Page 41 of Papers Don't Lie

To be honest, I was too, but not so soon. Speaking about so soon things…

“Thank you, Kendrick,” Kai says and gives his phone back before Kendrick excuses himself. My husband turns to me. “Esmeray, I have to ask you. Do you think you’re ready to meet Carter again?”

TWENTY-TWO

ESMERAY

The question catches me off guard, and my first instinct is to take a step back, accidentally closing one of the drawers with my elbow.

Meet Carter? I just got rid of him.

My eyebrows shoot up. “Why?”

“There’s a business event I have to attend tomorrow, and I can’t leave you at home two days after we got married.”

Still, one thing doesn’t add up with the story. “And what does that have to do with Carter if it’s a work party?”

Kai keeps his expression stern, but I don’t miss the hesitancy in his eyes when he looks at me. He holds onto our eye contact, and somehow, I know that whatever he’s got to say is not good news.

“Carter was my partner until I found out he was using me to find you.”

“What? How could he possibly use you to get to me, and why did you never mention he was your partner before?” I ask, putting the bow back so I can face him with my arms crossed over my chest.

Kai nods as if my reaction was something he expected, but he doesn’t back away from me, explaining everything to me.

“Carter and I have worked together for years. He was responsible for security, and when I met you, I hired a team to look out for you. It wasn’t until Kendrick told me about the last envelope with his name that I found outhewas supposed to be your husband,” Kai tells me, probably sensing the wheels in my head turning. “He was on your tracks the entire time because I sent him right to you.”

He’s got to be kidding.

My blood rushes hot in my veins, and I straighten my back, not believing what I just heard. “If you had listened to me when I told you I didn’t need your help, I would’ve been in Europe, enjoying my freedom, and you wouldn’t be married to me!” I finish with a quiet scream, knowing other people are still in the house.

The last thing I want is to fight this soon after our marriage or for anyone to eavesdrop on our conversation, so I walk out of the room, knowing I’m quick to lose my temper. Now is not the time.

He doesn't deserve to be treated this way after everything he’s done for me, but the sole thought that he could’ve been free pisses me off. If Kai had listened, he wouldn’t have been in the position to marry me so I could get away.

Gosh, why did he have to get involved instead of seeing his own life? When he told me he married me because he didn’t want me to give up, I believed it even if it was hard to.

Now I’m having second thoughts and can’t help but consider that he did it all out of guilt.

If I knew that on the day he went to my parents’… If I knew, I would’ve stopped him and run away again, knowing Carter wouldn’t be able to find me.

Or would he?

My head hurts, and I breathe in relief when I don’t find anyone in the living room. I can’t face any of his family members right now.

Because I don’t want to push my luck, I go directly to Kai’s old room, which has become mine. Exactly one second after I close the door shut, it opens again.

I can’t keep my thoughts to myself. The words just flow out of my mouth when I turn to him. “Why did you marry someone just because you felt guilty? You can’t save everyone, and even if you can, it’s not your job to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong!”

He looks at me like I just slapped him. Kai tilts his head a bit, the force he watches me with making me regret what I just said.

“Kai…” I murmur and reach out for him, but he distances himself from me. “I didn’t mean to—”

“You’re not the only one in the situation of marrying someone you don’t love, but this marriage was for you as much as it was for me, and I don’t have to explain myself to you. You are safe and no longer on the run.Igave you freedom. My question is, why did you do it?”

I don’t understand why the idea of him not being able to help everyone brought him to this state—thick and grave voice, words that are meant to hurt, and his body position in defense.

What does he mean?

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