think it’s just best we leave it at that.” I try to keep my tone as casual as possible.
“Is that really what you want?”
I sigh. It doesn’t matter what I want. I can’t change the mind of a man who is thinking of another woman—especially a woman he loved and who died. And I don’t like how it makes me feel. At least I have him to thank for making me realize that perhaps opening my heart to the right person won’t be so bad. Not that I ever thought the day would come.