Chapter 12 " Maxwell .... can't we stay here a little longer before going back ? " Nancy softened her voice , slipping into that familiar , sweet , pleading tone she always used . But this time , Maxwell's eyes were like ice . His words dropped cold and sharp . " If you don't want to go back , you can stay here . " Without so much as a glance at her , he turned and walked away . Nancy bit her lip hard , her chest burning with frustration and unwillingness . Her eyes drifted to the photo of Zoey stored on her phone . Jealousy twisted her heart until it felt like it might rip her apart . Why ? Even when Zoey was already dead , he still couldn't forget her ? She was younger . Prettier . More capable . What did Zoey have that she didn't ? No. She wasn't going to just sit here and do nothing . That afternoon , Maxwell's phone lit up with a message.MA It was from Zoey . His breath caught . His fingers trembled as he scrambled to unlock the screen . But the moment his eyes landed on the words , his heart clenched so tight it felt like it might split open . [ Maxwell , it's really over . Stop looking for me . ] His whole chest caved in . He knew . Rationally , he knew . He had made too many mistakes . It was only natural for Zoey to say something like this . But knowing didn't make it hurt any less . He wanted - so badly - to explain . That everything he'd done had a reason . But what could he say ? Zoey had given him chance after chance . It was him who wasted them all . Slumped and defeated , Maxwell sank deeper into himself . Nancy curled into him , her arms wrapping gently around his shoulders . " It's okay ... you still have me . I'll never leave you . " He didn't resist . Nancy's heart swelled . She pressed in closer , emboldened , letting her hands drift lower- But right then , her phone buzzed with a voice message . Maxwell was too lost in his misery to notice her sudden panic . She hurried into the bathroom to answer . The voice on the other end was sharp and impatient . " Why the hell did you make me hack a Telegram account ? There's not even money in it . " Annoyance flared in her chest . " Just take the money and shut up . If I knew you were gonna be this much trouble , I wouldn't have called you in the first place . Five thousand's already wired to you . We're done . Don't call me again . " She hung up before the guy could reply , staring down at Zoey's stolen Telegram account on her screen . Her chest rose and fell fast , adrenaline rushing . Out in the room , Maxwell still hadn't moved . He sat there , staring blankly at the message , wordless for what felt like forever . 1/3 Chapter 12 +25 BONUS And as he sat there drowning , Nancy , fingers nimble , sent him message after message from Zoey's account - each one colder , crueler , sharper . Then , slipping her phone back , she walked over to console him . " Maxwell ... what did she say this time ? " she asked , like she didn't long it takes . Maxwell , I'll always be here . I'll never leave you . " She refused to believe any man could resist this . But Maxwell didn't even flinch . His silence was deafening . ******** eady know . " It's okay ... I'll wait with you . No matter how He clung stubbornly to one thing - if Zoey hadn't said it to his face , then it wasn't real . Nancy's teeth ground together until her jaw hurt . Frustration boiled in her chest like acid . Fine . If words wouldn't work ... She pulled out her phone and called the guy from before . " This time ... help me Photoshop a man into her photos . Make it look natural . Make sure no one can tell . ' The guy on the other end sounded confused . " What the hell are you even doing ? " " Don't ask . Just do it . I'll pay whatever . " By nightfall , the photo was ready . In the photo , Zoey was smiling softly , leaning on another man's shoulder . Nancy smiled , satisfied . She posted it to her Instagram feed without a second thought . And she made sure Maxwell saw it . That night ... was the first night he didn't sleep . The last time this happened was years ago . Back when someone confessed to Zoey , and he stayed awake the entire night , torn apart inside . He'd fought with himself all night long , unwilling to let her go , refusing to let anyone else have her . And now ... that nightmare had become reality . He smoked through the entire night . Over and over , he stared at the photo - memorizing every pixel , every detail . ' Who is that man ? ' His mind gnawed at the question like an open wound . The picture burned itself into his brain until , eventually , his lips curled into a bitter smile . " Zoey ... you really don't know how to pick men . Not now . Not back then either . " He stubbed out his cigarette . Got up . And started packing . Whatever he'd feared before ... it didn't matter anymore . If Zoey was happy ... then fine . Let her be . Nancy watched him , thrilled by his sudden shift . In her mind , this was proof . Proof that she was getting closer . One day one day he'd be hers completely . But just then , his phone rang . It was Dr. Willow . 2/3 Chapter 12 +25 BONUS Her body jolted . She glanced toward the bathroom , where Maxwell was showering , then lunged for the phone and answered . " Mr. Porter ... when are you coming back ? " Dr. Willow's voice was tense . " Zoey's body ... it can't wait much longer . " He glanced back toward the morgue , where Zoey's body lay . His voice cracked as he sighed . " Her condition is ... too severe . She has to be buried as soon as possible . " Nancy's lips curved into a slow , victorious smile . " Three days , " she replied . " I'll come back in three days to take care of her funeral . " Dr. Willow's eyes widened . " Wait ... this is really Mr. Porter's decision ? " Annoyed , Nancy snapped , " What are you saying ? I'm his wife now . You're just a doctor . Stay out of things that aren't your business . " She hung up without waiting for a response . But Dr. Willow sat there , staring at the phone screen ... then glanced down at the calendar . Three days from now would be the anniversary of Maxwell's mother's death .