A bitter smile tugged at the corner of my lips. It was clear that she had staged everything, trying to pin it all on me.
“Sorry,” I said quietly.
Aiden stared at me in disbelief.
I’m not the kind of person who gives in easily, but right then, I didn’t want to get tangled up in their drama.
With effort, I stood up and limped back to my room.
Later that night, there was a knock on my door. It was Aiden bringing medicine. I refused him without hesitation.
“No, thank you. I don’t need it. You should go.”
I didn’t want his pity. Or his apologies. Or his love dressed up in lies.
The next day, I marked my calendar–it was time for my second hypnosis session. I took the afternoon off and went to see him again.
“If you feel any discomfort during the process, tell me immediately. This round should dull some of the minor trauma -enough to give you some breathing room.”
I lay down first, ready. Compared to the pain Aiden had caused me, this was nothing.
Afterward, I still had work to finish and headed to the office. On the way, Aiden messaged me.
“Come home.”
After some thought, I changed my route. When I arrived, he was sitting on the couch, a stack of photos spread out in front of him.
Before I could say a word, he tackled me onto the sofa.
“Where the hell were you? Who did you see?”
I was confused, but he unleashed his anger, tearing through the walls I’d built around myself.
“Tell me–between him and me, who satisfies you more? Does he even know what we’ve done?
“Does he even know about us? That you with someone else?
“Tell me. Speak. You belong to me. You always have.”
He lit a cigarette, shirtless, not even sparing me a glance, as if I were nothing.
He glanced sideways at me and threw the photos on my lap. I looked–each one was a sneaky shot of me and my
0.0 %
10:00
Chapter 4 Leaving
288 iVouchers
mentor together.
“You never listen, do you? Maybe it’s time you learned what consequences look like.”
The next day, I learned what his punishment meant. Selene had been promoted and replaced me. I’d been demoted to her assistant.
“Mr. Caruso said Ms. Moreau needs guidance. You’re to help with her onboarding.”
Everyone in the company was sharp and quick to shift loyalties. After seeing Aiden’s attitude toward Selene during team–building, they all started calling her by a new title.
That afternoon, I had an important contract meeting. Selene tagged along. In the car, she said it as if it meant nothing. “Aiden and I are getting married.
“I know you overheard our conversation last time. He doesn’t love you. He’s just using you. Be smart. Don’t make a mess of yourself–walk away.”
I was still stunned when a speeding car suddenly veered toward us.
Then everything went black.
When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. No one was beside me.
“Esme, how dare you stage a crash to hurt Selene! That’s your punishment–you got what you deserved!” Aiden stormed in, his face full of anger when he saw my eyes open.
No doubt, Selene had twisted the truth again.
Hours later, I got a call. The contract I’d spent weeks preparing had been flagged for financial tampering.
Ignoring the pain, I checked myself out.
At the office, Selene stood nearby, comforting Aiden. When she saw me enter, she launched her attack first.
“Esme! How could you be so careless? Are you trying to ruin me?”
I was confused when Aiden tossed a file at me. It scraped my cheek, cutting the skin.
I picked it up. Someone had slashed two zeroes off the contract’s amount.
“The other side refuses to negotiate. We’re losing millions. Who’s responsible for this?”
Aiden’s voice was cold. A triumphant glint flashed in Selene’s eyes.
“Mr. Caruso,” she said sweetly, “Esme’s always disliked me. Maybe she tampered with the contract to make me look bad.”
Aiden answered a call. Minutes later, the front desk brought in two police officers.
“Take her,” he said. “She’ll give you the details.”
36.1 %
10:00
Chapter 4 Leaving
I was arrested. I tried to explain, but it didn’t make a difference. Aiden said I was lying.
Under his orders, I was charged and spent over two weeks in holding.
Because I maintained my innocence and behaved well, I was released early.
Looking at the sun after so long, I whispered, “Aiden, I’ve already paid for my mom’s mistakes. That’s enough.”
No one knew where I went after I got out. I went back to my mentor.
“I want it all gone. Every memory. Every trace. Can you do that?”
288 Vouchers
“Do you know what you’re asking? Hypnosis can erase pain, but it has side effects. Your memory could weaken, and if it’s not controlled properly, you could become disoriented. It’s dangerous.”
I was serious, stubborn even. “I accept any consequences. Please, promise me.”
He couldn’t refuse. This time, he was more cautious than ever, watching me closely. Thankfully, I only felt dizzy dur- ing the process.
An hour later, I opened my eyes. Because the medicine was strong, I slept longer.
“Who are you?” I asked.
My mentor relaxed, wiping sweat from his forehead.
boyfriend, Nico Ghannam. Do you remember why you came to see me?”
10:00
77.4 %
Chapter 5 Leaving the States
288 iVouchers
Chapter 5 Leaving the States
