Chapter 18

Chapter 18 Thalassa was taken aback, staring at Zeke “What are you saying, Zeke? Go with you guys to New You?

The disbelief in her eyes made Zeke wince as he explained, Hear me out. Thalassa I see how unfarty you’re being treated here in Baltimore. There’s so much hate for you here, and it’s going to be hard to continue your life here.”

“You just said it yourself. It’s going to be hard, not impossible. They shot me down, Zeke, but I wont saw down forever. I’m not going to let them win,” she gritted out and the lock in her eyes was so hateful that Zeke was scared for a second He really hoped she wasn’t thinking of going down the path he was imagining He tried again. “Thalassa, there’s also my grandmother. She’s going to need you”

Thalassa blew out a breath, having known that this would come up again. She should’ve known that once she accepted to help with Granny, it would be hard to walk away without affecting the old woman.

But she couldn’t continue living her life according to what others wanted.

All her life, she’d tried to please everyone dear to her. First, it had been Karen, and later, Khs. But what had all that earned her?

Nothing but pain and betrayal Zeke..” She was beginning to say when he cut her off “I’m going to pay you $100 million every month.”

Thalassa stiffened, then let out a sigh. Zeke-

“$200 million.”

Thalassa scoffed. I’m so glad that you have enough money to just shed out $200 million every month but you of all people should know that I never came to take care of Granny for money.”

“I know, and I’m not trying to offend you. It’s just something I want to give you” he clarified. Take it as a job. I would like you to be my grandmother’s caretaker “Wow, that would make me the highest-paid caretaker of all time. I should probably apply for a record the Guinness Book,” she said sarcastically.

Zeke frowned, realizing she was mocking him. Tm being serious, Thalassa”

“I don’t want your money, Zeke,” Thalassa deadpanned.

“Either way, please consider coming with us.” He took a step closer, and Thalassa stiffened because he had gotten a little too close for comfort.

He continued, Tm sure that with everything going on, this city brings you nothing but pain. Why don’t you seek a fresh start in New York? Perhaps that will make your wounds heal”

Thalassa knew he was right. She needed a fresh start, but she also knew that her wounds would never heal How could she forget how she was humiliated in front of the whole world? How could she forget how her baby was brutally beaten out of her womb? How could she just let it all go? How could she let Karen Chapter 18 and Linda win?

+25 BONUS She slowly shook her head. “Thanks for the generous offer, but I can’t go with you.”

Zeke nodded slowly, realizing that she had made up her mind. “Well, I tried, didn’t 17”

He chuckled despite the sadness in his chest that he couldn’t even explain.

“I’m still going to make preparations for you in case you change your mind. Three days is long enough.” Thalassa wanted to tell him not to bother, but he was already out of the room before she could open her mouth.

Contrary to what Zeke said, three days flew by like a train. To his disappointment, Thalassa had still not changed her mind.

They agreed on a story to tell Granny about how Thalassa had important things to do in Baltimore, which was why she couldn’t leave with them. Even with that, the old woman had been very until Thalassa had promised to visit her soon.

“Oh, God, I’m going to miss you so much, Lassa. And you too, Millie.” Luisa gushed.

She, Thalassa, and Millie, the house help, were together in her room after helping her pack the last of her stuff.

“Do you really not want to come with us?”

Thalassa groaned, “Luisa...”

Okay, okay. I won’t insist again.” Luisa chuckled. “But before I leave tonight, why don’t the three of us go out and do something fun together?”

“Like what?” Millie asked, intrigued.

“Like shopping.”

“Shopping?”

Luisa nodded excitedly. “Like boutique shopping.”

Thalassa stared at her. “You want to go shopping when you have only hours until your flight?”

Luisa shrugged sheepishly. The benefit of your brother owning a private jet is that you don’t always have to be on time. So what do you say? Shopping?”

“Hell yeah!” Millie exclaimed.

What is this? The numbers are all wrong. You didn’t even use the right methods. The figures aren’t adding up,” Kris ranted, tossing the report his secretary had just given him onto the floor.

The secretary now you!

confused. “But sir, I did it exactly as you instructed.”

“Oh, so saying I’m dumb?” he hissed.

Chapter 15 +25 BONUS The secretary blanched. “No, of course not. What .. I’m sorry, Mr. Miller. It’s all my fault.”

When her eyes glistened with tears and she bowed her head, Kris finally snapped back to his senses.

He sighed. “Forgive me, Claire. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. Please just go.”

Nodding, the secretary picked up the document and was about to leave when Kris stopped her.

“Please leave it on the table. I’ll take care of it.”

“But sir...”

“It’s okay, Claire,” he said to reassure her.

When the secretary finally left, Kris sank into his swivel chair, pulling the document in front of him.

He’d decided to take care of it because he needed to focus on something, to think of anything other than the woman he had no business thinking about.

Yet, even as he tried to focus on the document, his eyes kept trailing towards his phone. Why had she not called yet? It had been a month already and Thal**a still hadn’t called him to have her things delivered. 1 He didn’t want to call her because he didn’t want her to get any impression that he was thinking about her, but each day, he found himself waiting for her to call, to hear her voice.

He gritted his teeth, hating himself for it. Despite everything, he couldn’t deny it to himself. He missed her. Terribly.

But he was going to do everything in his power to tear her out of his mind.

Looking away from the phone, he was just about to focus on work when it rang. He quickly looked at it, but his chest deflated when he saw that it was his mother calling.

Sighing, he answered the call. “Mum.”

“How’s my favorite son doing?” His mother’s voice came through.

“Fine.”

Normally, Kris would’ve said something like, ‘Don’t let Tyler hear you,’ and they would’ve laughed about it, but today he felt no urge to laugh, Heck, he didn’t remember the last time he’d laughed in the past month since...

“No, you’re clearly not fine,” his mother said. “Ever since you divorced that woman, I don’t recognize my son anymore.”

“Mum, c we not talk about it?”

“Okay, fine,” his mother said. “Lcalled because it’s been a while since the two of us hung out together, and I miss it. I will be going to one of our exclusive boutiques today to check how things are going. Will you join me?”

Kris wasn’t in the mood to do anything, least of all go to a boutique, but he didn’t want his mother nagging him anymore, so he agreed.

“Sure Tell me what time and I’ll pick you up.”

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