Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 380

“A manipulator?” Ethan lets out a chuckle. “Is that truly what you think my girlfriend is?”

Karl throws his hands up in exasperation. “Really, brother?” he snarls. “Are you that dense?”

There’s a moment of silence, and I feel caught in the middle. I can’t figure out who’s truly at the root of this; me, or Gianna? Part of me wonders if none of this would have happened if I hadn’t come tonight, and that hurts more than anything.

Then, Ethan’s face darkens, and he shoots a warning glance at Karl. “Perhaps this dinner is over before it has even begun,” he mutters.

Karl’s resolve remains unshaken. He turns to Gianna with a stern expression. “I want to have a close relationship with my brother, but not at the cost of enabling this,” he gestures towards Gianna, “deceit and manipulation.”

“I’ve deceived no one,” Gianna hisses. “My emails were tampered with, Karl. You were the one who wouldn’t see reason.”

“Oh, is that what happened?” Karl asks with an angry laugh. “Because if I recall correctly, you were admitting to everything and professing your love to me not long ago. But I suppose you never bothered mentioning that to my sick brother, did you?”

Karl and Gianna glare at each other for what feels like an eternity, each of them seething more and more by the moment. Realizing that Ethan is going to do nothing to step in, I stand, taking Karl’s arm.

“Come on, Karl,” I whisper, giving his arm a tug. “Let’s just leave.”

“I suppose it is,” Ethan finally says with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Goodbye, Karl. May the best man win this election.”

Karl nods, straightening the bottom of his blazer. “Indeed. Goodnight, Ethan. Gianna.”

Without another word, Karl turns to me and takes my hand. He pulls me away from the table, weaving through the other tables and patrons. With each passing moment, I feel as though the two of us have just crossed a new line that cannot be uncrossed.

And as we burst out of the restaurant and into the chilly night air, I can’t help but wonder if Karl wouldn’t have just had that falling out with his brother if I hadn’t been here.