Chapter 84: Should I Trust Her?
Sean Pay
“Stop playing games, Christina” My voice came out harder than I’d der used with her.
Jennifer and Mike. Your friend and your former security guard. When are they?
Something calculated flashed behind her eyes before being quickly retked with confusion.
Jennifer? I haven’t seen her since this morning. And who’s Mike?”
Don’t I tightened my grip slightly on her wrist. “Don’t lie to me. Not about this.”
“The security guard who worked your summer garden party. I continued, watching her face. “The one who, coincidentally, was involved in attacking Angela today.”
Her eyes widened with seemingly genuine shock. “Angela was attacked? Oh my god, Sean, is she alright? I had no idea-
Stop I cut through her performance.
The timing of your disappearance. The way you kept calling until I left the hospital. Your closest friend found at the
I moved closer, using my height to loom over her bed.
“Do you really expect me to believe this was al
was all coincidence?
“You’re frightening me. I would never hurt anyone. You know that. Christina’s lower lip trembled.
“Do 1?” I caught her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Because right now, I’m wondering how much I actually know about you at
A tear spilled down Christina’s cheek.
“How can you say
yacht-
that? After everything we’ve been through? After I risked my life to save yours?” Her voice broke. “That day
lay on the
I felt my resolve waver at the sight of her tears.
Despite the anger and suspicion churning in my gut, there was still something about Christina’s vulnerability that pulled at me.
Almost unconsciously, I reached for the tissue box on her bedside table and held it out to her.
My hand trembled slightly–caught between the in
instinct to comfort and the need to remain stern.
Christina took a tissue with trembling fingers, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of gratitude and hurt that made my chest tighten.
I watched as she dabbed at her tears, the familiar gesture bringing back memories of all the times I’d consoled her before. Had those moments heen real, or just another performance?
“I remember,” I said finally, my tone softening despite myself.
The weight of that old debt still pulled at me, mingling uncomfortably with my current suspicions:
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Chapter 84: Should I Trust Her?
My emotions
tangled dess – anger at her possible betrayal, pathy for her tears, guilt over doubting someone who once saved my life, and a desperate need to know the truth.
I’ve always been grateful for what you did. But gratitude has limits, Christina.”
“You have no proof,” she whispered, her voice trembling as she crumpled the tissue in her hand.
“You’re just throwing accusations at me because you need someone to blame. Why would I want to hurt Angela? She’ll be out of your life soon anyway–your marriage contract is almost up”
* I fell a flash of annoyance at her words, followed immediately by a wave of confusion at my own reaction.
Once, Christina and I had planned together how to remove Angola from my life, and I had welcomed such suggestions.
But now, when she brought it up again, I only felt irritation mixed with an inexplicable protectiveness toward Angela.
Something had changed, though I couldn’t quite explain what. These conflicting emotions left me feeling both frustrated and uncertain – I couldn’t trust Christina fully anymore, but I couldn’t completely dismiss her either.
“I would never hurt anyone, I’ve only ever hurt myself… to protect my dignity, my feelings.” She caught my hand against her cheek.
“That day on the yacht, I didn t even think about my own life w
when jumped in to save you…”
I pulled my hand away slowly, torn between suspicion and long–ingmined trust. Something about this whole situation felt wrong. but I couldn’t quite piece it together.
I needed more information, more evidence.
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