Page 12 of Overdosed: Her Dark Side
There was just one thing that didn’t sit right with me.
Why did it feel like Shane truly got hurt seeing me with Anders? Did he have any right to be hurt after what he had put me through?
“At least now he believes we’re together.” Anders’ voice broke through the silence, pulling me back to the present, and startling me.
I instinctively looked at the door to my room, which was now open. He leaned against the frame, and a smug smirk played at the corner of his mouth.
“You didn’t have to say all those things to him,” I hissed, my arms crossed.
Anders raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. “Bothered, are we?”
“It’s not about that.” I tried to sound convincing, but the truth was, I didn’t believe my words myself.
“You still care about him, don’t you?” Anders’ head cocked.
I cleared my throat, my hand quickly ran over my face. “He’s the father of my daughter. No matter the circumstances, I’ll always care about him in some way.”
Anders chuckled. But it wasn’t an innocent chuckle. It was a sardonic sarcasm.“If he’s the father of your daughter, why keep her a secret from him?”
I couldn’t believe the audacity. He knew exactly why I agreed to all of this, and yet he was trying to make me feel like I was the bad guy there. “You know why I’m doing this.” My brows furrowed.
He leaned in, his tone mocking as he semi-whispered, “Enlighten me.”
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “I know what you’re doing, and I’ve no intention of playing these mind games with you, Anders,” I said harshly, stepping closer to him, trying to gather all the confidence in me. I had to show him I wasn’t afraid of him, and most certainly, I wasn’t letting him manipulate me. “By the way, I didn’t like how you treated me before. And believe me, that was the last time I let you treat me like this. If it happens again, I’ll disappear like before, and you won’t find us.”
Anders straightened, his jaw clenching. Anger took the place of the amusement he had in his eyes before. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”
“It’s the only game I know,” I stated. “Now, I want you out of my place. For the time being, it’s my place.”
He studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing and teeth gritting. “Fine,” he hissed, pushing himself off the door frame and stepping closer. Now he was hovering over me. “But remember who was there for you when no one else was. Remember, why you’re safe now, Melanie. I’m not your enemy.”
I watched him leave, the door closing behind him. And I just stood there, his words echoing in my head, the only thing disturbing the deadly silence. I felt so overwhelmed with everything I wanted to cry, but no tears would drop down my cheeks. I had cried too many tears over the past three years, and now, none was left to well up my eyes. Instead, I felt empty. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring out of the window. I watched as the darkness of the night was slowly transforming into the light of the day, and the sun rays started peeking through the window, hitting my face. I felt numb. Completely empty. As if the day I found out about Shane’s revenge, my soul left and never came back. I didn’t know if I had the strength to continue living like this, playing this deadly game of jealousy and retribution I had plotted against Shane with his very own brother. Maybe it would’ve been better if I had disappeared and never come back, living far away from the Vergoossen family. But now it was too late. The milk was already spilled.
The doorbell snapped me out of my reverie. I shook my head, rubbing my hands over my face, hoping it would serve as sleep I didn’t have. I threw a silk robe over my body and went to answer the door.
“Good morning, Melanie.”
My heart froze. Adrenaline surged through me. “Karl?” I merely blurted. “What are you doing here?” I crossed my arms, my brows furrowing. I tried to remain calm so he wouldn’t notice how much his unexpected visit affected me. I tried to stay composed, but deep down, I was freaking the hell out. I’d had enough of the Vergoossen family members' visits when my daughter was upstairs. I had to get rid of him and fast.
“I was hoping to find Anders here. I must talk to him,” Karl said, stoic and calm as always. “My apologies for the early hour, but I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking of what happened yesterday, and… I believe Anders has some explaining to do.”
Anders. Is. Not. Here.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Why did I tell him to leave? I should’ve just let him sleep in another room. My heart started pounding in my chest. I bit my lips nervously, rubbing my eyes involuntarily. Stalling. I tried to stall so I could come up with some reasonable enough excuse. One that wouldn’t raise Karl’s suspicions. I knew he was a wise man, not easy to be fooled, and I had to act with caution. I was threading on the thinnest of ice. “He’s not here,” I said, trying to sound unbothered as if it was no big deal.
“Not here?” Karl raised his brow, his icy, cool eyes scrutinizing me.
“No, he went to the gym.” There, that should sound convincing. I knew Anders’ routine by now. He worked out every morning six times a week, so I assumed that should sound believable.
“So early?”
“Yeah, he couldn’t sleep either,” I retorted quickly.
“Alright, do you mind if I wait for him inside?”
Well fuck. That I did not expect.
