Chapter Fifty-nine
Abigail-Ann
“The giving of love is an education in itself.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
T he penthouse felt too big. Too quiet.
I had been pacing the same stretch of floor for what felt like hours, but time had become a blur. Azzaria sat on the couch eating chips, watching me with concerned eyes. She’d tried talking to me, tried to get me to eat, but I couldn’t. My stomach was tied in knots, and every time I sat still for too long, my mind wandered to places I didn’t want it to go.
I hadn’t heard from Mikkel in hours. That alone was enough to unsettle me. He’d asked Azzaria to stay with me—a thoughtful gesture—but it only made my anxiety worse. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about Joshua. About everything he’d done. The violation. It sat like a weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe.
“Mikkel’s got this under control,” Azzaria whispered from the couch, as if reading my mind for the hundredth time. “He’s getting you the justice you deserve. Trust him.”
“I do trust him,” I said quickly, almost automatically, but even to my ears, my voice sounded shaky.
Azzaria sighed and leaned forward, her voice gentle. “Then sit down and eat something. You haven’t had real food since I got here.”
I ran a hand through my hair, frustration gnawing at me. “I just—I need to hear from him,” I whispered, feeling a tear slip down my cheek before I could stop it.
Azzaria stood up and wrapped her arms around me in a warm, comforting hug. “You will. He’ll be home soon, Abi.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. The fear, the anger, the confusion, was all too much.
The elevator dinged, and a second later, the door unlocked. My heart leapt into my throat.
Azzaria and I pulled apart just as Mikkel stepped inside, shutting the door quietly behind him. His hair was tousled, his jaw tight, but when his eyes met mine, something in his expression softened.
He crossed the room in quick, purposeful strides. Before I could process it, I was in his arms, his warmth dissolving the tension, anxiety, and fear that had gripped me all night.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner,” he murmured into my hair, his voice thick with exhaustion. “I ha-.”
“You’re here now,” I whispered, my voice shaky. I buried my face in his chest, letting the steady beat of his heart calm me.
Mikkel pulled back slightly, just enough to look down at me, his hand coming up to gently wipe away a stray tear from my cheek. “I’ll always come back to you, Red. No matter what.”
He pulled away from me slowly, then with a soft sigh, turned to Azzaria, offering her a hug. “Thank you, Azzaria,” he said, his voice quiet but full of meaning. “For everything. ”
Azzaria smiled, pulling back slightly but still holding onto Mikkel’s shoulders. “You know I’d do anything for Abigail.” She turned to glance at me, her eyes full of affection and reassurance. “She’s my best friend.”
Mikkel chuckled softly, nodding. “I know you would, but I’m still grateful.”
Then, with a quick glance at the door, she asked him, “Did Dillon leave already? He told me to meet him at home.”
Mikkel smirked, shaking his head. “He’s on his way.”
“Was he drinking?”
“Can’t recall,” he playfully responded.
Azzaria rolled her eyes playfully. “I’m sure.”
She turned and practically darted toward me, wrapping me in a tight, loving hug. “Call me, okay?” she whispered, kissing my cheek softly. “Promise me.”
I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. “I promise, and get home safely.”
She gave me a final squeeze, love and concern in her eyes, then smiled, waved, and left. Silence settled. Mikkel exhaled, rubbed his neck, and stepped closer, his gaze searching mine.
“ Mi amor , 202 ” he began, his voice gentle but serious. “We need to talk.”
“We do,” I said softly, cutting him off. “But I need to talk first.”
I tried to speak, to explain the web of emotions that had kept me silent. “I was scared,” I managed to say.
“Scared of what, baby?”
“Scared of everything,” I admitted, my voice shaking. “My anxiety was through the roof, and I didn’t even know why. Then Joshua texted about the sex tape—one he made our first year together. It haunted me, weighed on me, and suddenly, my world was collapsing.”
I stepped closer, hands trembling. “I just needed him gone.”
“Bab—”
“Let me finish,” I whispered, cutting him off. “I didn’t want him to leak it, to ruin your reputation. I was terrified of how it could hurt you and everything you’ve built. Every day I kept it from you, my heart broke a little more. I know it was wrong, but when I finally found the courage to tell you, everything unraveled. I thought you’d see the tape and leave me because... I can’t even put the shame into words.”
My chest tightened, but before I could say more, he silenced me with a soft kiss, his lips full of understanding. Tears filled his eyes as he cupped my face, closing his own to steady himself.
“I would never leave you, Red,” he whispered, voice thick with emotion. “I love you like no one else. Seeing those pictures, the notes, the tape... it broke me. I felt rage, but worse, I felt scared. You were falling apart, and I didn’t know why. I couldn’t help you. I couldn’t fix it.”
His shoulders slumped as he exhaled. “I couldn’t protect you from him before, but he’s nothing now. Every copy of that tape will be erased. He’s done for good.”
Relief flooded me, and I leaned into him, tears slipping down my cheeks.
“Thank you for not thinking less of me,” I whispered.
His eyes held mine, steady and sure. “I could never think less of you. You mean everything to me. He filmed you without your knowledge—that’s a crime, and he’s currently paying for it. None of this is your fault, so don’t ever believe it is.”
I took a shaky breath, ready to respond, but then my gaze dropped to his hands. My heart twisted at the sight of his bruised and swollen knuckles. I reached for them, fingertips tracing the damage.
“Your knuckles…”
He pulled his hand back slightly, shaking his head. “It’ll be fine,” he said, brushing it off, though the tension in his eyes betrayed him. “I’ve felt worse.”
I held his gaze, unwilling to let it go. “How?” I asked, though deep down, I already knew .
He sighed, looking away for a beat before turning back. “I punched him a few times,” he admitted, voice low as if downplaying what really happened.
A laugh bubbled up before I could stop it. It surprised both of us, but the thought of Mikkel finally giving that asshole what he deserved was too satisfying. Shaking my head, I let out a small, wry smile. “Nothing he didn’t deserve.”
A faint smirk tugged at Mikkel’s lips. “Exactly.”
I walked to the bathroom, grabbed the first aid kit, and returned to find him sitting on the couch, his injured hand resting on his thigh, eyes fixed on me. Kneeling in front of him, I set the kit on the table and gently took his hand.
“Let me take care of it,” I murmured, cleaning the cuts and wrapping his knuckles. He didn’t protest, just watched me in silence.
When I finished, my fingers lingered against his skin, my chest tightening with gratitude. The bruises, the blood—he’d taken them for me. My hands trembled slightly as the weight of it all settled in.
“Thank you,” I whispered, though it felt like nowhere near enough.
Mikkel’s gaze softened. “When I say I’ll protect you, I mean it, Red.”
I swallowed hard, emotion thick in my throat. “ Lo sé. Te quiero. 203 ” The words left me instinctively, feeling right.
His brows lifted, surprise flickering across his face before his expression melted into something warmer. “You speaking Spanish is my new favorite thing.”
I chuckled, trying to lighten the air. “We have Duolingo to thank, then.”
His smile grew despite the exhaustion in his eyes. “I’m gonna have to send them a check. Te escucho hablar espanol y me vuelvo loco , 204 ” he teased, though there was a serious edge to his tone.
He cupped my face, his thumb brushing my cheek, making my heart stutter. “I love you.”
His words wrapped around me, sinking deep.
I loved him with every fiber of my being.
Every part of me was his, just as every piece of him belonged to me.