Page 87 of Papers Don't Lie

“See, Esmeray, you don’t understand. Why would I take you like that if you’re no use to me? Can’t say the same about your husband’s little sister or your angel sister.”

“That’s how I know you’re desperate,” I mutter, my blood boiling in my veins. “You’re threatening me with the lives of a woman and a child," I spit out, my entire anger ready to split me in two. “I’m glad I ran away from your wedding."

“Our,” he corrects me, like everything I said until now doesn’t exist. “You have two minutes to walk out of that gate and get in the car.”

I gulp, keeping my voice steady. “Or else?”

He doesn’t hesitate to reply. “Or else you won’t have their corpses to bury. And don’t try any smart moves on me.”

Carter hangs up the phone, but mine stays glued to my ear, my hand refusing to move. Leaving this home—the only place that made me feel like I belong somewhere—is the last thing I want to do, but since I walked inside this house, I've brought nothing but problems.

Kai lost his father because of a sacrifice he made for me. I put his entire family in danger, and Lacey isn’t going to be a victim in Carter’s game. As for Kai, it’s time he gets to live his life without a wife he didn’t want by his side and got only out of pity. Even if he said he first thought he cares about me because of his condition, I somehow doubt it turned into anything more afterward.

Maybe it’s better this way. Destiny can’t be played with, and that’s what I did with mine. I ran away with a stranger instead ofmarrying the man who was chosen for me since I was as young as Lacey.

I can’t defy my fate, and I certainly can’t continue hurting others for my long-sought freedom. Months ago, I told myself as long as I got a taste of what life is like without being arranged by my parents, I’d be happy and wouldn’t fight the moment I had to get back with my feet on the ground.

What I didn’t see coming was a man sneaking his way into my heart, a few people who were strangers to me becoming my family, and a place to call home.

It all has come to an end, I guess. After all, everything has an expiration date, and mine has come.

My feet carry me out of the garden, passing the beautiful flowers I got used to seeing every day, and my fingers run over the concrete as I go further away, getting closer to the entrance. When I walk the steps down, the guards look at me, and I greet them as happily as usual.

“Morning," I say in a singsong voice, walking by. They nod their head at me, and I breathe in relief when I reach the big gate and no one has stopped me.

“Esmeray?” A voice reaches to me when my hand lands on the doorknob.

I close my eyes, cursing myself for forgetting about him, and turn around only when I’m sure the smile I have on is convincing. “Kendrick, hi," I say, and he instantly squints his eyes at me.

Well, shit.

“I was just going for a walk.” I point behind me and watch him tilt his head. “If that’s okay,” I add.

For the first time since we’ve known each other, his eyes lower on my body, analyzing my outfit. “In pajamas?” He quirks a brow.

I look down at myself, letting out a laugh. “Well, yeah. I wasn’t really in the mood to change, and I just decided to go out anyway.”

Kendrick hums, unconvinced.

My palm rises with the phone in it, wiggling in front of his eyes. “I just got off the phone with Kai, and he said it was fine. Do you want to call him yourself?” I ask and pray it works because it works damn well in movies.

He opens his coat and fishes out his phone, looking up at me. “Yes. I just want to make sure.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I bite my lip, nodding as he puts the device to his ear, glancing at me before turning away and offering me a way out. Before he can face me again, I run out of the gates and come into view of a limousine waiting for me.

The door opens, and I jump in, the tires screeching as we set off, the image of Kendrick cursing himself out left behind.

With a sigh, I look to my left, meeting my lifetime enemy.

“Smart choice, precious.”

FORTY-EIGHT

KAI

“Faster," I tell Kendrick, who is behind my desk, his fingers typing on the keyboard quickly, but not enough to ease the desperation I feel.

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