The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 605

"I picked up that blueberry bagel you love. Do you want—"

Before he could even finish the sentence, Leilani finally shifted her gaze. "No thanks," she cut in, her tone glacial. "I already ate."

Callahan frowned, glancing at his watch. "It's barely past dawn, and you hate cooking. Where did you even go to eat?"

He stepped closer, his frustration bleeding through. "Leilani, are you seriously still mad at me?"

"I said I ate, so I ate," she replied, her voice remaining perfectly steady. "Why are you interrogating me over breakfast?"

Her sharp words felt like a slap. Callahan's expression darkened, the apologetic demeanor vanishing.

As the elevator continued its slow descent, the air pressure between them became unbearable.

He stared at the digital display, his voice dropping to a flat, hard register. "Look, about last night... I can apologize. I was out of line for getting jealous and questioning you. I shouldn't have doubted you."

Leilani's eyes snapped toward him, the mask of indifference finally cracking. "You want to apologize?" she repeated, a bitter edge to her voice. "You still have absolutely no idea why I'm actually angry with you. Keep your apology until you figure it out."

Callahan threw his hands up in genuine exasperation. "I don't know what you want from me! If I did something wrong, just tell me!"

He felt like he was on trial for a crime he didn't even know he committed. If she was going to execute him, she could at least read him his charges.

Leilani just stared at him, utterly speechless. Tell him? She wouldn't even know where to begin without sounding completely broken.

“Ding.”

The elevator finally reached the lobby. The doors opened, offering a desperate escape.

Leilani walked out without a backward glance, throwing one final sentence over her shoulder. "Don't bother explaining anything. I have no interest in hearing it."

Callahan stood rooted to the spot, watching her briskly walk out the glass doors. A suffocating tightness gripped his chest.

In a sudden burst of rage, he hurled his full coffee cup into the nearest trash can. The loud crash echoed through the lobby, making several bystanders jump.

What was his game? He was the one who lied to her face, then played the victim by accusing her of sneaking around. Why was he suddenly putting on this desperate, lovesick act?

She gritted her teeth, slammed her foot on the gas, and aggressively changed lanes to lose him.

At the next major intersection, a red light forced her to a sudden halt. She checked her mirror again. Callahan's car rolled to a stop just two car lengths behind her.

Her phone buzzed in the cup holder. A text notification lit up the screen. It was Callahan.

[Leilani, please. Can we just talk?]

She stared at the glowing words for a few seconds, a cold, humorless smile touching her lips. She swiped left and hit delete.

The moment the light flashed green, she floored the accelerator, taking a sharp turn that led her in the complete opposite direction of his route.

After that morning, neither of them reached out. The silence stretched on, absolute and deafening.