Page 132 of Lust & Lies
My eyes widened.A memory!I’d had a memory that didn’t involve me having to dream it or be traumatized into having it. I stood there smiling, proud of myself, until an icon flashed on the device.
It was the kitchen icon. And the words below the icon read,Motion Detected. I clicked it and saw Aiden in the kitchen, preparing to brew some tea. He’d be returning upstairs soon. I needed to get out of there, but I had to leave everything the way I’d found it.
I hoped, no, Iprayedhe didn’t replay today’s video and see me entering his office. I closed icons, leaving only the front yard icon open, just the way he’d had it. Then I bolted from the office, easing the door shut behind me.
Heart racing, I tiptoed down the hall as fast as I could. I slipped into the bedroom, closed the door behind me, and raced to the bed, climbing in and pulling the covers over my head. I lay there, trying to catch my breath.
That was almost impossible to do, considering I was on the verge of a panic attack. Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, threatening to fall. Aiden was in control of everything, and he saw everything.
There was no sneaking around on his watch. No calling for help. No way of escaping without him knowing. I lay there for a long time, staring at the inside of the blanket, trying not to cry, trying not to scream, wondering who the hell I had married.
Or had I married him? I don’t think I had. I couldn’t have. Sure, he had a wedding photo of us, but that could be fake. Just as fake as my name.Noelle Park. I was confident that I wasn’t Noelle Park.
From the moment I woke up, that name hadn’t sat well with me. I didn’t feel like a Noelle. And now I understood why.Because I wasn’t Noelle Park. I wasn’t Aiden Park’s wife. I was his ex-girlfriend. But I was not the woman he married.
The doorknob twisted and eased open. Fear gripped me. I swallowed it down, refusing to be controlled by it. Plus, I needed to play it cool. I didn’t want to act suspicious and send his kidnapper ass running into his office to check the security cameras and see what I’d been up to.
I sat up as Aiden carried a saucer with a mug on it over to me.The blooming tea. He set it down on the nightstand beside me. I won’t lie, it smelled good, but there was no way I was drinking that shit. I was hoping he’d drop it off and leave.Nope. He sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “About the accident. I know it scared you and probably made you remember the other accident. I have no excuse. I should’ve been paying attention to the road.”
I swallowed hard. “It’s not your fault,” I told him.
But even I could hear how distant my voice sounded, how emotionless, howI-Don’t-Give-A-Fuck-ish. He heard it too. I saw it in the way his shoulders slumped, and more sadness filtered into his gaze.
Do not feel guilty for him, Noe... or whoever you are. He doesn’t deserve your guilt.
This distance between us had been growing ever since I remembered him cheating on me. I’d hoped we’d be able to talk about things over breakfast. I’d prayed it was all a misunderstanding.
I no longer wanted to talk things over. I no longer believed it was all a misunderstanding. I didn’t want to discuss the past with him. I wanted out. However, I couldn’t let him know that. I couldn’t let him suspect anything. So, I forced a smile.
“It’s really not your fault, Aiden. That guy drifted into our lane. What happened is on him. Not you. I don’t blame you. So, you shouldn’t blame yourself.”
“But...” he started, only to have his phone ding.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. I’d never seen him look this weary, this exhausted.My poor Aiden. He had a lot on his shoulders with work and all. I wished I could help him and...
Wait. What the fuck was I doing? He was not mypoor Aiden. He was not my Aiden at all. He was the man I was trying to escape. And Iwouldescape him. I just had to put together a foolproof plan because I was pretty sure I’d only get one shot at it.
If I failed, it was over for me. Therefore, I could not fail. I would not. His phone dinged twice more. He ignored it, opening his eyes to stare into mine. I steeled my heart against that fake puppy dog expression of his.
“You should go work, Aiden. They’re going to keep calling and messaging you until you get this problem figured out.”
“How can I focus on work when you’re not well?” he told me.
Awww. How can you make me swoon and also terrify me at the same time?I swallowed, steeling my heart against his charm.
“Go work. I’m tired and want to sleep some more. I’ll rest while you handle business.”
He nodded. “Okay, love. Do you need anything? Maybe a snack. Fruit? Chips? Juice?” He paused. “Damn it. You never got to eat. I can make breakfast for you.”
I shook my head, stomach churning at the idea of eating anything he prepared.
“I just want to rest.”
“I understand, love. But you have to eat something eventually. I’ll cook something for you to eat later and...”
“Can Dolores do it?” I rushed to say, not wanting to eat anything he’d prepared, but knowing I’d need my full strength to escape this cage.
