Chapter 13

hapter 13 “Aren’t you the woman who’s all over the news? The gold-digger who betrayed Kris Miller and stole from the Miller family?”

“Brandon!” Luisa chastised her boyfriend in horror. “What is wrong with you?”

“What? I’m only telling the truth!” Brandon shrugged.

“I’ve always said that you speak without thinking, and you’ve never proven me wrong.” Zeke gritted out.

Thalassa, on the other hand, was still and stiff, her eyes blazing coldly as she turned them towards Brandon.

“Bro, I’m not lying. She even has the same name: Thalassa. Don’t you guys read the news? It’s definitely her. She was married to Kris Miller, and he divorced her because he found out she was embezzling money from his family company. She-”

Thalassa cut him off, her voice as frigid as her eyes. “The only thing you know is their side of the story. which the media is perpetuating, but there are always two sides to a story. You don’t know anything about me.

She felt bitter that the Miller family had destroyed her name so much that even people outside Baltimore had heard about it.

“Oh please, they caught you red-handed. You were-”

“Shut the f** up, Brandon,” Zeke growled.

Brandon scowled stubbornly. “Why aren’t you listening to me, bro? She-”

“You think I don’t know about what’s in the news?” Zeke cut him off sharply.

Three pairs of eyes turned towards him, including Thalassa’s cold ones.

“You knew?” Luisa questioned.

“Yes,” Zeke nodded. “That’s how I found her when I was searching for her. But this is the last time anyone is going to speak of that issue, is that clear?”

When Brandon remained silent, Zeke glared at him and repeated, “Is that clear?”

“Yes,” Brandon answered, his voice filled with annoyance.

Zeke noticed the house help at a distance and beckoned her over. “Millie, are you done preparing the room I asked you to prepare for Thalassa?”

“Yes, Zeke: 1 prepared the one beside your grandmother’s room like you wanted.”

“Please take her there. Thank you.” He looked at Thalassa, pointing at a particular door. “I’ll be in the study. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to tell me.”

Thalassa followed mechanically as the house help led her to the room downstairs. Once inside, she looked around. It was large enough but lacked any decoration, just like the rest of the house.

Brandon’s words suddenly went through her head again.

+25 BONUS Chapter 13 The gold-digger who betrayed Kris Miller and stole from the Miller family?”

Rage bubbled inside her. What was she doing here? She had no business being here. Yes, she was here to help Granny get better, but it wasn’t necessary to live in the house. She could stay at an apartment and come there every day to see the old woman.

With that thought, she turned and stepped out of the room, heading towards the door Zeke had pointed at. She was just about to knock when she heard voices.

“But are you sure we can trust her?” It was Luisa’s voice. “If she did that to her own husband, then-”

“Luisa, I already told you that I don’t want this issue discussed any longer. I don’t care about what the media is saying. I trust her.”

Without waiting any longer, Thalassa opened the door and entered the study. “I’m leaving,” she announced.

Zeke shot up to his feet. “Leaving? You mean you’re going out for a bit? Are you going shopping or something?”

Thalassa stared at him. “I mean I’m leaving this house. I can’t stay here. I’m going to find an apartment or maybe return to the motel.”

Zeke sighed, then rounded his desk to walk towards her. “Thalassa, is it because of what Brandon said?”

“Brandon was right.” She shrugged. “I have no business being here.”

“That idiot was not right,” Zeke protested. “He can say s**id s**t sometimes. Well, a lot of the time, so don’t listen to him.

Besides, like I said, I don’t care about whatever the media is saying about you.”

Thalassa scoffed. The only reason he didn’t care helping his grandmother. Otherwise, was that she v he would have judged and prosecuted her like everyone else.

“If it’s your grandmother you’re thinking about, then don’t worry. I don’t plan to abandon her. I’ll come here every day to see and spend time with her.”

