From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 55

Chapter 3

Over the past few days, I moved back into the agency dorms and threw myself into work handovers.

Of course, Jake hadn’t shown his face, and I was doing my damndest to scrub him from my brain.

Then I walked out of the OB–GYN with my test results and ran smack into Jake carefully helping Victoria out of the same clinic.

The moment our eyes met, panic flashed across Jake’s face. He dropped his hand from Victoria’s waist all of a sudden.

Victoria clearly didn’t appreciate that move. Still wearing her sweet as pie smile, she practically purred:

Oh, Sage! You should totally come to Daddy’s birthday party this weekend. He’s been asking about you constantly–he’d be thrilled if you showed up.

I kept my mouth shut and turned to leave, but Jake’s hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.

‘What were you getting checked for?”

I yanked my arm free. “Just period cramps. Getting old, you know? Body’s falling apart.”

That seemed to piss him off even more. His frown deepened as he grabbed my wrist again, his grip like a hawk’s talon.

‘Enough with the games, Sage! This hard–to–get bullshit ends now!”

I actually laughed at that.

‘What’s wrong? Can’t handle letting me go? Still got feelings for little old me?”

Obviously, that hit him.

ake dropped my wrist like I’d electrocuted him.

rubbed the red marks on my skin and walked away without a backward glance.

finished my work transition a week early, but then Captain Morrison dropped a new assignment on me.

The Winters family sent a formal invitation to the agency. They specifically requested your attendance.”

When your boss gives you a direct order, you don’t argue. I had no choice but to agree.

After the party, I’d like to head overseas early to get familiar with the environment.”

Sounds good. Since you wrapped up ahead of schedule, consider the rest of the week vacation time. Get some rest.”

nodded and headed out down the stairs.

After a quick prepare, I slipped into a black cocktail dress and walked into the hotel ballroom.

The place was packed with military brass and government officials–mostly Dad’s colleagues and subordinates. I recognized plenty of faces from previous

events.

worked the room with practiced ease, making polite small talk.

Then Dad took the stage for his speech.

Standing there with his graying temples, soaking up everyone’s congratulations. I just hidden myself at the corner, thinking about Mom wasting away in the hospital bed.

I was totally lost in thought when the room suddenly erupted in shocked murmurs.

Chapter 3

I quickly snapped back to reality and realized everyone was staring at me with a mix of horror and fascination.

My eyes darted to the main stage, where the massive screen behind Dad was cycling through my most intimate photos. Even the tiny scar on my collarbone was crystal clear!

In that instant, I felt like all the blood in my body was flowing backward, and my limbs were ice cold to the bone.

Then next the sound system crackled to life with broken, breathy moans.

The shocked whispers turned into a full roar. I was suffocating in the judgment and gossip swirling around me,

I stumbled forward a few steps, but then the audio cut out abruptly.

Through my blurred vision, I saw Jake yanking cables from the screen.

He stood there staring at me with an expression I couldn’t read.

I have no idea how I made it out of that ballroom. Every person I passed looked at me like I was something they’d scraped off their shoe.

I stumbled back to my dorm room and buried myself under the covers.

Once I’d cried myself dry, I finally pulled out my phone and made a call.

“Hello, I’d like to report a crime.”

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