Page 140 of Love Unscripted
As she moved through the house—tidying, picking up, pausing here and there—she kept him in her ear, her AirPods in place, his presence a quiet, constant companion. It was almost like he was right there with her.
So when the phone rang again, she smiled and tapped her earbud, certain it was him calling back because he’d forgotten something.
She answered in a teasing tone.
“Why don’t you just come over so we can talk properly? I miss seeing your face.”
She expected his easy laugh, some comment about video calls. Instead, there was a pause.
“Hello?”
“I miss seeing your face too,” the voice replied softly. “In fact, I miss seeing your entire body.”
A chill crept up her spine.
“Simon,” she said, her voice tightening. “What do you want?”
“I hear congratulations are in order. You spurned my offer of marriage, but you accepted his.”
“That’s because I love him.”
“Really?” A faint hum of amusement. “Does he love you?”
“Of course he does.”
“So… he forgave you for lying to him about filming theShadow Peakepisodes.”
Her spine stiffened.
“How did that get out, Simon? I thought you agreed to a gag order.”
“Well, I don’t know,” he said lightly. “You know how it is on a set. There’s always a mole.”
She went still. Then the realization settled in, cold and precise.
“I think it was you who leaked it.”
A pause. Then his soft laugh.
“And why would I do a thing like that?”
“Because you wanted to fracture our relationship.”
“Well, from what I hear, if it was me—as you say—it worked. For a while.” A quiet chuckle. “If it was me. I’m not taking any credit.”
“You’re despicable.” Her voice trembled. “I can’t believe I ever thought I was in love with you.”
“Perhaps you can’t believe the lengths you went to in order to keep that love either.”
Her stomach tightened.
“Does he know?” he asked.
Her blood ran cold.
“Of course,” she said quickly—but the words faltered, cracking halfway through.
Simon laughed—low, satisfied.
