Doomsday Revenge: Payback Time (Josie) novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67

She stared at the Grid chat, then watched as the transfer was accepted.

No reply followed.

A bitter sigh escaped her as she pressed her lips together, leaning her head against the subway pole.

Just then, her phone rang.

She glanced at the Grid notification, seeing Sierra’s name flash on the screen.

She pulled out her earbuds, putting them in.“Hey, Sierra, what’s up?” she murmured.

“Aubrey, come out and hang.”

“No, I’m really tired,” Aubrey replied.“I just want to go home and rest.”

“Come on, please! They’re finally back! Let’s have dinner, a few drinks, and celebrate properly!”

“Who’s back?” Aubrey asked, a flicker of confusion.

“My husband and Damon, of course! Didn’t you know? They’ve been on a business trip for ten days. Apparently, there was an issue with some satellite data, so a few excellent engineers were sent from Crestview City to Gold City for maintenance. I’m not really sure about the work details, but my husband said it went pretty smoothly, so it’s definitely worth celebrating!”

“I didn’t know,” Aubrey admitted. The massive boulder that had been weighing down her heart instantly rolled away, leaving her feeling unbelievably lighter.

Damon was just on a business trip, she realized.

He wasn’t leaving. He hadn’t left her.

“You’re just roommates, it’s normal you wouldn’t know,” Sierra chuckled softly.“I’ll send you the location. Just take a car over. Ethan will be there too.”

The heavy weight that had just settled in her chest shot back up, lodging in her throat.

“Okay,” Aubrey replied.

After hanging up, she tapped open the address Sierra had sent.

She quickly stood up and walked to the subway doors, ready to exit.

The address Sierra had sent was for the Country Inn Retreat, which wasn’t accessible by subway. She’d need to transfer to a bus or take a rideshare.

Early December.

The nights in Crestview City were already getting cold.

The Country Inn Retreat was located in an incredibly remote area, hidden deep within the mountain woods. The roads were terrible, and she sat in her rideshare, twisting and turning along the winding mountain paths, only arriving at her destination by eight o’clock that evening.

As locals, Sierra and Ryan had a particular fondness for these hidden–gem country inns tucked away in mountain valleys.

Aubrey liked them too, of course.

The Country Inn Retreat boasted a charming rustic decor, surrounded by tranquil bamboo groves. It was brightly lit and bustling with activity.

Aubrey found the private room Sierra had sent her, pushing the door open and stepping inside.

The room wasn’t huge, but it had a distinct local charm retro, elegant, and chic.

Four people sat at the round table.

Ryan, Sierra, Ethan Sterling, and Damon.

Every eye in the room snapped to her the instant she walked through the door.

Sierra happily stood up.“Bree, come on over and sit. We’re all starving waiting for you.”

Aubrey’s gaze instinctively found Damon.

The moment their eyes locked.

< Chapter 67

Her gaze was hesitant, quickly skittering away, a stark contrast to Damon’s open ease and calm composure.

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Aubrey shifted uncomfortably. “I told you on the Grid not to wait for me. You all should have gone ahead and eaten.”

Sierra pulled her into a seat. “We’re all family here. I told them not to wait, too, but Damon insisted we hold off on the food until everyone was here.”

The instant Aubrey sat down, she heard the words, and a jolt of flustered anxiety shot through her, her eyes involuntarily flicking back to Damon.

Damon sat between Ethan Sterling and Ryan, with Ryan and Sierra separating her from him.

The small round table placed her directly across from him.

Every time she looked up, her gaze would inevitably snag on his.

Ten days had passed since their last bitter parting.

She, on the other hand, had been utterly miserable, each day a struggle.

Unaware Damon had been away on a business trip, she’d spent her days lost in anxious thoughts, her mood heavy and joyless.

Now, it felt as though an entire galaxy stretched between her and Damon–a galaxy she herself had created.

Ethan waved down a server.“Excuse me, could we get our food now?”

The server acknowledged and disappeared into the kitchen.

Sierra slid a small plate of cold wood ear mushroom salad in front of Aubrey.

“Starving, aren’t you? Grab a bite to hold you over.”

Aubrey picked up her fork, reaching for a piece.

Sierra added, “Damon ordered that. None of us really care for wood ear mushrooms, but it’s your favorite cold salad, isn’t it? So, it’s all yours.”

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