“Jasper!” The door slammed open again and Quinn stormed inside, not looking as happy as she had just a few minutes ago before she’d left. “Are you engaged?”
“What?” I glanced at Nigel quickly, shock slamming into me as I wondered how she’d found out about that.
“Are you engaged?” she questioned again, the words slow and her voice quiet as she strode toward me.
I frowned, trying to figure out what to say. This wasn’t how I wanted her to find out... “No, I’m not engaged.”
“Really? Then who’sCrystal?” she spat.
“How did you-”
“Who is she, Jasper? That woman was at the news conference wailing and begging for your kidnappers to return you home for your wedding!” she shouted. Anger lit her features, but the pain hiding behind it pierced me. I couldn’t lie to her.
I rose to my feet, Nigel following closely behind me, grasping my arm as I stepped toward her, but I stopped when she backed up. “Okay, she’s my… fiancée. But it’s not what you think, Quinn!”
Quinn laughed, but tears shone in her eyes. “I bet it’s not.” She scoffed. “You lied to me.”
“No Quinn, I didn’t.” I shook off Nigel’s hand, making my way toward her and taking her into my arms. “There’s no engagement. Not anymore. I don’t love her. This entire thing wasn’t even my idea–”
“You’re not making sense!” She pulled away from me quickly. “I can’t believe this! What was this, Jasper? Just some practice for your wedding night? It makes sense. No action for two years, just find the first idiot to fall for your tricks so you can get up to scratch. You make me sick!”
“Quinn please,” I begged. “It wasn’t like that! Let me explain.”
She turned away from me, shaking her head, her voice brittle. “No need. I get the picture, Jasper. Get out of my home.”
My mind spun as I moved toward her, but Nigel grabbed my arm again. The caregiver shook his head slightly, and I glanced back at Quinn, hearing the telltale sniffle. Pain tore through me, my shoulders slumping as I nodded.
“This isn’t over, Quinn. I’ll be back, and I’ll make this right. We aren’t over, you hear me?”
She remained silent, her back rigid.
Defeated, I turned and let Nigel lead me toward the door.
“Sir, you’re walking much better!” he whispered excitedly as he guided me up the basement steps and toward the building’s exit. The knowledge didn’t do anything to ease my mood.
“Yeah,” I nodded. “Let’s go.”
The moment we reached the door, however, it burst open.
Police officers appeared, swarming down the steps, pushing past a frantic Leon. Two men in suits pushed their way through the wave, stopping in front of me. The first held his hand out. “Mr. King? I’m Detective Johal.”
My heart lurched.
Eddie appeared behind the detectives and rushed over, wrapping his arms around me. “Thank God, we found you!”
Before I could say anything, an officer rushed over to Quinn, who had just appeared, looking worried.
“Quinn Sharpe? You’re under arrest for the abduction of Jasper King, you have the right to remain—”
“No!” I shouted, pushing Eddie away from me with all my force. I made my way over to Quinn as quickly as I could, pushing myself between her and the officer. I glared into his eyes, shock written all over his face. “Keep your fucking hands off her!”
Quinn
“Pass the potatoes, please,” Gran murmured. Her plate was already full, so I was sure that she just wanted to break the long stretch of silence, but I didn’t comment on it as I passed her the bowl of potatoes, nearly knocking over the big vase of flowers that sat on the middle of the table as I did.
I sighed as I eyed them for a few moments before looking down at my own food again.
“Well.” Amanda cleared her throat, putting on a smile. “This is nice! Dinner is… nice. I’m glad we both finally got a night off!” She turned to me and I simply nodded.
