Page 154 of Fallen Princess: Shadow Stalker

“Well, if you must know, yes. We’re very much committed.”

“You’re delusional,” she states and looks the other way in defiance.

“Excuse me?”

I knew this might not go well, but this is going south pretty fast.

“I’ve always been loyal to you.”

“Well, yes,” I’m hesitant to mention the barbituates. It’s not an additional discussion I want to add to this already difficult one.

“I’ve never walked away from you. Despite everything.”

“No, and I appreciate that. That’s why I wanted to do something special and worthwhile.”

“So you bought me a house without consulting me.”

Well, at the time, I had never really seen it that way. I thought I was doing something nice for her.

“Not many employers would buy their staff newly renovated homes,” I say defensively and quickly change my tone. “It’s all in your name. If you don’t like it, you can sell it and do what you want with the money.”

My gaze eyes the file in her hands, “It’s a cozy two-bedroom home, fully furnished, and a large yard worth half a million dollars.I’ve never done anything like this before for anyone. I thought you’d like the gesture. Plus, I’ve arranged for you to continue getting a full salary for the next twenty-four months.”

“You’re firing me.” She says bluntly.

“I’m giving you early retirement with a beautiful home to retire to.”

“I lived with you at Terra Sands for years. How am I supposed to just live on my own?”

“I don’t know, you just will. And you’ll have your sister nearby. I bet she’d love having you closer.”

She purses her lips firmly together, forming a tight, straight line conveying her genuine emotions.

“So you’re just exchanging me for a bunch of men who abandoned you and left you traumatized.”

“They didn’t abandon me. And it wasn’t them who traumatized me. You know that.”

“Have you seen this house?” she waves the file at me.

“Umm, no. You know that security is a bit tight for me at the moment. Things are a little tough now, which is also why I need you to stay away from LA and me.”

“I’m a little disappointed in you, Eden. We were living fine before those men arrived on our doorstep.”

“My doorstep,” I correct her. “And maybe I just needed that extra push in my life. I deserve to have love in my life, and the love I have for these men runs deep.”

She looks at me with a skeptical grin. I really wish she would just take what I’m giving her and leave. My mind is made up, and the decision is made.

“So much that you’d gamble your life for them!”

“Absolutely! Love possesses the extraordinary ability to transform individuals. It makes people want to protect their loved ones regardless of the risks involved!”

“That’s careless stupidity,” she scowls. “You know whatheis capable of. I’ve kept you safe all these years, and now you just want to throw your safety in the wind!”

I can feel my blood boil, and this was the last thing I wanted to feel when I decided to let her go.

“You’ve kept me drugged all these years, Catalina. Do we really need to go there?”

“So, you’re going to believe them over me.”

---