Chapter 174
Amber blinked, her lips parting slightly, but no sound came out. She
remained silent as Carlotta stepped closer, her voice gaining an edge
of urgency. “You never noticed the signs, Amber. Never noticed the
wine or water glass in front of you being filled before you’d even
taken your last sip. Never noticed the standard American breakfast on
the table every morning, even though he only drinks coffee and eats
fruit at that hour.”
Amber’s stomach clenched as Carlotta’s words sliced through her. Her
mind flashed back to those breakfasts–she had never once
questioned them, too preoccupied with other matters to recognize
the small, deliberate acts of thoughtfulness.
Carlotta shook her head, her voice softening. “And the tea. Earl Grey.
Your favorite, right? You never noticed the boxes that started
appearing in the kitchen, filling up the cupboards, even though he
doesn’t drink it.”
Amber stood rooted to the floor, paralyzed by the weight of Carlotta’s
revelations. Her limbs felt heavy, as if made of stone, her head
shaking slightly, unable to process what she was hearing. No, she
hadn’t noticed. Not a single one of those things.
“But I did.” Carlotta’s voice was sharper now, laced with the pain of a
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Chapter 174
woman forced to watch the truth unfold in front of her eyes. “I
noticed everything. From the moment you showed up on his doorstep,
the place he bought for you to stay. And I…” She let out a bitter
laugh. “I, the forever shameless hussy, stood there pretending to be
happily engaged to a man who had never even touched me.”
Her breath hitched as she pressed her hands to her chest, as though
trying to hold herself together. Amber couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.
She felt like every piece of her had been dismantled and laid bare.
“Your health concerns?” Carlotta said, her voice breaking slightly.
“They were a shock to his system. An eye–opener. The idea that he
could actually, permanently lose you… It was too much for him. He
didn’t say it, but I saw it in his eyes. Every single day.”
Carlotta paused, her chest rising and falling as she gathered herself.
Then, finally, she stepped back, her expression resolute but her eyes
glistening with unshed tears. “Look,” she said, her voice gentler now,
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I just… I needed to say it.
Because it’s clear you don’t see what everyone else can.” She took a
step closer, meeting Amber’s wide, shocked eyes. “He loves you. He’s
always loved you. And whether or not you believe it, you need to see
- it. Be glad, Amber. Be happy with him.”
With that, Carlotta straightened her posture, her shoulders squaring
as though she were reclaiming her dignity with each movement. For
the first time since she arrived, her head was held high. Without
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Chapter 174
another word, she turned and walked out of the kitchen, her footsteps
purposeful. Amber listened as the sound of the apartment door
opening and closing echoed through the space, leaving behind an
unsettling silence.
Carlotta was gone. This time, there was no hesitation in her
departure. No lingering glances, no second–guessing her decision to
leave. Just the faint hum of the refrigerator and the suffocating
stillness of the room.
Amber remained in the same spot, her hands clutching the counter
for support. Her breath came unevenly, her mind racing with.
everything Carlotta had just said. For the first time in what felt like
forever, she allowed herself to feel it all–the confusion, the
heartbreak, the unbearable weight of truths she hadn’t been ready to
face.
And somewhere beneath all that, the flicker of something else.
Something terrifying and fragile. Hope.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
