Chapter 30

30 BETRAYALS

ABBY

There’s always a villain in the movie who makes the hero’s life miserable. It also happens in real life. Although I’m not a heroine, this creepy stalker is the villain in my story.

Why my life has to be so complicated? When life seems to be perfect, something or someone always has to ruin it. I start to live normally. I’m in love with the sexiest man alive, went out on a date, had sex, and also made new friends.

But here I am, my life is threatened again, and Trix just found out another note in the magazine. It didn’t end there, Sebastian just threatened my best friend over the phone.

He may be my husband, and I love him, but Drew has been there for me for three years.

“Baby, it’s nothing. I was just—”

“You’ve mentioned Jennings, Sebastian, and don’t you dare lie to me. I let you involve with this creepy stalker because I trust you. Now, care explaining it to me about what did I just hear? And where are we’ll work together on this now?” I’m mad at him right now.

I’m still a little bit shaky about this new note, but before he can answer me, someone knocks on my door that catches our attention, and I’m not expecting any visitors at this moment. And Dad can’t be here sooner.

“I’ll get the door,” Trix yells from the living room.

“Care to explain, Sebastian,” I demand. “I’m still patiently waiting.”

“Baby, we have a lot on our plate right now. Can we talk about this some other time?” Is he trying to ignore my question and change the topic? I can see the hint of guilt and pain in his eyes.

“Mr. Hughes?” I recognize it’s Lincoln’s coming from the living room. Seb looks at me one last time before he walks outside my room. I follow him, and I’m surprised to see Mason and Logan standing there too.

“Linc, I want this to be thoroughly scanned, not just fingerprint. If they can check the origin of the printer or computer that would be great, and take this magazine with you too. They might find something, and you two, stay alert, and if something happens to my wife, I will fucking making you miserable or I will fucking end your life with my bare hands. Explain this to me. How could this slip in this magazine? Did you check the stairs or the fire exit in this apartment? How did it get in here?” Seb looks angrier and a lot more intimidating while pointing the paper and to the magazine. No wonder the twin had to do something when I came back.

“Sebastian, you can’t just threaten my neighbors like that. They don’t know anything. Why are you involving them in this? First, my best friend, now Logan and Mason. Are you out of your damn mind?” Now I question his sanity. This whole stalker thing is making him lose his mind.

“Or did I miss something? What the hell is going on here? Care to explain, and don’t you dare ignore me again this time, Sebastian. I have the right to know.” I’m so annoyed with him. He keeps ignoring my questions like I don’t even exist.

Nobody talks and they all just stare at me like I grow another head. I look at them one by one, and I want to scream in frustration. “Hello! Seriously? Or I should kick you all out of my apartment if all of you just do is shut your mouth up! And that includes you, Sebastian. Now, everyone, explain!”

Their gazes point at Sebastian. He shut his eyes close and takes a deep breath, and he looks guiltier than ever.

“Baby, not now, please?” He gives me a sad and tired look, and I’m not buying it.

“The hell not now! And don’t you baby me to excuse yourself. I want to know what’s going on. I thought we will help each other, and no more keeping secrets. Tell me now or I will call security or police that all four of you have trespassed my apartment.”

I’ve never been angry at him like this. It breaks my heart that he doesn’t trust me the way I do, and I want to pull my hair from my head.

“After I found out the message that Lincoln gave me, I hired men to look after you in discreet to avoid terrifying you. The note had been frightened you, Abbygail. I’m the one who let them install the camera in the elevator, stairs, and outside the main door. I can’t let something happen to you, Abby. I’m sorry, and I should have told you sooner.” He looks at me so broken and defeated.

“And what about these two?” I point at Mason and Logan. Then it hit me. I shake my head in disappointment. “Oh, are they—?” I pause.

“You mentioned you hired men, are they—? Oh, my god, Sebastian? I’m so stupid. So stupid! I just introduced you to them, and here I thought you and these men never met. Instead, you pretended as if you didn’t know the. You may be laughing behind back and you even played cool. You should have received an award for that! Jeez, Sebastian.” My breath catches, and I feel so ashamed for being so naive.

“Abby, I feel guilty for lying to you. I’m so sorry. I’m just thinking about your safety.”

He’s about to cry, but he holds it. He runs his fingers through his hair over and over again. He looks guilty, but I can’t just let this go. Why in the hell did he have to hide this from me in the first place?

“And you can’t tell me! You can’t freak tell me? I could’ve co-operated with them to make their work easier if you were concerned about my safety like you said, but you made me look like an idiot. Now, please, leave me alone. I can’t face any more humiliation right now. You betrayed me. And you have the right to get mad at me for not telling you about that note, but here you are, you did worst than I did!” My tears start rolling down my cheeks no matter how I try hard to hold them.

