Silence Reveals Hidden Answers’ by Michael Anderson novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Harvey Prescott.

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“Sick of me to the point where she won’t eat?” I pace from one end of the living room to the other, the phone glued to my ear as Tinka fills me in. Jennifer’s best friend sounds worried. Sh said she brought her takeout last night, but Jennifer ended up throwing it out, just like she did with mine.

It’s one thing for her to hate me. But not being able to eat because she hates me? That’s a whole different level of ruin.

I’ve been watching her because I’m worried. She moves aroundke a ghost, her eyes never really focusing, her voice barely above a whisper. She’s overworking herself into the ground. I ev called Alexa at De Clair and tried to orchestrate a team dinner to force some food into her, but they said Jennifer decided to go home early today. In the bottom of my heart, I let myself hope that means she’ll actually rest.

That’s why I’m in her apartment building. Twelfth floor. I actually rented the unit right next door two days ago. I needed to be close, to make sure I could get to her fast if she passes out or something stupid happens.

So now I’m standing with my car against her door, listening. I heard her walk past about an hour ago, after Alexa texted me that she’d left work. I came straight here. An hour has passed, and I can’t hear a thing. Is she just lying in there, silent and empty?

I’m done. I can’t keep waiting. This girl has been running on caffeine and grief for three days straight. I’m not going to stand out here and pretend she’s fine.

I leave my new apartment and go to her door. Another thing…he brother, Jeremy, picked the lock and gave me a key. He’s worried sick, too, and she won’t talk to him either.

I slide the key in, turn the lock, and push the door open.

Silence. No TV, no music, no movement.

Jen. You’re really scaring me.I check the kitchen first. Spotless. No dishes, no takeout containers, nothing in the trash but a few coffee pods. She’s still not eating.

My heart starts hammering against my ribs. I go to her bedroom Empty, bed neatly made.

That’s when a cold dread washes over me. I turn and stride to the bathroom door. It’s unlocked.

I barge in.

She gasps, jerking in a bathtub full of bubbles, a hand flying to cover her chest. Her eyes are wide with shock.

Shit.

One look at her, and I can see the anger starting to boil behind the surprise. Yeah, I was terrified she was hurting herself. But the way she’s looking at me now, I’m the one who should be afraid.

“What the… what the hell are you doing?” she sputters, her voice rembling with rage. “I’m calling the cops.”

I almost flinch, but then I remember. The cops don’t arrest men like me in Manhattan. Not for something hike this. I wait for her to get up and do it, but she just crosses her arms over her chest, glaring daggers at me. I grab the towel hanging on the back of the door and hold it out to her.

Instead of taking it, her glare intensifies. “Leave my towel and get out of my apartinent.”

“Anything but eating, right?” The words come out sharp, edged with my own frustration and fear. “Bubble baths, work, coming home early but you’re starving yourself. Is this until you faint? Are you insane?”

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Chapter 59

“Am I insane?!” she scoffs, the sound hollow in the steamy room

“Yes! Are you? I’m the one who did this. Why are you the one on hunger strike?!”

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Before I can yell anything else, a wet bar of soap comes flying at my head. I bat it away easily, but it’s my cue to leave. I step out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. I hear the shwer start a moment later.

I wait in her living room, pacing again, until she finally comes ou wrapped in a robe. Her face is pale, her movements slow. I can see how weak her pulse is at the base of her throat. She’d rater drown herself in bathwater than face a meal.

“You’re still here. What? The cops won’t come because you run you. Baxter, or Jeremy’ do you lot not understand? Add your ex, mark her territory and send me a message, like she’s been doing fury.

e world. Mafia type of shit! What part of ‘I don’t want to see enna-who probably left those panties on your pillow to Jennifer’s voice is brittle, cracking with exhaustion and

Because I don’t act surprised by her accusation, she just shakes her head in disgust.

“So Baxter was lying for you. It was Jenna’s.”

I shut my eyes for a second, a silent admission. “Jen-”

“Get out.”

A part of me knows I should leave. I’m stressing her out. But another part, a louder, more desperate part, screams that if I walk out that door and go back to the empty apartment next door, I’ll just spend the night listening to the silence, imagining her collapsing from hunger.

“I’m going to order food now, and when it gets here, I’m going to feed you,” I tell her, my voice leaving no room for argument.

“No, you’re-” she points a trembling finger at the door, “-you’re gonna get out. Now.”

“After I watch you eat.”

“You’ve lost that privilege!”

“You think if I knew he was your dad, I would have done it?” I say “I didn’t ask those goons to burn anything. They went too far. I asked for information, and they took it to a whole new leve I didn’t even know what was in the briefcase-some damn contract marriage papers. If I’d known it was just that, I wouldn’t have lifted a finger. I thought it was something valuable.”

“And Jenna?!” she screams, the name tearing from her throat. “On the plane, she came to where we were! She’s been drawing her marks, circling me like a shark! The guy at the amusement park taking pictures of me…that was all her! Harvey, you are a liar.” Her eyes lock onto mine, full of a hurt so deep it feels like a physical blow.

“I’m in love with you.” I murmur.

“How can you love someone and not tell them the truth?”

“Because I was afraid of losing you.”

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