I Told You To Run But You Didn't (Georgia) novel Chapter 51

Chapter 51

1.89%

Finished

Georgia’s POV

The next morning felt like a dream. Sunlight streamed hrough the old windows, carrying the scent of pine and fresh, cool mountain air.

Outside, the little town was waking up. I could hear distant church bells and the cheerful chatter of people grabbing breakfast at the bakery down the street. It felt normal. Peaceful.

A million miles away from the chaos I’d escaped.

Louiella hummed happily in the kitchen, the smell of freshly baked bread and strong coffee filling the house. She had refused to let me sleep in the guest room, insisting I take my old bedroom.

She never remarried after her husband passed away many years ago, and she never had children of her own. Part of me felt sad for her living alone in this quie house on the mountain.

But watching her now, tending to the small herb garden outside the kitchen window before bringing in fresh eggs, she didn’t look lonely at all. She looked… content. At peace.

She set a plate piled high with s

scrambled eggs, toast, an slices of fresh tomato in front of me. “Eat, hija. You! are too thin.”

We talked while I ate, mostly about her garden. She told me proudly about her prize-winning pumpkins and the battle she was waging against the deer who kept eating her roses. She talked about her friends in town, the small dramas of village life.

It was easy, comfortable conversation.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t looking over my shoulder. I wasn’t calculating threats. I sipped the hot, strong coffee and felt a genuine smile spread across my face. I felt… alive again.

Then, her expression softened, her kind eyes full of a hopeful worry. “And Zane?” she asked quietly. “Your brother… have you heard anything? Is he…?”

My smile faltered. The peace shattered. I looked down at my coffee cup, my heart twisting with the lie I had to tell. I couldn’t tell her the truth. I couldn’t destroy he hope, couldn’t bring the danger of my new reality crashing down on this safe little haven.

I looked up, forcing a small, teary smile. “Yes,” I said, my voice thick with fake emotion. “I found him, Louiella. I found him.”

Her hands flew to her mouth, tears instantly welling inerc alright? Where is he?”

“He

“Oh, gracias a Dios! Thank God! Is he

“I lied, the words tasting like ash. “He’s… safe. He got mixed

I took a shaky breath, “He’s not ready to com backed up in some difficult things, but

dub

yet. He needs some time. But he’s alive.”

reached across the table and squeezed my hand, tears of pure joy streaming down her face. “Alive,” she whispered, like it was the most beautiful word in the world. “That is all that matters. Oh, your parents…. they would be so happy.”

I nodded, unable to speak, the weight of my lie crushing me,

The lazy afternoon peace was shattered by a firm knock on the front door. I had just finished lunch, the

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Chapter 51

simple, home-cooked meal settling warmly in my stomach.

X.89%

Finished

Louiella was dozing in front of the TV news in the living room. I walked to the door, expecting maybe one of the neighbours Louiella had mentioned.

I pulled it open and my heart stopped dead in my ches

It wasn’t Lucas. It wasn’t a neighbour. It was Estevan!

He stood there on the small porch, looking completely out of place against the backdrop of the quiet mountain town. He was alone. My eyes instinctively dated behind him, searching the empty path for Harvey, for the usual security detail. Nothing. Just him.

My voice came out as a shocked, stammering whisper.W-what… How… Why are you here?”

A slow, deeply satisfied smile spread across his face. He leaned casually against the doorframe, making himself comfortable, invading my safe space without even stepping inside..

“Did I not tell you, Georgia?” he asked, his voice a low, infuriatingly calm purr. “That there is nowhere on this earth you can go where I won’t find you?”

My mind reeled. He wasn’t bluffing. He wasn’t just making threats. This crazy, obsessive man had actually tracked me down to my childhood home, hours away from the city, in less than a day. He was serious. Deadly serious!

Oh, fuck. My blood ran cold just by staring at him!

“You can’t be here,” I whispered frantically, pushing uselessly against his solid chest. “Estevan, please, just

go.”

But it was too late. Louiella’s footsteps shuffled into the hallway behind me. “Who is it, hija? Is someone…” Her voice trailed off as she saw Estevan leaning in the doorway.

Her eyes widened, but not with fear. With something closer to… admiration? A slow, appreciative smile spread across her face. “Oh, my,” she said, her voice full of warmth, “And who is this handsome young man standing on our doorstep? Is he your boyfriend, dear?” he gave me a playful wink.

My stomach plummeted. Oh no, No, no, no.

Before I could even stammer out a denial, Estevan smoothly straightened up, stepping past me into the house as if he belonged there. He turned to Louiella, offering her a smile so charming it could melt glaciers.

“Not her boyfriend, ma’am,” he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. “Her fiancé.”

FIANCE?!

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