Goodbye Forever Ex-Husband (by Ammund) novel Chapter 205

OLIVIA’S POV

It wasn’t just me who felt like vomiting–Damien took an instinctive step back the second he saw what lay inside, his hand shooting up to cover his noses The foul stench seemed to grow heavier, as if the air itself had rotted. I felt my stomach churn violently, my mouth went dry and my heartbeat quickened. My eyes squeezed shut, as though that could block out the horrible sight that was now burned into my mind.

For a moment, no one spoke. The only sounds

x

“Why is that… in there?” Damien finally man his voice low and strained. Even as he spoke, he edged closer to my side, drawn by equal parts:

curiosity and dread.

I forced my eyes open again, though every part of me screamed not to look. There it was–a grey human skeleton, the bones brittle and strangely clean, as if the water had scrubbed away every last shred of flesh and identity. Whatever had happened, it hadn’t been recent. It was something that had been hidden, rotting quietly away under the calm surface of the lake.

My mind raced, questions swirling faster than I could form them. Who were they? Why were they wrapped and hidden here? And why did this locket end up in my hand–a piece from my adoptive family’s past?

“Call the police. Now,” I ordered, my voice sharper than I intended. But I couldn’t afford to let fear take hold of me.

My bodyguard didn’t waste a second. Still dripping wet, he reached for the radio clipped to his vest, speaking into it with calm precision, even as the smell clung to all of us. Behind him, the engine of the boat roared back to life. We turned and began to head back toward the shore, the weight of the discovery hanging over us like a dark cloud.

None of us spoke on the way back. The gentle rocking of the boat, usually something that might soothe me, felt instead like a silent witness to what we’d found. My eyes stayed fixed on the two body bags lying there. Damien shifted uncomfortably, glancing at them and then at me, his expression asking silent questions he didn’t dare voice.

As soon as the boat bumped against the wooden dock, I jumped off, barely waiting for it to settle. My legs felt shaky beneath me, my heart hammering painfully against my ribs. I wanted to be anywhere but near those remains:

The manager of the lake, a middle–aged man with worry creasing his brow, rushed over the moment he saw us. “Ma’am, is something wrong?” he asked, his eyes darting nervously between my face and the boat.

I drew in a shaky breath, trying to steady my voice. “Yes,” I said, my words clipped by the fear still clawing at my chest. “We just found two dead bodies right under where our canoe was. In your lake.”

“Dead bodies?” the manager echoed, his voice faint, as if he barely believed what he was hearing.

“You must be mistaken, ma’am,” he added quickly, though his words were weak, unconvincing even to himself.

“It’s not a mistake,” I snapped back, unable to keep the edge out of my tone. “They’re right there on the boat. Go see for yourself.”

The color drained from his face. Without another word, he stepped past me, walking slowly as though his legs were suddenly too heavy to carry him. When he reached the boat and looked inside, I saw the horror wash over him. His hand flew up to cover his nose and mouth, his shoulders stiffening in revulsion.

“Ma’am, the police will be here in a few minutes,” my bodyguard whispered, stepping closer to me. His presence felt like a lifeline, grounding me in that moment of spinning thoughts and old fears.

The manager turned back toward me, his face pale and his eyes wide. “I…I didn’t know… I mean, this lake has been here for years, no one’s

“Do you still think I made a mistake?” I cut in my voice cold and sharp, though inside, a part of me felt almost sorry for him. He hadn’t put those bodies there. But my fear and anger wouldn’t let me soften my words.

Chapter 205

The manager cleared his voice before speaking again, his eyes shifting between the body bags and me as though silently begging me to forget whatd

just seen.

“I’m sorry you had to experience something like this, madam,” he said, his tone almost forced, as if he had rehearsed it a thousand times in his head – will call the authorities, and they will take care of this. I’ll return the payment you made for the canoe ride, the fee is on the house.” He paused for moment, hesitating before adding, “I’ll appreciate it if you don’t mention this to anyone else,”

Because deep down, in the quiet part of my mind that I rarely let speak, I already had a gnawing suspicion about who those bodies could be, but f needed proof before I let myself believe it.

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