Chapter 5
By the time Marcus woke up, I was already on a plane out of the country.
Even though he wasn’t hurt that bad this time, when my uncles heard what happened, they sent people to get me that same night.
I heard when Marcus came to and saw Amanda there, he looked confused for a sec.
On the plane, someone filled me in on what Amanda had been up to these past two years.
Turns out on their anniversary, she’d met with Marcus’s mom.
His mom took Amanda to some fancy jewelry gala.
My aunt was actually hosting that event, and my uncle secretly brought me along to test out his theory.
First time Amanda saw me, I was surrounded by spotlights.
I was in this designer gown, all put-together, smiling and chatting with everyone.
Amanda never thought the girl who’d stolen Marcus’s heart would be that impressive.
Plus with all the stuff his mom said, she got scared and started second-guessing everything.
She was worried I’d be some evil bitch who’d make her life hell.
And since she was young and freaked out, she just ran off with her mom.
These past two years really sucked for her.
Since Marcus had been taking care of her after graduation, she didn’t have any real skills.
Plus having a mentally ill mom who could bolt at any second.
she could only work as a waitress at some restaurant near their crappy apartment.
After work she’d drag her mom around delivering food.
As for why she came back…
The person telling me this got a darker look in their eyes. “In her world, only Marcus could give her the kind of life she wanted.”
I shut my eyes, feelin’ wiped out.
All these memories kept flashing by, then scattered into a million pieces.
Marcus probably figured it out too.
That’s why he asked me that night if I had anything to do with Amanda leaving.
I suddenly thought about eighteen-year-old Marcus confessing to me.
Even trying to sound all calm, he couldn’t hide how crazy happy he was when I said yes.
“Isabella, I’m gonna take such good care of you. Won’t let anyone hurt you, won’t leave you alone, I… I’m just so happy.”
I could still hear that teenage joy in my ears.
Only I got stuck back in that year.
When I got off the plane, they took me straight to the hospital.
Doctors in white coats kept coming and going, all looking super serious.
Once all the test results came back, they looked a little less worried.
There was my uncle’s hospital, got my own doctors watching over my health,
They said all my levels were stable-what I did that night wasn’t bad enough to need another stay.
My uncle was relieved.
He kissed my forehead. “Get some rest, I’ve got meetings to get to.”
My other uncle was swamped too.
They barely said a few words before they both left.
The room went quiet. If it wasn’t for the needle mark stinging on my arm, I’d think this was all a dream.
I didn’t stay there long.
Both my uncles were married now with their own kids to worry about.
Plus the Whitmore Group had a ton of stuff piling up, so I headed back after a few days.
But the second I walked in the door, I ran right into Marcus.
He was sitting on the couch with his arms crossed, looking intense.
Totally different from how chill he’d been that night.
“Where the hell were you?”
I set down my suitcase.
“Went home.”
“Bullshit!” He stood up.
“What other home do you have besides this one?”
He suddenly went quiet, his face looking awful.
Went from pale to flushed to completely white.
“Sorry, you know that’s not what I meant.”
Same damn excuse again.
I was so tired of this.
Ever since Amanda showed up, it felt like all he did was apologize to me.
Every time he opened his mouth, it came out wrong.
This time I didn’t run away. I asked him straight up, “Marcus, if you do know these things hurt me, then why do you keep saying them?”
Marcus froze up, couldn’t get a word out.
