Page 55 of Ensnared
“Thank you,” I murmured, grateful for his support. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
He smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’m not going anywhere.”
As I lay back, the room felt a little less cold with Logan there, his presence a reminder that I wasn’t alone in this. But the fear lingered, a shadow over the comfort of having my family close.
I eased myself onto the edge of my bed, wincing as I gingerly touched the fading bruise on my temple. The familiar surroundings of my bedroom offered little comfort as my mind raced with unanswered questions.
A soft knock at the door drew my attention. "Come in," I called out, my voice still slightly hoarse.
Colson entered, carrying a tray with a steaming mug of tea. "Thought you might need a pick-me-up," he said, setting the tray on my nightstand.
I offered a weak smile. "Thanks."
He sat down in the chair beside my bed, his brow furrowed with concern. "How are you feeling today?"
"Better," I replied, reaching for the mug. "The headache's mostly gone, but..."
"But what?" Colson probed gently.
I took a sip of tea, buying time as I gathered my thoughts. "Do you know who pushed me down those stairs."
Colson sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Josephine, we've been over this. The security footage?—"
"I know what you said about the footage," I interrupted, a hint of frustration in my voice. "But Colson, I was there. I felt hands on my back."
He ran a hand through his hair, visibly conflicted. "Look, I understand you're shaken up, but sometimes our minds play tricks on us in traumatic situations."
I set the mug down with more force than necessary, tea sloshing over the rim. "Are you saying I'm imagining things?"
"No, of course not," Colson backpedaled, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I'm just saying that maybe you're misremembering. It was a split-second event, after all."
I turned away from him, staring out the window. "It's your building, Colson. You have access to all the camera feeds. Are you absolutely certain there was no one else in that stairwell?"
A heavy silence filled the room. When Colson finally spoke, his voice was low and measured. "Joey, I've told you everything I know. There was no one else there. You fell."
My shoulders tensed. I could feel Colson's eyes on me, but I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze. "I think I need to rest now," I said quietly.
"Of course," Colson replied, standing up. He hesitated at the door. "Josephine…"
"Please, Colson," I cut him off, my voice strained. "Just go."
As the door clicked shut behind him, I let out a shaky breath. Colson was lying. Nothing went on in his home, his business or the world without him knowing. I didn’t believe he didn’t know who pushed me. Whoever it was, he was protecting them. And Simone was at the top of the list with Vaughn a close second.
The two of them had axes to grind when it came to me. Simone would never accept me as part of the Ashworth family and Vaughn was obsessed with me. He would do anything to prevent me from marrying his father. From here, I would need to be very careful…my life depending on it.
Chapter 22
Evelina clasped her hands together, her eyes bright with admiration. "You look gorgeous." Her hands moved over the back of the bodice, checking for any imperfections. "It’s perfect. Colson will lose his mind when he sees you walking down the aisle."
I stared at myself in the full-length mirror. The dress was breathtaking—layers of intricate lace, silk and beading that shimmered softly under the lights. I did make a beautiful bride. But deep down, a part of me wished I was marrying someone else.
Over the past few days, Colson had been distant, his demeanor icy. He didn't appreciate my insinuation that he was withholding something from me about the accident. Yet, he still checked on me, especially during my first day back at AFC. Logan came by too, his concern palpable, but I assured him I was fine. The headache had subsided, the bruises faded. I was lucky I hadn’t broken anything, or the wedding might have been postponed.
As I ran my hands over the delicate beading on the skirt, Evelina stepped behind me, carefully pinning the veil into place. Whenshe pulled it over my face, a wave of panic surged through me. The wedding was less than a week away, and my anxiety had reached an all-time high. Soon, I would carry the Ashworth name, bound to a man who was not only wealthy but cold and calculating.
Would I eventually become a liability, someone easily discarded when no longer useful? Or would Colson find it in his dark heart to love me, even in his own twisted way? I didn’t know. And once Easton left the house, I would have no allies, no children to love, and I would be utterly alone. Colson was twenty-four years older than me; he would die first, leaving me in a world that had never truly been mine.
I swallowed hard, forcing a smile as Evelina adjusted the veil. "Thank you, Evelina. It’s beautiful," I said, though the words felt hollow.
