Page 79 of Broken Bonds

Lionel clears his throat before answering. My head is spinning. This time it isn’t because of the dizziness that has become part of my life these past few days, it’s because I can’t believe what they’re saying.

I don’t understand.

My eyes fill with tears, and a knot tightens in my throat. What is this shit?

“I didn’t ask for the annulment, Mom, she’s still my wife. I made her my wife.”

Lionel’s mother gasps so loudly I can hear her from the dark hallway I’m in.

“That woman is nothing more than a con and you have already fallen into her trap like a fool. I expected more from you, Son. She’s in cahoots with whoever pretended to be you and then tried to kill you.”

What? This information floats above my head. I’m listening, but I can’t process it.

It’s impossible to do it.

“She isn’t the woman that I chose, but she’s the woman I intend to stay with.”

No, no. This can’t be, what is happening here?

“That woman was paid to marry you. The evidence is in the envelope. She was transferring money between her accounts after marrying you. That doesn’t seem suspicious to you?”

The silence is only broken by the sound of my heart beating in my ears like a drum.

“I-I-I’m aware of that …”

A gasp comes out of my mouth. I put my hand over it to prevent them from hearing me.

“And you still have her here? She’s a criminal, call the police and have her taken away immediately.”

“Enough, Mom, enough.” Lionel’s tone is harsh and angry, though he’s holding himself back from screaming and making an even bigger fuss.

“Think about it, Lionel, you are on borrowed time. That woman wants to kill you and keep your money.”

“You better go,” he says softly. I can almost see him, his hands clenched on either side of his body, speaking to her with his jaw so clenched that I’m surprised it doesn’t crack his teeth.

“We’ll talk in a few days,” she finishes before leaving the office and closing the door behind her.

I haven’t been able to move from the place where I am. I’m still paralyzed by the information I just learned, although thick tears are streaming down my cheeks.

I can’t stay here. I have to go. I’ve got to get out of here right now.

“I know you’re here,” she says in the dark. “I can help you leave if you want to.”

It seems that she’s read my mind and offers me a way out. I don’t care about the consequences. I’ll deal with them later.

Chapter 25

“I need to change my clothing.” Of course, the first thing that comes out of my mouth is something dumb. The dress, the heels, and all of this doesn’t matter right now.

“I know my son,” snaps Mrs. Kral with her signature arrogant tone of voice. “We don’t have time for that, he’s going to pull himself together in five minutes and then he’s going to go looking for you.”

I let out a heavy sigh, dammit, she’s right.

“The house entrance is guarded. How can I leave without anyone noticing?”

At least I say something more intelligent this time. I still can’t fully process what I’ve learned in the last fifteen minutes, but it doesn’t matter, I’ll have time when I’m at home—in real life—and alone.

“My car is parked by the garage, if you go out the kitchen door and from there to the mud room, you will find a small door that leads to the side garden. I’m sure the alarm isn’t activated. No one ever remembers that door.” It seems she had it all planned out, knowing more about this house than me, and I’ve been living here for the last few weeks. “You will have to bend down and walk carefully. The door where I parked is only a few yards away and it isn’t well lit.”

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