Page 68 (1/2)

“You’re right, and I understand if you decide to hang up It’s the least I deserve” Her ex-fiancé’s voice oozed sincerity

Kirsty felt the roo sped up

“What do you want? Are you calling to tell me that you plan to return the money you stole?”

“I wish I could,” Brandon said with a sigh “You have no idea how ret that, Kirsty I was a fool”

Her heartbeat started to pound in her chest She grasped the phone tighter Suddenly, she felt the weight of Lake’s hand on her shoulder For so him off

“I don’t have words for what you are,” she said tightly “You left me in a hospital while you stole all my money and ran away”

“I know, I know, baby,” he cooed in her ear “I was in debt I feared forto borrow money to repay the debt, but there was no time left I felt like I was in a corner and then we had the accident I saay out and I took it It’s soret every moment of every day”

“Not as ret it All of it” Her voice had become weak She felt weak

Her palle

Lake stepped in closer He placed a hand on each of her shoulders and gently rubbed his thumbs in a circle at the base of her neck For once, Kirsty didn’t think about the scars She was grateful for the touch that soothed her and stopped her fro control completely

“I shouldn’t have called,” Brandon said He sounded upset “I still love you”

She gasped at the words Shocked he could even say theed her shoulders, re her that he was there

“I just thought,” Brandon said in her ear, “after seeing the pictures of you that you still loved me, somehow, even a little bit”

Kirsty’she said made any sense

“What pictures? Why would you think that?”