Chapter 273
Chapter 273:
“She’s wearing the dress,” Dallas said. His voice was a low rumble, like stone grinding against stone. “The black Givenchy. I saw the receipt on the audit log this morning. Anson bought two of them — one for his prop, and one for my wife.” He pointed a trembling finger at the screen. “And she put it on. She accepted his gift p>
“Maybe—” Simmons started, then stopped. There was no maybe.
The door flew open. Zane marched in, pulling Eliza by the arm.
“Here she is,” Zane said, shoving her into the room. “Let her explain it to your face p>
Eliza stumbled, catching herself on the back of a sofa. She looked up and found Dallas.
𝖶ee𝘬𝗅y 𝗋е𝗹e𝘢sе𝘴 𝗈n.с𝗼𝗆
He looked terrifying. Cold. Detached. Like the man he had been before he ever knew her.
“Dallas,” Eliza gasped, stepping forward. “Please. That wasn’t me downstairs. Anson brought a woman dressed like me. It’s a setup p>
“A setup,” Zane scoffed. “With a body double? This isn’t a spy film, Eliza p>
“It’s true!” Eliza pointed at the frozen image on the screen. “Look closely — she’s shorter! Look at her p>
“You’re wearing the dress,” Dallas said. He stood and walked toward her, towering over her. “The dress Anson bought. The dress that was delivered to the penthouse p>
Eliza froze. “No — you sent it. The card had your handwriting p>
“I didn’t send anything, Eliza,” Dallas said softly, his voice all the more dangerous for its quiet. “I haven’t been home. That card was a forgery. And you fell for it. You put on the clothes he bought you, and you went to him p>
“I didn’t!” Eliza was crying now, tears leaking from beneath her mask. She tore it off and threw it to the floor. “I thought it was from you! I am standing here telling you I love you! Why would I do this p>
“Because you never stopped loving him,” Dallas said. “Because I was just the bank account that got you out of trouble p>
“No!” Eliza reached for him.
Dallas stepped back. “Get out p>
“Dallas p>
“GET OUT p>
He seized the heavy crystal decanter from the table and hurled it at the wall-mounted television.
The screen shattered, sparks erupting outward, the image of the kissing couple dissolving into a spiderweb of broken glass. Eliza flinched, throwing her arms up over her head.
“Zane,” Dallas said, breathing hard, his back to her. “Remove her p>
Zane took hold of Eliza’s arm. “Let’s go p>
“Dallas, please!” Eliza screamed as Zane pulled her toward the door. “He’s winning! Don’t let him win p>
The door slammed shut.
Silence descended on the room.
Dallas stood amid the broken glass, shaking.
“I’m going to the estate,” he said suddenly.
Simmons stepped forward. “What? No. You’ve been drinking. It’s storming out there p>
“I need to see.” Dallas turned, his eyes wild. “If there really is a double — if she’s telling the truth — Anson will have her at the estate. I need to see if there are two of them p>
It was a desperate, irrational hope. The last remaining fragment of his heart searching for a reason to believe her.
“Dallas, don’t,” Simmons said.
Dallas grabbed his keys from the table. “If I’m wrong, I’ll beg on my knees. But I have to know p>
He stormed out, leaving Simmons alone in the wreckage.