Page 55 of His Wicked Revenge

A laugh slips out of me, but I need to change the subject, or I will start crying. I do miss her, and seeing her here brings those sappy emotions to the surface.

“What are you doing out and about? I didn’t know you took days off,” I crack a joke to uplift the conversation.

“Can you believe it? Henry unlocked my shackles to that place,” she tells me. “What are you doing today?”

“Having lunch with my sister and Myles.” I hook my thumb over my shoulder towards the cafe.

Edith peers around me to take a look, and when I turn, I notice Veronica has quickly averted her gaze from the two of us. I swallow the lump in my throat, returning my focus to the old woman; her eyes hold on to where Veronica is sitting before she meets my stare.

She hums lightly, a knowing look in her eyes. She can’t know that the woman sitting there is Veronica… can she? “How is Myles? I always liked him.”

I breathe out an awkward laugh. “Good. He’s marrying my sister, and they are expecting their first baby.”

Her eyes light up. “Oh, that is just wonderful! I’m so happy for them! And you? Have you found love yet?”

I scratch the back of my neck. “No. Not yet.”

“You will,” she reassures me. I watch her eyes peer behind me again to the cafe. It’s only seconds before she stares up at me and lowers her voice. “Please be careful, Leo.”

My body stiffens. She knows it’s Veronica. I start breathing rapidly, my heart pounding in my chest. Edith doesn’t have to tell me with words; just the look on her face gives it away.

“It was good seeing you.” She smiles and then turns around to leave me standing in panic on the sidewalk.

CHAPTER 24

Veronica

The fear hasn’t left my body since I saw Edith outside the cafe. I’ve been paranoid to the max since that day. I haven't left my apartment for the whole two weeks following the incident of Leo talking to her.

I had to run to the store for something essential that would have cost a fortune through a delivery app. And when I was at the store, I was constantly checking over my shoulder to see if Dr. Bennett or police officers were going to come for me.

Besides that, I stayed hidden from whoever could be out there looking for me. Takeout had been my best friend; every meal I ate was delivered to my doorstep. The only other time I left my apartment was to go to Chloe’s because she insisted on having a girl’s night while Myles was with Leo.

The panic has been eating away at me as I wonder if she saw me. When her gaze found the window, I looked away quickly, but was I quick enough?

What are the chances, if she did see me, that Edith would have recognized me with the changes I’ve made? I know the brunette is more prominent in my hair, but not enough to make me look like my old self.

I’ve been okay with barricading myself in my apartment; it’s been my own little solitary confinement, except with lights, a nice bed, and a bigger space. It’s honestly been nice.

And the fact that no one has been banging on my door to arrest me or take me back to the asylum is a good sign. Edith didn’t see me. She couldn’t have, because if she did, I’m sure Henry Bennett would be kicking down my apartment door.

A long breath leaves me as I stare at my ceiling; the silence buzzing around my apartment has become deafening. I believe I'm in the clear since no one has been knocking at my door. I should be able to walk freely out of my apartment and into the real world.

When I am about to rip the covers off, I hear my phone go off. Angling my head to the nightstand it lays on while charging, I watch the lit screen turn black.

Sighing, I sit up and grab the device. There is a text notification from Leo. Interesting. We haven’t spoken since he talked with Edith. I haven’t been alone with him since he let himself into my apartment that one day.

I glance over to my chair, imagining him sitting there and looking at me with those dark eyes. My body shivers at the memory, but I force myself out of it and open the message.

Are you going to hide in your apartment forever?

He’s been keeping tabs on me to see if I’ve left? I’m not sure if that should comfort me or worry me.

I might.

Then you're trading one cell for another.

My eyes look over the top of my phone, staring into the living room from my bed. I didn’t look at this situation in the way he has. I joked about it being my little solitary, but those memories of being sent to a real one never crossed my mind while I was a hermit crab.