His Dreamy Obsession: An Childhood Friends to Lovers Novella (Curvy Ever After Book 1) by C.L. Cruz

Author:C.L. Cruz [Cruz, C.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Philip

Sitting across from Rory on the bed, I feel the distance of miles in the space between our knees. It takes everything in me not to pull her closer and clutch her against my chest. But I don’t deserve that kind of trust. Not yet. Though I hope that will change by the time I finish speaking.

She swallows the pills I brought earlier with a sip of water, her demeanor patient but expectant. The moment hangs heavy, filled with the weight of unspoken truths.

“My father,” I start, pausing to find the right words. “My father is not just a businessman. He's... he's involved in things that go far beyond the legitimate world of real estate and investments. Your parents were good people, but they stumbled upon something they shouldn't have. Something that threatened to expose the part of my father's life that he keeps in the shadows.”

Rory's voice is a soft whisper, laden with disbelief. “My parents knew?”

I nod, the weight of my confession growing heavier. “Yes, and that's why...” My voice falters, but I force myself to continue. “That night, the night they died, it wasn't an accident. It was orchestrated. A façade of a break-in, but in reality, it was a cold, calculated act by my father to protect his secrets.”

Her eyes widen, reflecting a mix of fear and realization. “But... how could he? How could anyone do that?”

I look down, feeling the shame and guilt that's never left me. “I don't know, Rory. I've asked myself that question every day since then. But the truth is, he did. And we were there. You and I, we saw it all.”

“Impossible,” Rory says, shaking her head. “I would remember that.”

“Do you remember how we used to play inside the walls of Thorneton Manor? We’d lose ourselves for hours in the maze. We knew every twist and turn.”

She cocks her head, her eyes distant. “You know, I think I do.”

“That night, we were hunting treasure using a map I’d drawn up for you," I continue, my voice low. "We were in the space behind your parents’ bedroom, where there’s a small door. You used to call it the rabbit door.”

“For Alice in Wonderland,” she says, and I can tell some of it is coming back to her. Her gaze meets mine, a flicker of realization mixed with uncertainty. “So, what happened? What did we see?”

Taking a deep breath, I plunge into the darkest part of the story. "We saw your parents, Rory. We saw the moment it happened. The noise, the confusion... it was too much for us to understand. But I remember, I remember the fear, the sense of something terribly wrong."

Rory's hand flies to her mouth, a silent gasp escaping her lips. "But... why don't I remember any of this?"

“You were young, and the trauma... it was overwhelming.” How many times had I wished I could forget what I’d seen that night? A part of me almost envies her for that.

She's shaking slightly, the fragments of a shattered past slowly aligning in her mind.

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