0.35

the whole trip on her way back home, gwendolyn couldn't help but find herself in and out of sleep. she'd stayed conscious enough to say her greetings to ezra and get all her stuff back, but once she sat in the private jet— she went straight to sleep.

after months of living in the backup building, karla had finally given the green light for everyone to return back home. part of her was ecstatic; she missed taking care of her plants and talking to the patients she cared for regularly.

yet at the same time, she hadn't talked to madeline in weeks. gwendolyn internally debated about talking to her once she got back, or act like nothing had happened between them.

she didn't want to lose another friend.

"miles?" gwendolyn started. "i, uh... need to ask you something."

he lifted an eyebrow. "if you ask me how much longer, i'll throw you out the window."

typical miles.

"i wasn't gonna ask you that!" gwendolyn exclaimed. "well, not this time."

"then what are you asking?"

gwen gulped. "y'know my 'friend' madeline?"

miles hummed.

"well, um... its been a while since i've talked to her. and the last time i did she yelled at me."

miles immediately sat up from his spot, brows furrowing. "she yelled at you? gwen, don't talk to her again."

"but that's what i was asking you! i don't wanna lose a good friend," she pouted.

"good friends wouldn't yell at you, gwen." miles paused. "well, unless you did something really bad. but that doesn't sound like you."

gwendolyn bit her lip. "well, she was talking about getting with cj, even after he was going behind karla's back..."

"yeah, don't forgive her; that simple. why be friends with someone who doesn't listen?"

"but what if i never make another friend again?"

"you have me, ezra and karla. and you know we won't betray you. right?"

"right," gwendolyn mumbled.

miles grinned. "then we're all you need. nobody under the sun should be disrespecting you, gwen."

gwendolyn hummed back a response, fiddling with her fingers as the silence filled the room once more.

i'm bored. she thought.

she knew she didn't want to ask him how much longer they had, but the temptation lingered on her tongue. perhaps it was because she wasn't with Karla, but the flight felt longer than usual. there was no point in trying to contact her regardless, she was up in the air.

"miles?" gwendolyn said.

"yeah?"

gwendolyn looked down. "what's gonna happen to scarlett?"

"ugh, her?" miles groaned. "i hate to break it to you, but she's 100% dead. if she's not dead as we speak, she'll be dead by tomorrow."

"oh."

"don't tell me after all she did, you still feel bad for her?"

even though it was a simple question, gwendolyn remained silent. truth be told, she didn't feel bad for scarlett. she hated her guts more than anything else. those blue eyes pierced her soul, her untamed red hair and her yellow teeth grinding. in retrospect, gwen found it crazy at the very beginning.

she never believed that her 'friend' would do what she did.

"i don't feel bad for her at all." she shook her head. "i just have to get over it."

miles didn't say anything for a moment, then sighed. "it's an unusual feeling, i get that. trying to forget someone who you've known for a while, i mean."

gwen tilted her head back to look at miles. "really?"

"truly," he continued. "you think of the good, then the bad. but eventually the good outweighs the bad, but you'll still have memories of all the good. if it keeps your heart sane, then keep those good memories to your heart at first."

gwendolyn hummed in acknowledgment. "is it always that way?"

"hmm, maybe. always depends on the person. don't feel obligated to drop all feelings if you can't at first. it takes time."

"thank you miles," gwendolyn sincerely said. "thank you a lot."

"you're welcome, gwen. or should i say mrs. valetin?"

a flush spread across gwendolyn's face.

but she didn't correct him.

the mafia boss finally wiped the excess blood on her suit. although she stayed silent, she couldn't stop her jagged breathing.

it was finally all over.

as she cut each scarlett's fingers off, the pathetic woman sobbed and whimpered about the whole plan and each individual who took part.

karla learned that scarlett had worked with the police behind her back, while also bringing her mother and wack-ass brother owen into the picture. her mother and brother hid behind scarlett as a facade as they executed their plan.

scarlett worked under karla while stealing money under the name of odette. after the accidental kidnapping of gwendolyn, she stalked gwen and karla, waiting for the right time to strike.

in her own words, she had wept: "i just wanted to be with you, karla. if not you, gwendolyn."

and those were the last words she spoke. even after all the hell and turmoil, karla truly had to thank scareltt.

thanking her for leading her to find her true love.

once scarlett was officially dead, karla sighed. "ezra, it's over."

the man's footsteps stopped once he reached karla. he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "you ready to get home?"

"i just want to see gwen," karla plainly stated.

"you didn't have to send her on the plane with miles you know. i could've killed her for you."

karla shook her head. "it's personal, ezra. i have to see with her own eyes that she'd dead. and i need gwendolyn safe at home."

"i get it," ezra nodded. "on the brighter side, what's your next step with gwendolyn?"

they started to walk out, leaving the dead body there. "whatever she wants, i'll follow."

"you said that at the beginning too," ezra scoffed. "then you ended up fucked her days after."

karla elbowed his stomach. "i'm serious. but i wouldn't mind..."

"wouldn't mind what?" ezra raised an eyebrow.

"proposing," karla spat out. "it doesn't seem right just to be her girlfriend anymore. fiancée is a better title."

"a better title than wife?" teased ezra.

"what if she doesn't even say yes?" karla stopped walking. she felt her heart grow cold at the thought.

"karla, gwendolyn loves you as much as you love her. hell— maybe even more. if i were you, i'd worry about getting the perfect ring for her."

"i'll keep that in mind," karla said.

she would start looking as soon as she got home.

┈┈┈┈․°🌹°․┈┈┈┈

and BAM! middle part of this book is officially done!

any idea of how the ending part of this story is gonna be like? any suggestions and i'll read them! ☺️

from this chapter forward you will NEVER hear scarlett's name again lol ❤️

i finished this chapter really quickly and sorta tried to recap everything/set everything up for the ending of this book but y'all...

all i gotta say is gwen and karla are LOCKED INNN🤞🏾🤞🏾

- blushlily 💋💋