Chapter 635
I glanced at the food on my plate, but my appetite was gone. I asked for the bill and stood. “Thanks for telling me. I have to go.”
“I understand.” This time, Rhys didn’t try to stop me.
I didn’t go back to the studio. My head was spinning, and I needed to walk, to think.
I wandered aimlessly down the street, turning at random, not stopping until I reached a park.
I sat on a bench facing the lake and watched the ducks gliding across the water.
My father was still alive?
I didn’t know what to feel.
He’d neglected me as a child, tried to use my marriage as a business opportunity, basically tried to pimp me out for connections. I hadn’t felt a single regret when I heard he’d been jailed.
But still.
“Mirabelle! What a surprise.”
All thoughts of Franklin vanished at the sound of that voice.
“She just doesn’t give up,” I muttered to myself, standing and turning to face Genevieve.
“I thought it was you,” she said. “I had to get out of the car to be sure. What are you doing here? You look upset.”
She looked pleased about it.
Right now, I had no energy for anyone, least of all her.
I turned to leave.
“Hey, have you thought any more about our conversation?” she called after me.
I lifted a hand behind my back and gave her the finger.
Taking a random turn, I followed a tree-lined trail away from her.
But luck wasn’t on my side today. After a while, I found myself back at the lake, just farther along the shore.
Genevieve was nowhere in sight, but the ducks were still there, dipping and diving.
I walked closer to the water’s edge, watching them. Were they mallards? I patted my pockets out of habit, checking for something to feed them, but I never carried breadcrumbs. Why would I?
I didn’t hear the footsteps behind me.
Not until I felt a sudden, violent shove between my shoulder blades.
I stumbled forward. My arms, trapped in my pockets, couldn’t break my fall. I plunged headfirst into the cold, murky water.
When I reached the lakeside, the place was already crowded with people, and police were everywhere.
I turned to Harry. “Get divers. As many as possible. Call Cassian and Ryan.”
“On it, boss.” Harry nodded.
I threw off my jacket and plunged straight into the water.
“Boss!” Harry shouted.
The police on the bank yelled; the divers already in the lake shouted too. But I didn’t hear any of them.
I just kept swimming, kept searching.
Logically, I knew it was useless. The professional divers would find her faster than I ever could. But I couldn’t help myself.
.
.
.