When I Left, He Found His Way Back-Chapter 62: One Way To Find Out

Kristen’s eyes seemed to bore into mine, his expression unreadable. "Don’t lie to me," he interrupted me, his voice still low and even, but with a hint of steel beneath. "I know the truth. You and Liam are twins, separated at birth. And you’re not married to him, no matter what he’s told you."

I sighed, feeling a new wave of frustration building inside of me. ’I can’t reason with this one,’ I thought.

Setting my bag down on the couch, I took the cake from his hand and carefully placed it on the center table. "Have you taken your medications today? Your section with Doctor Livia is long overdue. You have to see her later in the evening."

Doctor Livia came back, pleading to be re-accepted as Kristen’s doctor. Liam didn’t want to but I did. I allowed her stay and ever since, she’d taken her job more seriously.

However, he didn’t respond. When I lifted my gaze, his eyes were still on me. "Do you not want to be with me so badly, Jessica?"

His hoarse voice carried an undercurrent of intensity that made my skin prickle. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I met his gaze, his eyes burning with an unnerving fervor. "Would you rather believe someone who tried to kill me?"

Kristen’s eyes flashed with anger, and he took a step closer to me, his movements eerily fluid. "Your brother, Liam," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "He’s been manipulating you, Jessica. Using you for his own twisted purposes."

Kristen sounded very confident, and for a moment, I saw the man he used to be, my brother’s best friend who was tasked with protecting and looking after me.

But then, reality soon dawned on me. This man was sick. He needed help. And Livia said I could help him get better sooner. I sighed, and shook my head, reaching for his hands. "Kristen," I began, our eyes locked as I tried to reach an understanding. "Do you know what happened to you? Do you know why you’re in this condition right now?"

"Liam tried to kill me," he repeated. "Lucas showed me the footage he got from my dash camera."

Lucas was his assistant. The only person he tolerated to be around him - even though he didn’t remember his relationship with Lucas.

My brows furrowed. What was he trying to say?

Sensing my confusion, he let go of my hands and dug into his apron to retrieve a phone. "This is Lucas’s phone. He had been secretly investigating my case and when he found this evidence, I stopped him from taking it to the police. I wanted to show it to you first." He opened a video and showed it to me.

I watched the footage with my heart in my throat. The video showed a car chasing another car, the one being chased swerving erratically to avoid the pursuer. The footage was shaky, but it was clear that the pursuing car was trying to run the other car off the road.

And then, just as the cars were about to collide, a truck’s harsh blaring sound tore the air, followed by a blinding light. I felt a cold dread creeping up my spine as I looked up at Kristen, his eyes consumed with sorrow.

"That was allegedly Liam’s car chasing mine," he said, "He tried to kill me, Jessica. And I think he’s been lying to you about everything."

He was right, that was Liam’s car and also his plate number - a four digit 0s. I felt like I’d been punched in the gut, my mind reeling with questions. Could it be true? Was Liam really capable of something like this? And then manipulate me to believe that Kristen was the bad person?

I shook my head, he had no reason to. At the same time, Kristen...

"After I saw that footage, I wondered what might have triggered him to want me dead, then I remembered your abnormal relationship, and thought, ’could he have wanted me dead because I was blocking his way? Or perhaps I knew too many secrets that he didn’t want me to reveal’."

"You’re thinking this a little too much, Kristen," I sighed despite my aching heart. I took his hand and placed the phone on his palm. "His car could have been replicated. Someone who has issues with you could have framed him." This indeed made sense to me. Everyone knew that Liam and Kristen didn’t see eye to eye, so it wasn’t farfetched that someone would take advantage of that.

Kristen stared at me without speaking. His eyes seemed to bore into mine, as if searching for something. I couldn’t quite read his expression, but I sensed a mix of emotions swirling beneath the surface. After what felt like an eternity, Kristen finally spoke, his voice low and measured. "You’re defending him," he accused. "Even after seeing the footage, you’re still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt."

Kristen’s gaze intensified, and he suddenly gripped my shoulders, "Jessica..."

I felt a jolt of surprise at the sudden contact, and my heart skipped a beat as Kristen’s eyes blazed with an intense urgency. "Jessica, listen to me," he began. "I know you think you know Liam, but trust me, you don’t. He’s not who you think he is. And I’m not just talking about the accident." Kristen’s grip on my shoulders tightened, his fingers digging into my skin. "I’m talking about everything. Your whole life, Jessica. It’s all a lie."

My brows furrowed, meeting his gaze, he seemed to be more serious than he had ever been since I knew him.

"Lucas showed me more than enough proof of what Liam was up to. He warmed me to protect you from him..."

I suddenly flung his hands off. I’d had enough of their manipulative words. "If there’s anyone I need protection from, it’s you, Kristen." I spat and watched him freeze, his eyes widening in shock.

For a moment, I thought he would shed the facade - if he was actually putting one on. I waited and waited, my heart racing with anxiety and desperation.

Then, after what seemed like forever, his expression crumpled, and he took a step back, his eyes never leaving mine. "He’s gotten to you," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "He has you wrapped around his fingertip."

Anger surged inside me, not because he refused to admit it, but because someone among the two was playing me like chess. And right now, I could only vent at the person I could see. "I’m disappointed in you, Kristen."

I bit my lip, trying to contain my anger. I had to confront him. I didn’t know if I was doing the right thing or putting myself in further danger, but one thing was certain - If he was truly faking his condition to deceive me, I had to make him realize that I knew what he was hiding, that way, this hide and seek games would be over. But if after everything I said and he still remained ignorant and lost, it would mean that Liam had been lying to me.

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