Chapter 16
When Calista pushed open the door, she found Sean sitting on the sofa with his back to her. The TV in front of him was looping the same video–her, accused of killing his grandfather. The coffee table was covered in evidence: documents, photos, proof of how she’d framed Bella.
Sean’s assistant had dug all this up after Sean discovered the brutal truth: Calista was the real murderer.}
Sean always knew Calista had a dark side, but he never thought she could go this far.
Now, knowing he’d hurt Bella again and again for someone like this–it made his chest ache so badly his heart monitor started blaring. But Sean didn’t move. He just sat there, frozen, ignoring the alarm and waiting for Calista to come in.
Before she walked in, Calista was buzzing with excitement. Ever since Bella died, Sean had suddenly ended their contract and kicked her out of the house, blindsiding her. She’d gotten used to luxury–going back to a normal life felt like a nightmare.}
Still, Calista didn’t let it get to her. She figured Sean was acting out of grief, that he’d lost his mind for a while. He’d been obsessed with her for months, hurting Bella over and over just to keep Calista happy. There was no way he’d really let her go.
She told herself he just needed time to cool off. So when Aiden, the family’s butler, showed up at her door and told her to come back, Calista was over the moon. She thought Sean had finally come to his senses, that he’d realized he loved her and wanted to give her a new place in his life.”
But as soon as she stepped inside, she realized she’d walked straight into a nightmare.}
“Explain,” Sean said, his eyes never leaving the TV. His voice was cold, sharper than the autumn air.§
Calista’s face went pale. She watched her breath fog in the chill, as if the words themselves had turned to ice.
“Sean, this isn’t real. You have to believe me. I would never do something like this!” she insisted, even as the evidence surrounded her. She knew one thing–if she admitted to anything, it was over.
So she did what she’d always done. Dropping to her knees beside Sean, tears welled up in her eyes as she reached for his hand, trying to look as helpless as possible.}
“Sean…“}
He didn’t let her finish. He hurled the stack of papers right at her face.
The sharp edge caught her cheek, drawing blood. The force knocked her to the floor.”
Sean actually laughed–a low, cold sound. He stood and walked over, his shoes crunching over the macarons she’d brought as a peace offering.
“Calista, you’re just a little songbird in a cage. Where did you get the nerve to do all this?“}]
He paused. “No, you’re not even a songbird. You’re just an actress.”}
Lightning flashed outside the floor–to–ceiling windows, and in the glass, Calista saw her reflection–falling apart.
The perfectly put–together woman she’d always been was gone, replaced by someone ruined under the weight of all this proof.”
Sean crouched down in front of her, grabbing her chin so hard it hurt.
As his hand squeezed her jaw, Calista caught the scent of his cologne–Napoleon, her favorite. Now, it just smelled like something a demon would wear.
“No, please, I swear I didn’t…” Calista choked out, struggling as she reached for his pant leg. “I’ve always done everything you wanted. How could I ever do something like this?“}
