Room 14's Secret novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: Lemon Shortbread

"Don't get up," Giselle said. "Please. I won't stay."

She crossed the room and sat on the edge of Leanne's bed, in the exact place she must have sat for five years.

Leanne did not move.

I saw her hand close slowly on the blanket.

I took out my phone and texted Zachary: Keep Posy outside.

"I brought shortbread," Giselle said, and set the gold tin on the tray table. "You loved it once, Leanne. You used to eat the whole tin at my sister's shower."

"I remember," Leanne said.

"I'm glad. Honestly. The doctors told me you might never remember anything."

"They were wrong."

"Lovely," Giselle said, and she smiled with so much warmth that I felt it on my own skin.

She looked at me.

"You're angry, and I understand. I'd be angry too."

"I'm not angry," I said.

"No?"

"I'm listening."

"Good." She settled her hands in her lap. "I came to apologize for the court. I only said what I knew. Quinton lied to all of us."

"You made the tea."

"Honey, we've been over that."

She turned back to Leanne and touched her cropped hair with two fingers, lightly.

Leanne went white to the mouth and held still.

"This is a mess," Giselle murmured. "Who cut this? I'll take you to my hairdresser. We'll get you something soft."

I stood up so quickly that the chair scraped.

"Take your hand off her."

Giselle took it back, still smiling.

← Chapter 19 · All chapters · Chapter 21 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend