<b>Chapter </b><b>26 </b>
MASON
I couldn’t breathe just stood there in the restroom, staring at the empty space where she had just been. My heart was pounding so hard drowned cot the noise of the event outside.
She was lying. She had to be lying
But the way she looked at me, the way she said those words, “she’s dead“, sent a chill down my spine. She sounded like Lydia; the height, the face, the- eyes and the smile all belonged to Lydia. If she was just a look alike, then there had to be at least one difference. There was none.
Only her cold gaze and tone. Lydia has only ever spoken to me with love and tenderness while she spoke to me with so much disdain
I walked out of the restroom with unsteady steps. The voices around me blurred together. The shing cameras, the murmurs, the music–it was all too
much.
felt the need to escape this crowd.
Julia was still talking to some people,ughing and tossing her hair<b>, </bpletely unaware of what had just happened.
I didn’t bother telling her I was leaving as I didn’t want her apanying me back. I walked past her, past the waiters offering champagne,past the businessmen trying to make conversation.
Straight to my car.
I drove without thinking, my grip tight on the steering wheel. The street lights blurred altogether as I drove at the speed of a madman. To the only ce 1 could go to for a little bit of peace from everyone else. My penthouse.
I mmed the door shut as soon as I got inside, my chest rising and falling
I needed answers and I need them now before I lose my mind. I pulled out my phone and dialled my private investigator.
“Mr. Woods?” His voice was crisp and rusky.
“I need something,” I said, my voice rough “An investigation. I want you to go through all the records again. <b>Five </b>years ago. The fire. The deach certificates. Anything rted to Lydia”
There was a slight pause. “Sir, we’ve already looked into this before. The report”
“Do it agam.” What followed was <b>silence </b>that dragged on <b>a </b>bit too long. Then, “<b>Yes</b>, <b>sir</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
I ended the call and ran <b>a hand </b>through my hair<b>, </b>pulling at it like it fixed all the problems. I walked to the minibar and <b>poured </b>myself a drink, but i couldn’t bring myself to take a sip..
She had to be her. <b>She </b>had to be Lydia<b>. </b>I pressed my fingers to my temples, squeezing my eyes shut.
Memories came <b>crashing </b>in, uninvited.
The way
she used tough, the way she would incline her head when she was annoyed. Her scent, the softness of her skin. The fire. The ashes, I didn’t exactly bother finding out what they did to the body. Or if there was even a body, as they <b>said</b><b>, </b><b>she </b>burnt up pretty bad.
<b>I </b>grabbed the ss and threw it <b>against </b>the wall, it shattered into a thousand pieces. I spent 3 years meticulously doing my best to fixat way that everyone was under my control. My motions, my business<b>, </b>my mental health and now that Lyd- this woman came in everyt
She was alive. Why else would it be that thepany that suddenly aroused and became a rival just had to be owned by a <b>woman </b>who looked strikingly alike <b>to </b>her? She <b>was </b>ying a game. Probably punishing me for divorcing her.
My phone burred. I snatched it up, expecting my private investigator, lubad, it was my mother. I exhaled sharply<b>! </b>
“Mason,” she called, her tone made fines appear on my forehead. “Julia is here.” I pinched the bridge of my nose
“She said you left her at the event without saying anything. She’s upset. Do you know how humiliating that is for her? Het out a humour she’s humiliated? Good to know.
“Mason, what is wrong will <b>you</b>?!
“Nothing“Isnapped.
had things to take care of
“You embarassed hert She’s been crying since she got here.“I clenched my jaw. “I had things to
“Like what?” I didn’t answer. A pause, I pressed my fingers into the counter, “I know what I saw
“What did you see?”
I closed my eyes. “I’ll find out who she really is.”
“She? Who’s Mason, listen to me–tended the call.
My fingers curled into fists. Lydia might have changed her name. She might have fooled everyone else. But not me
will get to the bottom of this.
I walked into the office the next morning with a pounding headache, I hadn’t slept all night<b>. </b>Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face. Lydia Or whoever she was pretending to be now
I loosened my tie as I stepped into the boardroom, already regrettinging to work. The meeting had already started, but I barely heard a word. Tha numbers, the projections, the reports–none of it made <b>any </b>sense to me.
