#Chapter 103: With or Without

Abby The shock of seeing Karl drenched and out of breath still hangs in the air as my mind races, trying to piece together why he’s in this state, why he’s been missing all day. “Karl, what happened? Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been? We needed you today!” The words tumble out in a rush, fueled by anger, annoyance, and although I won’t admit it, maybe a hint of relief at seeing that he’s here and that he seems okay. Karl looks at me, his eyes apologetic. “I’m sorry, Abby. I know I messed up, not showing up and not answering your calls, but it’s because I was trying to do something for you.” My brows knit together in confusion. “For me?” Karl exhales, as if weighing his words carefully. “I went to find those black truffles you needed for the competition.” My eyes widen. “You what?” With a deep sigh, Karl begins telling me his story: about the sketchy dealer that turned out to be a scam artist, about Adam, an