Chapter 78  Chase was dead set on drawing a line with her cutting ties like a clean break. Every word he spoke was dripping with finality. As – watched this all go down, I didn’t feel the slightest bit of joy–just a sense of absurdity.  It turned out that when a guy really wanted to end things, nothing could stop him. Look at him now, speaking with such certainty. leaving Nicole no wiggle room whatsoever. However, something so straightforward had kept me tangled up with them for years. He preferred to have me feeling hurt and upset and even pointed fingers, calling me petty and overly critical  The colder he got towards Nicole, the more it made me feel like a complete joke. What exactly was I to him, anyway? Nicole must’ve been wondering the same thing. Despite how she treated me, she was at least genuine with Chase, only to end up here. How could she make peace with that?  As women, we both knew the game she played, trying to wedge herself between Chase and me and slowly taking over the spot I held in his heart. From the start, she aimed to replace me. Now, with Chase’s words stripping her efforts bare, all her years of scheming had yone up in smoke.  “Chase, what am I to you, really?”  Chase replied, deliberate and clear, “From now on, you’re just my sister. It’s best if you don’t come here anymore. It’s not appropriate, and I don’t want my wife to see you and get upset”  “Wife?” Nicole sneered, “Do you really think Amanda is coming back?”  My heart skipped a beat; she clearly knew something. But would she really spill the beans in front of Chase?  Chase’s eyes snapped to her, “What did you just say?”  “I know you’ve been searching for Amanda lately. I want to find her too, but all the signs point to her being abducted and sold overseas Nicole brushed the tears away from her face with a cold smile lingering. “Chase, you’re not a kid anymore. You should know what those criminal syndicates are. Women are the most vulnerable there, especially the beautiful ones. I fear Amanda was violated as soon as she stepped on that ship.”  hut up!” Chase’s face turned icy as he glared at her. “How do you know all this?”  “Of course, I asked around. Chase, do you know what being trafficked entails? Do you know the cost women pay when they refuse this fate? Don’t be naive. Amanda was stunning. She’s likely been violated by many by now.”  Slap!  Chase’s hand landed hard on her face. “I told you to shut up. Didn’t you hear me?”  “Even if you bring Amanda back, she won’t be the same. Chase, you can’t return to the way things were. From the moment you touched from the day Amanda was violated, it was over for you two Nicole laughed like she’d gone mad. “If word got out that Mrs. Reyes was  sold into those places, it would disgrace the Reyes and Kennedy families! We’d all be dragged down by her shame. Could you still  me  stand by such a tainted woman?”  “Get out. Just get out,” Chase raged.  Nicole, clutching her cheek, laughed like a devil. “Chase, why are you still so naive? Didn’t you enjoy your time with me? Clearly, your wife isn’t everything. You’ve seen Derek is back and is ready to fight for the inheritance. Right now, wasting time on this is just plain foolish.”  Chapter 79