What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger novel Chapter 9

I stared at him silently, my carefully constructed composure cracking despite my best efforts.

So he'd known everything.

Known his mother had cornered me with divorce threats behind his back. Known the staff mockingly called me "jailbird" when they thought I couldn't hear. He'd been aware of all of it.

But since I wasn't the precious Laria, he'd chosen to look the other way.

I took a deep breath. "Sure, Hektor. I'll forgive you," I said, my voice glacier-cold.

"Right after you clear my name and resurrect my mother from the dead."

"Since we both know that's impossible, do us both a favor and stay the fuck away from me. Just the sight of you makes me physically ill."

Hektor's lips trembled as he stumbled backward like I'd struck him.

Raw anguish filled his dark eyes as he stared at me wordlessly.

After an eternity of silence, he finally whispered, "I love you, Yunifer. I swear I'll find a way to make this right."

Then he turned and walked away, his once-proud silhouette now hunched and defeated as he disappeared down the street.

Kira pulled every connection she had, but we still couldn't find concrete proof of exactly how he'd orchestrated my downfall.

We were mindlessly browsing shops to clear our heads when something unbelievable happened—the mall's massive central screen suddenly cut to footage of Hektor and Laria having sex in his office.

Kira and I exchanged stunned glances, both immediately suspecting Hektor's involvement.