“Mr. Woods?” one <b>of </b>the executives said, looking at me. I blinked. “What?” Everyone turned to look at me.
“We were asking about the merger<b>, </b>sir,” another man said. “Right.” I nodded, rubbing my temple. “Just proceed with what we discussedst week”
<b>Daniel </b>shot me <b>a </b>look from across the table. He knew something was wrong, I barelysted through the rest of the meeting. The moment it ended, walked straight to my office and <b>shut </b>the door behind me. Daniel came in minutester.
“She refused,” Daniel sand immediately.
I frowned, “What?”
“The meeting request. You asked me to schedule a meeting with Miss Brooks,” he exined. “She refused.” I clenched my jaw and unclenched it.
“Not even a reschedule?” Lasked<b>, </b>sounding a bit too desperate, “She said there was nothing to discuss with you.”
I let out a bitterugh. “Of course she did.” Aher how I hadered her in the bathroom yesterday, would expect nothing less.
Daniel folded his arms. “You <b>sure </b>you don’t want to tell me what’s going <b>on</b>?” I ran a hand through my hair. “It’s her.”
Daniel frowned. “What
Istared at him. “Lydia.”
He didn’t speak for a moment. Then he let out à breith. <b>“</b>Mason=”
“I know what you’re going to say,” Teut in. “I know she’s supposed to be dasd Puti saw her, Dansa (spoke to fint, she looke Lydia was dead but she’s tydis.
Daniel’s expression darkened. “And you don’t believe her?”
“No.” Texhaled, “I don’t know”
He leaned against his desk. “This woman… she’s not just someone who looks like Lydia?!
“No” shook my head. “It’s her.”
Daniel sighed. “I don’t think Miss Lydia would’ve been able to escape that fire especially given her condition at the time. Are you sure?
“Find out everything.” I said “Where she’s been. What she’s been doing Who helped her fake her death Before Daniel could respond, the door to open and Juba rushed in,
Her eyes were red and putty like she had been crying all night. “You cheated on me,” she hissed, stepping inside.
I stiffened. “What?” Daniel straightened, looking between us.
205
“You cheated on me, Mason!” <b>Julia’s </b>voice was shaking “I was humiliatedst night. You left me there like I was nothing. Then find out you’re obsessed with some woman? Who is she? Did you leave to go be with <b>her</b>?
texhaled sharply, feeling anger bubble up at the way she referred to Lydia. “Julia, lower your voice
“No!” She marched up to me, stabbing a finger into my chest. I <b>was </b>at your mother’s house all night, crying. She told me how much she wanted me to be your wife. She told me we were supposed to be engaged soon!”
Daniel rubbed his forehead and muttered something under his breath.
ald, my patience thinning. “I did not cheat on <b>you</b>.
She let out a humourlessugh. “Oh, really? Then exin why you left me at the event to run after her! I clenched my jaw.
<b>“</b><b>She’s</b>… None of your concern, 1 said coldly.
Julia scoffed. “Not my concern? Then why are you so obsessed with her? Why are you trying to meet with her?”
“Because I need to know something.”
“And what’s that?” I didn’t answer.
She swallowed hard. “Are you going to throw me away for her? Why the f- aren’t <b>you </b>even telling me who the bitches? I kept my silence <b>and </b>her <b>face </b>twisted in anger. “You love her?”
gritted
d my teeth. “I never said that.”
“But you didn’t deny it!” Her voice grew even louder. “Mason, I have been with <b>you</b>. Four years. And you’re going to throw all that away for some faceles bitch that just appeared out of nowhere?”
I sighed and looked at Daniel “Give us a minute.” nil gave me a knowing look before walking out. I turned back to Julia. “I’m not throwing anything away.”
Her eyes watered. “Then tell <b>me </b>what’s going on. I ran a hand down my t
She stared at me. “Do you still want to marry me? Lexhaled. “Julia-
face “I don’t know.”
*Just answer the damned <b>question</b>.” I looked at her, at the way she was shaking, at the pain in her eyes. I couldn’t lie anymore but I couldn’t tell her the truth either. How could I? How would 12
Her <b>faca </b>enimbled. Hknew <b>1</b><b>” </b>
“Did <b>you </b>cheat on me, Mason?”