Page 103 of I see you Beauty

Ezra: ????

I read the messages to Kelly. Meanwhile, my cell phone is bombarded with more messages and countless calls. I can’t stand the ringing anymore and throw my cell phone beside me on the couch.

“This is crazy! Cora, he’s in your house! How did he get into your house?” Kelly asks, horrified.

“You see! That’s why we had to leave. He’s in and out of my house. Who knows what he’s been up to there?”

I shiver and rub my arms. It’s all so scary. How could I not see all this? Ezra’s other side? How could I have let him blind me like that?

My cell phone rings again, and Kelly jumps up, grabs it, and taps something.

“What are you doing?” I asked her in alarm because it was my plan to ignore him and not provoke him.

“I’m texting him now to tell that little psycho ass to leave you alone!” she snorts angrily and continues typing.

I quickly snatch my cell phone from her hand before she sends the message and I delete the text.

“No! I’m going to block him and stay silent. Because no matter what I say to him, he’ll just try to talk his way out of it. But I don’t want to hear about it. Besides, I don’t want Jenny to get into trouble with him or anything to happen to her,” I admonish her before looking at my phone again and putting what I’ve said into action.

The ringing stops immediately and there are no more calls. I sink back onto the couch with a sigh and run my fingers through my curls. My head is full, and everything is spinning with all that’s going on.

“So we’re going to believe the little girl and look for clues?” Kelly asks again.

I raise my eyes and nod.

“Yes. Will you get your laptop?”

Kelly nods and disappears into her office, which is more decorative than anything else. She no longer has to work due to her ex-husband’s high alimony payments.

My thoughts are spinning, and I don’t know how to get things back in order. Until yesterday, my biggest problem was that I had separated from my husband because he was once again violent toward me. That was peanuts compared to what I’m up to my ears in now. I have to find something…

Chapter Sixty-Nine

I can’t accept this!

Ikeep calling you because this can’t be real. Your phone must be dead, or maybe you’re in an area with no signal. It’s impossible that you just left me and blocked me out of nowhere, without any explanation!

We were so happy this morning. You left your husband for me—for us—and we had a future. Together. And now it’s all supposed to be in the past, even though it hasn’t even started yet? No! I won’t accept that!

You’re going to talk to me and explain whether or not you like it! I’m going crazy without you, Beauty. I can feel the dark inside me taking over again, because you’re not with me, grounding me. Why did you do this? What made you suddenly not want me anymore—just leave me here like this?

Your house is empty and cold. Your closet is partly empty, and June’s is, too. What’s all this about, Beauty? I don’t understand. You said you loved me, and now…

I need to find you and talk to you. I’m about to get on my bike and search the entire city if I have to. But when I see the headlights of an approaching car, I hope it's you coming back to clear up this terrible misunderstanding. You didn’t want to leave me, did you?

Fortunately, I don’t have to worry that your husband has done anything to you. And you’ll never have to worry again. After all, I took care of him tonight for you. He’s literally swimming with the fish now.

But when I see that it’s not you getting out of the car, but your daughter, all my questions hit me at once, and I’m utterly confused.

“Hi, June. Do you know where your mother is? I’m looking for her,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

It’s painful to see her because all I can see is you in her face. Except for her straight blonde hair, which she inherited from her father, June looks just like you. It hurts, Beauty. Why are you tormenting me like this? Why are you leaving me and sending your daughter in your place?

“I will not tell you where my mother is, but we need to talk, Ezra.”

I’m taken aback by her tone and demeanor. It’s not the playful, flirtatious side I’m used to; instead, she’s determined and focused, as if she has a specific purpose.

I nod and point my chin toward my house so we can continue talking and she follows me. Once inside, I close the door, and we head to the kitchen because that’s where my only seating is, apart from my bed upstairs, but that would be inappropriate.

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