The Billionaire Regret After My Goodbye

a's

he next

dull, throbbing pain pulsed through my head, and my entire body ached like

sleep, but something beneath me jabb

the

ddenly feel like

lids felt like they weighed a ton. It took ev

fr

omplete

on the

A

m my throat befor

ng the towel from the back of the couch and wrapping it tightly around myself. I looked like a

all crashed over me at onc

door swung open w

essed in nothing but a towel, water still dripping from

was seeing. He snatched a vase from the table and

as

d, shards skitteri

g at my heel. I looked down-blood. A red trail bega

again, this tim

the mattress like I weighed nothing. Then he shoved a pillowca

le body trembled. There was something in his exp

just like that, pieces of th

ter burn of alcohol. His

it again. He picked up a phone, barked out orders with casual indifference

ked toward the wardrobe, openin

pull myself together. My thoughts were a tangled m

blanket tighter around me, sitting up slowly. I check

little. Maybe... may

there. I limped to them, wrapped in the blanket, and hurried in

the cold tile floor and patched up my foot as best I could. Then I ca

reathe, then stepped

man wa

om was

thinking it was meant for me. He didn't strike me as the kind of man who'd offer kindness out of nowhere-es

st wasn't an

essage: You know

e b

to. This place-his presence, even in absence-felt

out, I let a quiet word

nk y

o the man who took me in for the n

lly exhale. The shame, the confusion, the fear that had been

ds were st

re. But the way I looked this morning-hair like a bird's nest, rumpled clothe

y to defend myself if anyo

tepped into the locker ro

dress wa

o way she hits those s

and kept my eyes down, refusing to let the tears win. Who would bel

't even beli

oor, just wanting to disappear. But as

ri

me like a freight train. Sweaty, out of

" I bl

he wheezed, grabbing my arm. "Real expensive car, too.

blinked,

in the hotel room. Cold eyes. Th

bed like it r

ything else, Hank was

at the curb, sleek and menacing l

ened. Men in black suits stepped out-s

f them said.

dn't b

ailored trouser leg followed, then the broad figure of

was

an from th

ease. When his eyes found mine, a chill ran down m

embling. "S-Sir...

st flicked his gaze

ound us, blocking out the curious

his voice low and biting. "Yo

h

hat sharp "Get out" from the night befor

, burning hot, his finger

d me gone," I stammered.

k me," he said c

m skin. A da

ed all o

is furious expression, the sound of ripping

my

asn't the po

pay for th

he interrupted smoothl

as calm, al

asking about