Page 46 of Entrapped
"No," Simone said, her voice firm but gentle. "I don’t expect anything from you, Josephine. But I want to be honest with you. For once, I want to do the right thing."
I swallowed hard, trying to process everything. This wasn’t how I’d imagined this confrontation going. I’d expected anger, accusations, maybe even a fight. But instead, I was faced with something far more complicated—an apology. A plea for understanding.
And I didn’t know what to do with it.
"You both have a lot of nerve," I finally said, my voice shaky but resolute. "Don’t think for a second that I’m just going to forget everything that happened. You broke my trust, both of you. And that’s not something you can fix with a few words and good intentions."
Logan nodded, accepting my words with a grim expression. "I know. And I’m not asking you to."
Simone looked at me, her eyes full of something I couldn’t quite read. "I don’t want to hurt you anymore, Josephine. I just... I just want a chance to be better."
I took a deep breath, standing up from my chair. "I need time. To think, to process this. Don’t expect me to come around anytime soon."
With that, I turned and walked out of Logan’s office, my heart heavy with the weight of what had just unfolded. I wasn’t sure where we would go from here, but one thing was clear—I couldn’t trust them. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Chapter 19
Colson cupped my chin, his grip firmer than usual, his eyes searching mine with a mix of frustration and something I couldn’t quite place. “Why am I bothering?” he asked, his voice low and edged with irritation as he turned onto his back.
Guilt gnawed at me, and I quickly shifted, resting my head on his chest, hoping to soothe him. “I’m sorry, Colson. It’s not you,” I murmured, trying to push away the thoughts swirling in my mind.
His fingers traced the length of my spine, sending shivers through me as he stroked with a tenderness that contrasted his earlier frustration. “You’re distracted,” he said, his voice softening. “Are you angry about this afternoon? I couldn’t have you and Vaughn arguing in front of the other executives.”
I sighed, knowing he was right. “No, you were right. I have my issues with Vaughn, and they should be discussed in private. It’s something else.”
He continued to stroke my back, his touch almost hypnotic. “What is it, then?”
“Simone,” I whispered, the word heavy on my tongue.
He let out a long sigh, his hand pausing on my back. “I thought we were past this. She hasn’t done anything recently, and it will stay that way, or I’ll take more of her trust fund away.”
“That’s not necessary,” I said quickly. The idea of benefiting from Simone’s punishment didn’t sit well with me, no matter how tempting the extra money might be.
“Then what has she done?”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “She’s seeing Logan.”
Colson’s body tensed beneath me. “Excuse me?”
“My brother,” I clarified. “I saw him walking to the guest house, and I confronted him this afternoon. It’s true. She even stopped by and asked for my forgiveness.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, a gesture that was both comforting and bittersweet. “And will you?”
“I have, but I won’t forget what she did,” I admitted, my voice wavering.
Colson shifted slightly, his hand moving to my cheek as he tilted my face to meet his gaze. “Joey, I’ve learned several things about bitterness. It’s a corrosive emotion that slowly eats away at the soul. It anchors us to past hurts, preventing us from moving forward and finding peace.
While it may feel justified in the moment, it ultimately serves only to keep us trapped in a cycle of pain and resentment, robbing us of the joy that life has to offer. Letting go of bitternessis not about forgetting or excusing wrongs but about freeing oneself from the chains that bind the heart.”
His words hung in the air, heavy with truth, but I couldn’t fully accept them. I sat up, meeting his gaze directly. “Did you when it came to that mechanic? Did you forgive?”
His expression darkened, a frown creasing his brow. “That was different. He was sloppy, and that sloppiness caused the death of my wife and trauma to my son. It’s not the same.”
I grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly as I pressed on. “Colson, what if Simone had killed me?”
His grip tightened, his voice strained. “But she didn’t, and I’ve punished her.”
I moved to straddle his hips, needing to feel closer to him, to remind myself of the connection we shared. I tucked my head into the crook of his neck, breathing in his familiar scent. “I’m not ready to let it go. I’m sorry if that upsets you.”
