Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 97

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 clean up. What about Adam? What about your scheming secretary and butler? You think just because you’ve fired them, everything’s just going to be okay?”

“No,” he says, shaking his head. “I don’t expect you to clean up my mess. But I’d like the chance to help. To be part of the solution, not the problem.”

I scrutinize him, looking for the lie, the deceit, but all I see is a man broken by his own decisions, a man yearning for redemption. I sigh. What’s the harm in letting him help at the restaurant, especially with the cook-off coming up? As long as I keep my distance, right?

“Fine,” I relent, each word heavy with the gravity of my decision. “You can return to the restaurant. But only until the cook-off is over, because I need the extra help around here. And I’ll be keeping my distance.”

His face softens, as if I’ve just thrown him a lifeline. “And the Alpha party?”

I scoff. “You really think I’d still go with you if I even had the chance?”

Karl pauses, and I can see a host of emotions flash through his eyes. Hope, dismay, hurt. Finally, he seems to settle on acceptance. “You’re right,” he murmurs. “I’m sorry.”

“Good,” I say, turning away to hide the complicated swirl of emotions threatening to spill over. “And Karl?”

“Yes?” he asks, a glimmer of hope lighting up his eyes.

“Don't make me regret this.”