Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate (Adelaide) novel Chapter 101

Chapter 101

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“Your ex is an important man, and important men are dangerous; they get what they want, or

they will ruin everything in the process of acquiring it. It makes sense that you are keeping

Carter at arm’s length, just realize, he isn’t going anywhere. That man is devoted to you,

whether you want to admit it or not. Mazzie was like that, too; no matter how deep I went

into depression, or how thoroughly I tried to sabotage myself in the beginning, Mazzie

wouldn’t let me, and I hated her for a while. I didn’t believe her when she said she loved me. I

was too damaged to accept it as the truth. Eventually, I found my way. Considering the

circumstances, you’re doing better than I did, only my shattered dreams tied me to Nex, your

issues are much deeper and more significant than my trivial ones were.”

I dug my spoon into the ice cream and tried to take a bite, only to grimace at the taste of ash

as the food made its way down my throat. I cleared my throat.

“I don’t know how my situation makes yours any less, Lana,” I said, pulling Tucker to my

chest, discarding the spoon into the tub.

“Eventually, you will understand,” was all she said.

“I don’t even know who I am anymore,” I admitted. “Who I was is a ghost. I feel like just a

shell when I think about it, most days I don’t feel like I’m even alive until…”

“Carter,” Lana finished for me, maybe she did understand.

“He shouldn’t have to be the thing that keeps me going, he has a life to live.”

Lana snorted. “That man didn’t start living till you showed up.”

I rolled my eyes, not believing her. She bit her lip like she wanted to say something but held

herself back. I wasn’t going to pry. There were so many unknowns in my life that I just didn’t

have the capacity to deal with anymore right now; my father, my ex, my feelings for Carter,

and trying to navigate this new town, where most didn’t want me in it. The secrets piled up

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Chapter 101

around me like hail from a storm biting into my soul. Unfortunately, this hail wouldn’t just melt away, it would stay there til I addressed it, and shoveled it out of my life. I was so

fucking tired of living.

“All I can say, Briar, or is it Adelaide?”

“Adelaide is dead.”

She just nodded. “Is that eventually, with some help from your friends, you will find who you

have become, and that will be the most authentic self you have ever been, because you will

always carry the memories and the scars, but know we see you, even when you can’t see

yourself, and we will not let go until you are unapologetically the person who persevered

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