Chapter 127
He reached for the phone in my hand, and I stiffened. Without saying a word, I pulled it out of my pocket and handed it over. But instead of taking the phone, he simply helped me to my feet, his touch firm, yet strangely gentle.
I stared at him, still disoriented. He didn’t seem like the man who had just knocked Sienna out cold. He seemed almost…. amused by the situation. But the chill in his expression, the emptiness in his eyes, made it clear that nothing about him was comforting.
Once I was on my feet, Merhold reached down and took the phone from my hand. His gaze flicked to the screen, his lips curving into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You didn’t read what was in it, did you?” he asked, his voice a mocking lilt.
I shook my head, “No. I didn’t have the chance.”
He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he turned and motioned for me to follow him. I followed, my mind still reeling, unsure of what was happening, unsure of what to do next.
We arrived at a small, secure room. Merhold opened the door, gesturing for me to enter. I walked in without saying anything.
Once inside, Merhold shut the door behind us.
Tina screams when Merhold touches me, his scent wrapping around us. She quickly asks, “What’s on the phone?” I pull it out and say, “I saw Nathan’s phone number.”
I sat in the cold, dark room, feeling the weight of everything that had happened crash down on me. The walls seemed to close in as I hugged my knees to my chest.
Locked in the room, I couldn’t stop replaying everything in my head, the choices I’d made, the people involved. But one question kept bugging me. What role did Nathan play in this mishap?
He was connected to it somehow, I could feel it in my bones, but I didn’t know how deep it went. Had he been lying to me? Had he been using me all along? My thoughts swirled in a chaotic mess, and I couldn’t find peace.
“Giving Up My First Love For Secret Research: Second Chance at Happiness
ater that night, the door creaked open, and I looked up, startled. Merhold stood in the oorway, his figure shadowed in the dim light. He smiled, but there was something cold
about it.
Merhold stepped inside, coming to coax me, as if I’d forgotten why I was here or could be easily swayed by his hollow concern.
Doris,” he said, his voice smooth and unsettling, “How are you holding up?”
I didn’t answer right away. What could I say? That everything was falling apart? That I felt like I was drowning in my own mistakes? No, I had to play along. I had to survive this. I took a deep breath and said, “I miss Cyrus. I just wish he were here.”
Merhold’s expression softened, but there was something unsettling about how quickly he shifted. “You’ll see him soon,” he said, his voice filled with false reassurance.
I nodded, even though fear gripped me. Something didn’t sit right. What does he mean by soon? I tried to keep my face neutral, but my mind reeled.
I’m happy just to see Cyrus,” I said, forcing a smile, though my heart wasn’t in it. I hated myself for pretending, but what else could I do? If I didn’t go along with him, I knew Merhold would turn on me. He was unpredictable, and I had to be careful.
Merhold stared at me for a moment, his gaze cold and calculating. Then, without warning. he shifted again. His voice was suddenly sharp, almost too intense. “You know,” he said, his eyes narrowing, “I admire your ability to pretend. You’re really quite good at it.”
I felt a chill run down my spine. I had no idea what game he was playing, but I wasn’t sure t wanted to find out. “I don’t know what you mean,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
But Merhold didn’t let up. “Of course you don’t,” he replied with a cold laugh. “But I see fight through you, Doris. You think you’re fooling me? Think again.”
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. This wasn’t how I’d imagined things going. I had to hold it together, even though every instinct in me screamed to fight back. But Merhold had a way of making me feel small, like I was nothing but a puppet in his twisted game. I had no choice but to play along. For now.
As Merhold turned to leave, his mood shifted again, his voice softening. “You’ll see rus
“Giving Up My First Love Tour Secret Research: Second Chance at Happiness
Cyrus
goon,” he repeated, almost as if trying to reassure himself more than me. “And everything, Will be better. Just stay calm.”
1 nodded again, even though doubt filled me. Nothing felt right. His moods changed so quickly that I couldn’t keep up, and it was starting to unsettle me. I couldn’t trust him, but I had no choice but to go along with whatever he was planning. For now.
