Chapter <b>479 </b>


    E’s POV


    I tried not to let the tears fall as I hastily wiped off the fake wrinkles and rosy cheeks, but a few slipped out anyway. Theynded in streams down my face, one after the other, muddying the makeup that I had spent so long perfecting this morning.


    The bathroom door behind me suddenly burst open. I gasped, jerking my head up, but let out a sigh of relief when I saw Alexander standing there–his Santa beard dangling from his fingertips, his hat nowhere to be seen, and his red jacket now hanging loosely from his frame.


    But the moment I saw him, the tears came out faster and stronger.


    Alexander hurried across the room, closing the distance between us in a few quick strides, and gathered me into his arms. I let him hold me, forgetting the makeup wipe entirely and letting it fall to the floor.


    “Are you okay?” He kissed the top of my head, then cupped my face in his hands, tilting it so I was forced to look at him, and pressed more kisses to my cheeks, my forehead, my nose, and my lips. “You ran off so quickly. It worried me.”


    I opened my mouth to reassure him<b>, </b>but all that came out was a pathetic little squeak.


    Logically, I knew I was just self–pitying–and that it wasn’t helping my case to be hiding away in the bathroom, removing the costume that was supposed to make kids happy.


    But, dammit, I couldn’t help it. The way those parents had looked at me, seeing them leave before their children even got to see “Santa“… It made me feel like some kind of grotesque monster.


    It was as if, when I had been reborn, I hade back to life in the form of some beast from hell rather than a


    woman<b>. </b>


    “It’s not fair,” I muttered, my voice muffled by Alexander’s chest. “I’m only trying to help people, to make them happy, and they still hate me.”


    “They don’t hate you,” Alexander said, but we both knew that was a lie.


    “Nothing works.” I pulled my head back and wiped at my teary eyes. “I feel like I could break my spine bending over backwards and they would still think I’m a jerk who’s trying to steal the life of a dead woman. What the hell am I supposed to do to convince them that I’m telling the truth?”


    Alexander’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know.” He brushed his thumbs across my cheekbones, then leaned down to give me another kiss. I wanted to savor it, but all I could taste were the tears on my tongue. “I’ll figure something out with Jane,” he offered. “Maybe you should go home. Get some rest.”


    I knew he was right, but I also knew I wouldn’t be able to rest <b>if </b>I did go home. I shook my head. “I think I need to go for a drive or something.”


    Alexander quirked a brow. “You’ll be safe, right?”


    I nodded, my shoulders deting with a sigh. “I’m upset, but not that upset, Alexander. I just… I need to think for a little while.”


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    <b>He </b>hesitated<b>, </b>studying my face, then nodded and took a <b>step </b>back. “Well, I won’t stop <b>you</b>. Just be home soon, okay<b>? </b><b>I’ll </b>clean up here.<b>” </b>


    I thanked him, and once he left, I resumed wiping off my makeup<b>. </b>I removed the rented Mrs. us costume, folding it neatly and cing it back in <b>the </b>box, then changed back into my own clothes. After <b>that</b><b>, </b>I slipped out the back door, ensuring no one spotted me as I hurried to my car.


    I didn’t have a destination in mind; <b>I </b>just drove with the windows down despite the cold winter <b>air</b><b>, </b>listening to nothing but the sound of the wind rushing into the car and my own thoughts swirling around in my head.


    But it seemed that my instincts had other ns, because before I knew it, I was pulling up to the Anthonies<b>‘ </b>house. Smoke was billowing out of the chimney in gray puffs, indicating that at least one of the doctors <b>was </b>home; and after hesitating in the driveway for a few minutes, I finally went and knocked on the door.


    Anthony answered the door. “E! What a surprise!” He ushered me in, immediately noticing the tear tracks <b>on </b>my face. “Is everything alright?”


    I nodded<b>, </b>even though it wasn’t. “I was just passing by and wanted to check in. See if you’ve made any progress. I hope I’m not intruding…”


    “Of course not!” Anthony guided me over to the basement door, which was open. I could hear the sound of Tony moving around in theb below. “Come on down. We’ll show you what we’re working on.”


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