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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Selina leaned against the headrest of the bed, releasing a shaky sigh as she hung up after speaking with Aaliyah. She had just finished explaining everything that had happened using Jason's phone. Aaliyah, ever resourceful, had quickly set up a conference call with her boyfriend, Simeon, a police officer. Selina recounted the events in detail, carefully omitting the more... intimate moments with Jason.
After listening intently, Simeon had suggested she remain with Jason for now, at least until they could gather concrete evidence. With Jason's powerful family ties, pressing charges wouldn't be straightforward. The involvement of Adams only complicated matters further, raising more questions than answers.
"You said he admitted to killing over a hundred people?" Simeon's voice came through the speaker, laced with disbelief.
"Yeah," Selina replied, her voice trembling.
There was a pause before Simeon spoke again. "We need to be very careful with him. This isn't just some petty criminal we're dealing with."
Selina closed her eyes, tears brimming as the weight of reality pressed down on her. She had spent so long believing her life with Adams was perfect. Everything had seemed fine—until that night.
The memory clawed its way back, forcing her to relive it.
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Selina stood before the full-length mirror, adjusting her dress one final time. It was Adams' birthday, and she had planned everything meticulously. A day off from work, a surprise visit, and even a flight ticket tucked neatly into her purse. The excitement in her chest bubbled over as she grabbed her handbag, stuffing the ticket and her phone inside before hurrying out the door.
Upon reaching Adams' house, she let herself in with the spare key, moving silently through the familiar space. Carefully, she placed the cake and gifts on the center table. The scent of pancakes drifted through the air, leading her toward the kitchen.
She stepped inside—and froze.
A woman stood at the stove, clad only in Adams' shirt, her bare legs exposed. Selina's heart hammered in her chest as she watched Adams wrap his arms around the woman's waist, pressing soft kisses along her neck.
"Thanks, Alice. For everything," he murmured, his voice warm, affectionate.
Alice turned, cupping his face with a smile that made Selina's stomach churn.
"I'm always here for you," Alice whispered before kissing him deeply.
Selina's world tilted. Her hands trembled, her breath caught in her throat. The betrayal hit her like a sledgehammer, stealing the air from her lungs.
"Adams?" she finally choked out, her voice barely a whisper.
Adams jerked away from Alice, his face draining of color when his eyes landed on Selina standing in the doorway. For a moment, silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
Alice, however, merely smirked, flipping the pancakes with an infuriating air of indifference.
"It's exactly what you think, Desperado," she taunted, her voice laced with mockery.
Selina's vision blurred with tears. Adams took a hesitant step forward, guilt etched across his features.
"Selina, wait—"
She raised a trembling hand, silencing him. Without another word, she turned and walked back into the living room, her heart shattering with each step.
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