Just Before My Wedding: Trapped By My Ruthless Boss novel Chapter 105

Chapter 105

Chapter 105

KISAREL

Jace was upstairs taking another call when the doorbell rang. He had been in the kitchen earlier, making tea, which he insisted would help with the lingering weakness in my limbs, before the call interrupted.

He’d been receiving more calls than usual lately, and he explained them away with the ‘it’s the wedding planner line, which made me wonder why the bride–to–be wasn’t being carried along.

It was all too strange… As strange as it was when he told me that Uncle Fred had texted him to make sure he kept me happy during my stay here, because my happiness is his priority, when I asked him about the text I had seen on his phone last night.

I was on the couch with a blanket over my legs, trying not to look as tired as I felt. Elgin sat in the armchair across from me, scrolling through his phone with an expression that made it look like the entire world had personally disappointed him.

He lifted his eyes when the bell rang.

“I’ll get it,” He said, standing before I could move.

He walked to the door like he was approaching a crime scene. When he pulled it open, his body went rigid for just a moment before he stepped aside.

Nessa walked in carrying a brown paper bag and a small cardboard box.

She was wearing jeans and a soft grey sweater, her blonde hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, with no makeup. She looked like she had come straight from the deli, which, judging by the bags, she had.

“I brought soup,” she said as she hurried into the house. “Matzo ball. The deli on Third makes it fresh every afternoon. It’s the only thing I wanted when I was recovering from –” She stopped, shook her head, and rolled her eyes dramatically. “Anyway. I also brought electrolyte packets. The hospital kind. Not the sugary ones from the pharmacy.”

She set both on the coffee table and turned to look at me.

Her eyes were soft and worried. The dimple in her left cheek appeared when she smiled.

“Thank God.” She came toward me quickly. “You look better than I imagined.”

“That bad?” I asked.

“You fainted after I saw you at Luna Park, Kiss. My imagination was not being generous. I’ve been imagining you grey for three days.

“That’s better than dead,” Elgin said as he walked back into the living room.

Nessa glanced at him, like she just noticed him now. “Hi, Elgin.”

“Nessa

Her hand hovered for a second before she touched my knee through the blanket

Tm sorry” she said quietly. I should have checked on you SAUCE.

“You touted me. Nessa. You called too And 1 appreciate that managed a smile

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Chapter 105

“You’re pale.” She sat on the edge of the armchair. “Have you been eating?”

Elgin sat back down beside me with his arms crossed and his eyes on Nessa like she was a puzzle he hadn’t solved

“I’m trying,” I said.

“Good thing I brought a lot of food. Nothing fancy. Just soup and some things the pharmacist said might help.”

“You asked a pharmacist?” I said.

yet

“Yes. I panicked, okay?” She gave a small, embarrassed laugh and set the bags on the table. “I didn’t know what people eat after… whatever happened to you.”

Elgin leaned forward, looking into one of the bags. “Chicken soup.”

“And crackers,” she said. “And ginger tea.”

“Very hospital–mother of you.” He replied.

“There’s something else,” she said.

Elgin looked up immediately. “Of course there is.”

She pulled out a paper from her bag and held it out to me. “I didn’t want to text this.”

“What is it?” I asked curiously.

“A picture. From Luna Park.”

“What picture?” I narrowed my brows.

“I found the man who bumped into you.”

I stared at her, not sure I had heard correctly. “What?”

“The man who hit your arm before you said it stung.”

“I know what you mean… But…” I blinked rapidly, trying to clear up the fog in my head, “but I never told you it was a man I bumped into…”

She smiled. “Yes. You never did. But the cameras did.”

“The cameras?” I scoffed a little, “I also didn’t…” My thoughts were all mixed up. I couldn’t recall telling Nessa that the man fd bumped into was the reason I finally ended up at the hospital. Or… Did I?

Nessa watched me with patience while I spoke.

“What’s going on, Arel?” Elgin asked.

I shook my head, “It’s nothing. I guess I have things mixed

up

somehow.

Elgin set his phone down.

Nessa opened the envelope and pulled out a folded priutat. “People apologize when they hn someone that hand. He dunt He kept walking like he’d done exactly what he came to do.

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Chapter 105

A cold little feeling moved under my ribs.

She unfolded the paper and placed it on my lap.