“Baby, don’t do this. You’re not safe here alone anymore. You need them. You need me. I can’t let you be here alone by yourself Abbygail.”

“Fire them, and go back home. All of you. I don’t need someone who lied to me and did something behind my back.”

Before Sebastian can say another word, my best friend enters. He looks sad and guilty just like Sebastian. Guilty, why?

“Abby, are you okay?” He comes closer to me and kisses my

cheek.

I don’t move. “Do I look okay? Start explaining, Andrew.” I cross my arms over my chest.

“Explain what?” He looks confused, but I’m not buying it. He can be pretending and lying to me just like my husband.

“Explain why husband dear over there.” I point my finger at Sebastian. “Threatened you to destroy your career? Is there something I should know? Do you also know that Mason and Logan are on my husband’s payroll to look after me?”

He looks hesitant and takes a deep breath before he speaks. “Look, Abby. I have to work for your dad to allow me to stay here with you. Since I’m an ex-marine and work in private security, I have the qualifications to be a bodyguard. I worked for your dad for three years to look after you.”

Oh, my god! I cover my mouth instantly. My tears keep falling like waterfalls. For three years? Is our friendship even real, or it’s just a part of his job description?

“For three years? You’ve been lying to me for three freaking years? I told you everything about my life, my secrets that nobody knows, and here you are, just a fucking liar! You betrayed me. You didn’t even try telling me even once that you worked for my father? All these years are nothing but lies, yeah. Did you act all those years? You played your role well, Andrew. I can’t believe this.” I pause as I try to pull myself together.

“Did Dad pay you to be my best friend as well? Did he pay you to be nice to me? To like me. Did he tell you what movie I like to watch? What food did I love? That I hate mess. What else did he tell you? Now I realize that we seem to have a lot in common. Are these part of your acting role, Andrew?” I can barely see him through my blurry eyes.

“I hate you right now! I can’t believe all of these are nothing but lies!” I can’t breathe as I sob too much.

“Abby, we already started our friendship before I worked for your dad.” He can’t seem to form a word. My husband walks towards me, and he looks in pain.

I stop him before he can reach out to me. “Stay right there, Sebastian. I already told all of you to get out!” I face Andrew again

“Are you sure you didn’t just fake your therapy, Andrew?”

“Abby, I told you I never met your dad before. I worked for him because I liked our friendship. You’re like a sister to me that I never have. I know it’s not a good idea to work with your dad, but I like to be here with you. I’m sorry if I didn’t tell you about it sooner.”

“Did you know Sebastian hired them?” I point at Mason and Logan.

He nods. Kill me now.

“Oh, my god, Drew! I thought I knew you well. Did my husband know that you work for my dad, too?”

He nods again.

“Unbelievable! What else I should know about?” I yell at them. They just betrayed me. Three men in my life, and the one I love betrayed me.

“Baby, please, calm down. You’re to break down.” I push him away from me when he tries to get closer.

“All of you, just get out of my apartment. Patty, take Sebastian away from me and go home, I don’t wanna see him anymore. He lied to me. He betrayed my trust!” I tell Patrick and face the three men.

“And you three, go home. I don’t want your services anymore. I don’t need someone to look after me. Lincoln, take Sebastian away from me and have a safe flight back home.”

I look Andrew in the eye. “I thought you’re my best friend, but I was wrong to trust you. Take everything you have in here and leave. I don’t want you around anymore. I don’t need your services too. I don’t want your fake friendship. Our friendship or whatever we had are over. Friends don’t lie and don’t betray each other.”

“Sebastian, I trusted you with my life, with my heart, but you lied to me too. I can barely look at you right now without feeling disgusted. You’re an asshole. Tell me, did dad tell you about my past?”

He looks at me, biting his lip before he nods.

“Oh, my god! Fuck you. Fuck you! I hate you! I hate you so much, you sonofabitch!” I push him until he hits the wall, and I punch him on his chest until I drain out of strength, and he doesn’t stop me. He pulls me into his arms, and I can feel him crying too.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, baby. I love you so much, and that’s the only thing I never hid and never lied to you. I did all of these to protect you, trust me.” His voice is husky and hoarse.

I struggle to release from his arms until he let me free. I rush towards my room and slam the door behind me with a loud bang. I go to my bed and cry until I can’t anymore. I can still hear Sebastian’s voice outside calling my name, but I ignore him.

A knock and voice of Trixie come next. I don’t care about everything anymore. I turn off my phone when it rings. The next to call my name is Patrick, then Andrew. I cover my head with my pillow and sleep to oblivion.