He Saw My Ghost All Along, And Grew Tired Of My Clinging Chapter 14

He Saw My Ghost All Along, And Grew Tired Of My Clinging Chapter 14

Reid’s voice cut through the fog. He was shaking with rage.

Right under my roof. They poisoned you in my own house, and I didn’t see a goddamn thing.“.

I squeezed his hand.

“It’s someone inside. Has to be. No one else could’ve known we were together that fast, and no one

else had access to my food.”

That pulled him back from the edge. His breathing steadied.

He’d always suspected the person behind this had reach. But if they were inside his own house, that explained everything.

Someone close. Someone who’d been there all along, watching from the inside.

He shut his eyes.

“I don’t even know where it started unraveling.”

“I have an idea. A way to draw them out.”

He looked at me, confused. I smiled.

Back at the house, I hooked my arm through Reid’s and made sure my voice carried.

“So our wedding’s in five days? I can’t believe it’s actually happening.”

Reid kissed the corner of my mouth.

“I’ll have everything ready. It’s going to be perfect.”

We played the happy couple for a while longer before he headed upstairs.

I stayed on the couch, phone in hand, looking relaxed. But my eyes were working. I was watching every maid who crossed the room.

Nothing. Everyone kept their heads down and worked.

Half an hour later, one of the maids brought me a glass of milk.

“Your milk, miss.”

I looked up at her.

“You’re one of the students Reid sponsored, right? Years ago?”

She blinked, surprised I’d brought it up.

But she still nodded. “Yes.”

“Adoctoral program, wasn’t it? You’re a smart woman. Why trade that for an apron?”

I turned the glass in my hands. Didn’t drink.

Something flickered behind her eyes before she answered.

“Mr. Vaughn gave me everything. My education, my future, all of it came from him. The least I can

do is give back. And if I’d gone into some other career, I’d never see him.”

There it was. Just for a flash: something hungry and possessive behind her careful composure

“Being here and taking care of him is all I need. This is what I chose.”

The words were perfect. Too perfect. Like she’d rehearsed them.

I didn’t push.

“People find meaning in different places. As long as you’re happy with your choice. That’s all.”

She turned to leave. Then paused.

“Is it true? Are you and Mr. Vaughn getting married?”

Her hand curled into a fist at her side. She thought I didn’t notice.

I let my smile widen. Made sure it reached my voice.

“Of course. He can barely stand being in a different room from me. We didn’t want to wait.‘

She nodded. Turned. Walked away. Her steps were rigid, mechanical, like she was holding herself

together by force.

I watched her disappear around the corner. My gut was screaming.

But suspicion wasn’t proof. If I moved too soon and I was wrong, the real threat would vanish.

That night, I headed upstairs to tell Reid what I’d seen.

I was passing through the shadowed corridor toward his study when a hand clamped over my face

from behind. A damp cloth. Chemical–sharp.

My eyes flew open. I thrashed, clawed, and fought, but the drug was already pulling me under. My legs buckled in seconds.

She dragged me into an alcove. I had nothing left.

Right before the dark swallowed me, I saw her face.

I knew it.

Melanie Crane looked down at me, and the mask was gone. What was underneath was unhinged.

She leaned close. Her breath was hot against my ear….

“I know I’m not good enough for him. That’s why I settled for staying close, being the one who takes care of him every day. But you? You think being younger and prettier gives you the right to take him from me?”

“Once you’re gone, there’ll be others. There always are. But don’t worry. I’ll screen every single one of them. No one gets to him unless I say so.”