It was a blurry still from what looked like security footage. The image was grainy, captured from the wide but I mond out the edge of a baseball cap, a dark jacket, and one shoulder turned slightly away from the camera. His face was one near enough for me to recognize, but his posture made my skin prickle.

“That’s him?” I whispered.

“I think so.”

Elgin was already leaning closer. “Where did you get this?”

Nessa glanced at him. “A vendor camera.”

“You know vendors who hand out footage?”

“No.” She looked back at the picture. “I know vendors who underpay boys who run errands for them. Boys wh for cash if you ask nicely and don’t look like the police.”

Elgin’s brows lifted. “So, you paid someone.”

Nessa looked at him again. “Would you rather I prayed the image fell from heaven?*

That almost pulled a laugh out of me, but the picture on my lap killed it upon

arrival.

I touched the edge of the paper, careful not to smudge anything, even though it was only a printout

She turned back to me. “The vendor camera wasn’t great. It only caught him after he had already passed you. But the boy paid said there might be another camera near the east gate. He’s asking around.*

My heart began to beat faster.

“You’re tracing him?”

“I’m trying to.” She folded her hands in her lap. “I don’t want to promise too much. People get scared when you T about footage, and most of them suddenly remember they saw nothing. But I should hear back soon.

I didn’t know how to thank her. I wasn’t used to such kindness from people.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Nessa reached over and squeezed my hand. “Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t found him.”

Jace walked in, halting the questions that were already forming in my head how did she know how

“Tea’s ready,” he said. “Chamomile with honey. The hospital said it would help with the restore

He slowed when he saw Nessa beside me

“Oh,” he said. “You must be Nessa

Nessa stood politely. I must be She smiled “And you must be the habve who tau? len z

“Yes, I am. Jace set the tray on the table and offereal her a handhuke T

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Chapter 105

Nessa took his hand. “I hope that’s okay. Kiss said I could visit.”

Jace’s smile arrived a second late. “Of course. Any friend of Arel’s is welcome.”

The way he said ‘friend‘ made my skin prickle, though I could not explain why.

His eyes dropped to the printout on my lap.

“What’s that?”

I opened my mouth, but Nessa answered first.

“Something from Luna Park.”

Jace’s expression shifted. “Luna park?”

He came closer and picked up the printout, his eyes moving over the image.

“Careful with that. Some of us are emotionally attached to evidence.” Elgin cautioned.

Jace looked up, confused. “Evidence?”

“It is a picture, Mr. Fiancé. Do not make the word nervous.” Nessa tried to make it sound lighter than Jace was taking it.

Jace handed it back to me. “You shouldn’t be worrying her with this.”

“I’m not worried,” I said, though my voice betrayed me a little.

“You should be resting.” He looked at Nessa. “She just got out of the hospital.”

“I know. I’m sorry if this was wrong timing.” Nessa said without a frown.

“It’s fine. We can look into it later. Probably when she feels better.” Jace replied and sat beside me.

He poured the tea and handed me a cup. The warmth seeped through the ceramic into my palms.

“Don’t take that with the electrolyte packets,” Nessa said casually.

Jace paused. “Why?”

“The hospital–grade ones have potassium. It’s fine on its own, but with chamomile, it can make some people dizzy. Especially if her system is still recovering.” She shrugged. “Just better to space them out,”

Jace laughed lightly. “Where did you learn that?”

Nessa’s dimple appeared. “I read labels.” She touched the edge of the envelope on my lap. “Keep that somewhere site.

“I will”

“And I’ll call

if you

the boy gets anything clearer.”

She stood up and picked up her bag. “Ill be on my way now. Do take care of yourself.”

李本事

OCEANS.

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3

10:44 am Pppp.

Chapter 105

It was 7.47 PM when my phone rang. I had been pacing for an hour, standing in the dark of my bedroom, and watching the city go to sleep without me.

It was Keeves.

He didn’t bother with pleasantries when I answered.

“We found him, sir”

I straightened. “Where is he now?” I bit out.

Reeves went quiet for half a second.

“Dead.”

Silence…

My brain needed a second to process what it had just heard.

“Say that again.”

“He was

found dead this afternoon. Toxicology came back faster because of the open police flag.”

My body was trembling so hard I could hardly keep still. “Who the fuck did he die?”

Reeves paused.

“A higher concentration of the same compound found in Miss Harry’s bloodstream.”

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