Page 170 of Chandelier Enthralled
I glanced over at the gate in the far distance. There was a car parked behind it.
“Is that your car?”
“Got an Uber.”
I started to tell him we would have sent a limo, but it was this kind of privilege that had always triggered him.
He glanced toward the front door as though expecting to be invited in. “Can we talk?”
“We can talk here.”
I saw a flash of anger in his eyes, and then it was gone. “These are for you.”
I accepted the flowers just to placate him. “Thank you, they’re beautiful.”
“Listen, Willa, I wanted to explain.”
“Explain what?”
“If we get couples’ therapy, if we really work at this, we can make it.”
It was like he had no idea of the pain he had inflicted. No concept of me carrying around this agony every day, knowing the man I’d trusted had betrayed me.
He smiled. “You could look at my phone any time you like.”
“We’re over, Hugo. I’m not coming back.”
His smile faded. “What do you mean? You have to.”
“It’s not my home anymore.” I tore my gaze away from his. “I’m selling it.”
“The penthouse? But you love it!”
Yes, but the memories of us there have ruined it now.
“Willa, it’s not like you got a job.”
“I have, actually.”
“Doing what?”
“It’s all very new. And I’m very junior.”
He nodded. “I got hired in that coffee shop you love.”
I blinked at him. He’d even encroached on places I still wanted to visit, and now I couldn’t.
I changed the subject. “How have you been, Hugo?”
“Not good. I can’t eat, and sleeping is…” He shook his head, and a flop of hair fell over his face. “When my dad left, I was so lost. I’m not sure I ever recovered from that.”
His “go to” excuse for whenever he fucked up.
“I understand,” I said, trying to sound sympathetic.
He peered over my shoulder and studied the mansion behind me. “This is your brother’s place?”
“Yes, how did you know where to find me?”
