I don’t believe that he hasn’t been in communication with Michael either, because everyone I know has betrayed me, over and over again.
From the best friend, I thought I had, who I now know has been plotting something behind my back, to the stepbrother who got me to trust him again only to use that against me and don’t even get me started on Michael.
The thought of him makes me see red.
Out of everyone, his betrayal hurts me the most even though he is the one I know the least.
It’s because I fell too hard and too fast. The moments when I thought I was fighting with a man who acted nice to the world but was cruel behind closed doors, I was actually opening my heart up to him.
Little by little, his flaws became tolerable. Even charming. And I began to see the other side of him. The smart, sophisticated side of him that made me believe in him.
“I can’t believe I slept with him,” I mutter, shaking my head.
“You slept with who?” Peter asks.
“None of your business,” I spit. “If you have nothing more to say, I’d like to return to my office. Or rather, go home. Since there is nothing for me to do here anyway. I wonder,” I add cynically, “What sort of job will I get if and when I get out of prison?”
“Murder typically carries a life sentence, doesn’t it?” I ask.
Peter stands up. “You are not going to prison. I am working on something and if you would just trust your lawyer—”
“I will not,” I interrupt.
“The final hearing is the one after next. I had to beg you to attend the previous ones and you showed up to court late every single time,” Peter says disappointed.
I shrug.
My heart is pounding, and I am far from nonchalant as the reality of what my life will be like dawns on me, but I have promised myself I will not let anyone see me crumble.
Not even Alice.
“Because I know it is futile. The only reason I attend is so they don’t throw me in jail before my final hearing. I still have a few things to settle, you know,” I reply.
He comes to stand in front of me and I can see desperation shining in his eyes as he pleads for me to listen. A small part of me wants to.
But I don’t.
Everything just seems pointless now.
“What if,” he says softly, “What if Michael is working on your case but it is something he doesn’t want you or me to know about?”
Could that be?
No. He is a cold, cruel man who only thinks of himself.
I laugh harshly. “And what wouldthatbe? You think he knows who killed Brandon and framed me for it, and he has to make them trust him, to get a confession?”
Peter doesn’t say anything.
My chest thumps once. And then faster. And my mind, which was frightened minutes ago, begins to blossom with hope. With the possibility that maybe Michael hasn’t abandoned me and that he will keep his promise.
“He’s known to be reckless,” Peter adds. “I would not put it past him, and I don’t want you to, either. Okay?”
I bite my bottom lip. “Don’t do this to me.”
“Do what?” He touches my hand.
“Make me have hope. I have lived my life without it, depending on myself alone. I worked hard enough to make sure that wherever I found myself, I was better than everyone else. You will not make a fool of me now.”