Chapter 30
After I threw her out of my house, I went into my office. The rage I felt was so intense that I just stood there, staring at the torn papers on the floor, wondering how she could have lied this whole time—gotten close to my daughter—just to get those documents.
Damn it. I grab a vase from my desk and hurl it against the door, watching it shatter into a thousand pieces, trying to burn off some of this feeling eating me alive.
Why did she do this? We were doing so well.
Ellie loved her. She’d won everyone over in this house—and now I think it was all just to get those documents.
I punch the wall, and all I see is blood between my fingers.
That horrible feeling still hasn’t passed.
I sit down in my chair and grab the picture frame sitting on the desk.
It’s a photo of us—me, her, and Ellie—from a day we spent at the mall.
I grab my bottle of whiskey, pour a glass, and down it in one go, letting the liquid burn my throat.
I pour myself a few more. I keep thinking about everything that happened, about the lies—yes, because all of it was a lie. I’ve been in here for hours, locked away, trying to make sense of it all, but I can only think about her and the moments we spent together.
My phone rings. I look at the screen—it’s Mattia. I decide to answer.
“I’m not in the mood for jokes today. Just tell me what you want.”
I unload on him, as if that might release some of the anger I still feel.
“Mama called me. Said you’ve been locked in your office for hours. I called to see if you want to talk—tell me what happened.”
“Meet me in an hour at the usual bar.”
I hang up and shove the picture frame into the drawer.
I don’t want to see it for a long time. I get up from the chair where I’ve been sitting for hours and head straight to my room.
I take a shower, and my hand stings—only now do I remember I hurt it.
But I don’t care. I get out, throw on some clothes, grab my car keys, and leave without saying a word.
Everyone there knows me, and they know when I need my space. I get in the car and pull out with the security detail behind me. I drive through the city, crowded with tourists as always, but the drive is peaceful. The driving does me good.
I arrive at the bar, and my friend is already waiting in the same spot as always—the back table, where we can watch the whole place. I sit down, the waitress comes over to take our order, and soon returns with the bottle of whiskey I asked for.
“Take it easy there, my friend.”
“Not today, Mattia. Let me drink.”
He raises his arms in surrender, and I fill my glass, downing it in one go. I just need to drink today. That’s all.
“Tell me what happened.”
“Mama shouldn’t have called you.”
“What about all that talk about friends being there for everything—have you forgotten? When Emma and I separated, you were there. Today I’m returning the favor. Tell me everything.”
I give him the short version of everything that happened—from the moment we got involved, to when I started suspecting her, to today, when I caught her red-handed.
“I understand you, and I understand her side too.”
“You’re going to take her side now? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have even come.”
“Hey, calm down. I understand her side simply because she only has her father, and he’s in prison.”
“He’s only paying for the crime he committed. And I wasn’t even the one who judged him.”
“Yes, I know it was the evidence that convicted him—I was with you at the time. But have you thought about digging deeper?”
“You know damn well I avoid that subject, and I’m not about to start digging into it now, after all these years.”
“And did you ever think that maybe she came into your house looking for evidence that could help her case? Owen, listen to me. Why don’t you investigate this? From what little I knew of Amélie, she wouldn’t do this for nothing. She knew the risks she was taking.”
“I don’t want to do that. The evidence against him was solid, and I’m not revisiting this. There’s a hearing in less than a month, and he’ll be released. I talked to my informant to check on things—he said everything’s looking good for him to get out this time.”
“You like her, don’t you? You fell in love. After Luma, I thought it would never happen, but now I see my friend really has fallen in love again.”
“I won’t deny she was special—until she pulled this stunt. Now I want her far away from me and my daughter.”
“Well, I’ve given you my opinion, and I think it’s worth considering. You’re angry now, but it’ll pass. And when it does, I want to see what you’ll do.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I want to forget everything that happened today and go back to living like before.”
“I hate to tell you, my friend, but nothing will ever be the same.”
And he was right. After I left the bar and got home, I missed her cheerfulness, the smile she’d give when she greeted me after a long day at work, the way she cared for Ellie. I start thinking about what Mattia said. I’ll wait for the hearing and think this through with a clearer head.
I lie down in my bed, already missing her.
The harsh words I said come flooding back—everything I said, how I threw her out.
But it’s done now, and I can’t take it back.
I toss and turn for what feels like forever before I finally fall asleep.
I miss her body pressed against mine, the affection she showed me, but she’ll never forgive me.
Amy is a sweet girl, but she has a stubborn streak, and I know she’ll never forget what I did to her.