“Thalassa, please reconsider,” Zeke pleaded. “My grandmother is still afraid that you...I mean Agnes, will disappear. If she wakes up and doesn’t see you soon, it could throw her into another panic and worsen her condition. Please stay, at least until my grandmother gets convinced that you won’t disappear again.” Thalassa was annoyed. The determination with which she had come was waning, realizing that he was right.

Pursing her.lips grimly, she nodded. “Okay, I’ll stay.”

“Thank you so much.” He smiled and reached out his hand to touch hers, but Thalassa quickly pulled her hand away.

I’m sorry,” he apologized.

“I also want to apologize to you, Thalassa, for the things Brandon said to you. I apologize on his behalf,” Luisa said, stepping forward.

“It’s okay,” Thalassa replied, seeing how guilty she looked. “But I want to make one thing very clear. I won’t tolerate any kind of disrespect or humiliation.”

+25 BONUS Chapter 13 She’d already experienced enough of that at the hands of the Miller family, and she was never going to allow anyone else to put her through something like that again.

Three weeks had passed. Thalassa’s stay at the house had been relatively peaceful. She spent most of her time with Granny, keeping her company, and to her surprise, it never got boring.

Despite her health, Granny was lively, funny, and full of tales that made it never a dull moment.

Her personal doctor had flown all the way from New York to Baltimore and commented on remarkable it was that she could recall past and present memories so perfectly.

how Even though her condition had no cure, it had improved tremendously, and Thal** was glad that she’d had a hand in that. In just three weeks, she’d really grown fond of the old woman.

Everyone else in the house respected and treated her well, except Brandon, who kept giving her looks that irritated her.

She and Luisa had gotten a bit closer to the point that they were almost friends. Almost. Because for someone to be a friend, there had to be trust, and trust was one thing Thalassa had none left.

She was never going to be st**id enough to put her trust in another person.

A s**y aroma sizzled through the air along with the fizzling sound of stir-fry vegetables.

Millie, the house help, had called in sick today, so she’d asked Thalassa to please take over her duties. Though Zeke had refused, Thalassa had accepted. So now she was the one cooking lunch, and she was alone in the kitchen.

Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her and instantly whirled around, coming face to face with Brandon.

“What are you doing here?” she questioned coldly.

“What? I don’t have the right to enter this kitchen? It’s my house too, remember?” Brandon said.

Scoffing. Thalassa picked up her phone, tapped on a few things before setting it back down.

“Has anyone ever told you how sexy you look in an apron?” Brandon’s lecherous voice came as her stepped closer.

“I don’t need anyone to tell me,” Thalassa gritted out.

“I bet Zeke tells you a lot.”

Thalassa stiffened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Come on, I know Zeke has been hitting that sweet a**Just admit it.

Thalessa felt disgusted. How did a sweet and wonderful girl like Luisa end up with a b**d like him?

“I would tell you there’s nothing between Zeke and me, but I think your brain is too s**d to comprehend.”

Brandon’s nostrils flared at the insult “Am I supposed to believe that his grandmother is the only reason why he’s sponsoring you here?”

+25 BONUS Chapter 13 “You can believe whatever you want to believe,” she snorted.

“How much is he paying you, huh?” Brandon asked, refusing to back down.

“You’re crossing the line,” Thalassa warned.

“Don’t act all pious with me. You embezzled money from your ex-husband, and Zeke is also paying you to sleep with you. Come on, let me have a taste of that s**y meat and I’ll reward you.”

Thalassa nearly laughed. “With what money? Because as far as I know, you’ve been living off your girlfriend for God knows how long. Now please get out. I am not interested.”

“Come on. Zeke and Luisa have gone out. Let’s make the most out of our alone time. I know you like me too.”

Ignoring him, Thal**a turned back to the food she was cooking when suddenly she felt her ** being grabbed.

Anger shooting through her, she spun around and delivered two hot slaps to his cheeks.

“Don’t you ever do that again, you st**d piece of s**t!!

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