His Regret Arrived Three Days Late novel Chapter 6

Through tear-blurred eyes, Annika watched the man enter the room. He didn't spare her a glance, his attention fixed on the phone call as he walked straight out onto the terrace. The click of the glass door sealed him off, muffling the sound of his voice.

Tonight, she knew, would be another sleepless night.

A fine, soft drizzle began to fall, settling on Conrad's shoulders, but he seemed oblivious. His gaze was locked firmly on the distant horizon, in the direction of Eirlandia.

A tear escaped the corner of Annika's eye, tracing a path into her soft hair as she watched him, her heart twisting in a knot of conflicting emotions. She wanted to bring him a jacket but feared his inevitable rejection. She knew he hated her—hated her enough to want to destroy her. It was her fault that he couldn't be with the woman he loved as she faced her ordeal. It was all her fault.

An eternity seemed to pass before he finally ended his call. When he turned, despair carved into his features, and the air around him seemed to turn cold.

But then his phone rang again, and as he listened, the dark clouds on his face vanished, replaced by a sudden, jarring relief.

When Conrad slid the glass door open and stepped back inside, he had already finished the call. His eyes met Annika’s. "You're not asleep?" he asked.

"I just woke up. Is Serena's surgery over?"

"Yes," Conrad grunted, clearly unwilling to elaborate. He stripped off his jacket and trousers and slid into bed beside her. "Go to sleep."

With a flick of his wrist, he switched off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into darkness.

The silence was heavy, but Annika's mind was racing. Conrad, too, was restless, tossing and turning several times. Instinctively, she shifted closer to him, and he automatically draped an arm around her, holding her loosely in his embrace.

A blue light blinked on Annika's phone, signaling a new message. She swiped it open.

[Annika, you are truly a venomous snake. Are you happy now, holding a soulless body in your arms? If I die, he will hate you for the rest of his life. Hahaha!]

Reading Serena’s threatening text, Annika felt a bitter mix of emotions. But it was a self-destructing message, leaving no trace, no evidence. Her nails dug into her palms, but she felt no pain.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify