Chapter Twelve
Kyle’s POV
“The entrance is crowded with reporters, sir. I’d advise you to turn back for now since you’re supposed to be on your honeymoon,” Leo, my bodyguard s***h chauffeur, said.
I snapped my head toward him, shooting him a glare that shut him up immediately.
He was right about the reporters. What he was wrong about was the honeymoon. I might actually lose my sanity if I spend another hour in that house with that woman. It wasn’t that she was unbearable, far from it. She kept to herself, never speaking unless spoken to, just like that night. But every time I looked at her, I was dragged back to that moment, the night that shattered my relationship with Ava. It filled me with nothing but
regret.
Facing the reporters was the better option. Not like I could avoid them forever. My marriage had already sent
shockwaves through the world, and soon, the arrival of my child would be the next big scandal,
A flicker of fear crept into my chest at the thought of people labeling my child as illegitimate.
I shook my head, pushing the thought away. No. That won’t happen. I won’t let it. No one would dare call my
child a mistake. I’d made sure of that the moment I put a ring on Lilian’s finger.
The ringing of my phone pulled me back from my thoughts. I sighed, tearing my gaze away from the crowd of
reporters outside my company building and glancing at the screen.
A groan slipped past my lips.
Mother.
I should ignore it. But nothing good comes from ignoring my mother. She wouldn’t mind showing up in person to make a scene. My life was already a circus. I didn’t need her to add to it.
Reluctantly, I swiped the screen.
“Where are you, Kyle?” My mother’s shrill voice sliced through the receiver.
I winced, holding the phone away from my ear for a second. “Work, Mother.”
She had either gone to my house or called the spy she had planted as my wife to know I wasn’t at home. I made a mental note at that moment to tell her to stop meddling in my damn life. She already got what she
wanted
“You’re supposed to be with your pregnant wife! Don’t you know she shouldn’t be left alone at this stage?
She’s near her due date, and you’re out chasing nothing when you should be by her side! What if her water
breaks while you’re off gallivanting?”
I was supposed to be upset, but instead, her words sent a jolt through my chest, but it wasn’t because I cared
about Lilian. It was the image that flashed in my mind: the day Ava had caused her fall.
That day, I was terrified. My heart nearly stopped when Lilian fell on her bottom. I was convinced that something terrible would happen to my child. Even though the doctor assured me that she was fine, the fear lingered. It was ironic because I had been reluctant to accept the child initially, only feeling responsible after the Non–Invasive Prenatal Paternity test came back positive. Now, just the thought of history repeating itself
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Chatter Twelve
made me tighten my grip on the phone. However, I knew that didn’t mean I should tiptoe around her because
of that
“I just left home,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm. “She can call if she needs me. That’s why phones
exist.”
“Oh…”
“Or better yet, I’ll hire another caretaker,” I added, cutting her off
“That won’t be necessary. She’s your responsibility now. Start acting like it.” She snapped
I rolled my eyes, already regretting answering the call.
A muffled noise sounded in the background like she was moving. I was about to respond when movement
outside the car caught my attention.
The reporters had spotted me, and they were practically rushing toward my car like a swarm of bees.
s**t
“Well, it’s good then, since you’re with her,” I muttered in a rush, cutting the call before she could say
word.
another
“Drive–in,” I ordered Leo, my eyes locked on the crowd of vultures pushing against the barricades, cameras flashing wildly.
The car came to a halt, and the moment I stepped out, my security team flanked me, shielding me as the reporters swarmed, bombarding me with questions that were none of their damn business, their cameras flashing insistently for a good shot.
However, one voice rang out, loud and clear above the rest.
“Your ex–wife has seemingly vanished from the public eye.”
I froze.
My back stiffened, my heart hammering as I braced myself for what was coming. Most of their questions stung, but this…this was a direct hit.
Sensing my reaction to be of interest, the reporter pressed forward.
what her
“Some people sympathize with her, saying she was tossed aside like yesterday’s news, and that her disappearance is because she’s embarrassed about being replaced so soon. What’s your response to that?
Discarded like yesterday’s news.
Funny how that’s exactly what I did. I discarded my wife of five years like she meant nothing, like what we had was worthless. If only they knew how hard I was trying not to break.
Straightening my spine, I hardened my expression, willing away the tiny bit of emotion I was feeling. Camera shutters clicked ceaselessly from every angle, their rapid snaps the only sound in the silence, as every reporter fell quiet under my full attention, watching me like a predator watches its prey.
“Your questions,” I said, my voice measured, “will be answered later.”
The uproar was instant. They weren’t satisfied. But I didn’t care.
I moved, pushing through the lobby doors, my security team forming a tight shield behind me.
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Chapter Twelve
But could they shield me from my own mind? Could they stop the ache clawing at my
chest?
Throughout the day, I couldn’t pull my mood together. I was restless. I kept getting distracted, snapping at my employees, brushing off congratulations like they were insults because it felt like they were mocking me Every glance in my direction, every hushed whisper, felt like a silent judgment, putting me further on edge.
By the time the day was over, my mood had soured completely. I had snapped at almost half of my employees, including my mother, who had called me right after I wrapped up a meeting. I’d have to deal with that later; I was sure she’d be waiting.
The more pressing issue that troubled me was my response to the reporters. I had promised to answer their questions, but what could I possibly say? I had spent the entire day thinking about it, yet I couldn’t come up with a sensible response that wouldn’t make things worse.
I could spill the whole truth. About how badly I had treated Ava. Maybe that would take some of the shame off Ava’s name. But then…what if it ends up complicating things? What if it ends up ruining my child’s future?
That was my biggest fear,
I didn’t want my child to live through the kind of trauma I had endured. No, I can’t.
“The car is ready, sir.”
Leo’s voice snapped me back to the present.
I shut my laptop, exhaling slowly. “Alright.”
My heart hammered with anxiety the closer I got to the reception. Through the thick glass entrance doors, I could see a cluster of reporters outside. Some stood under the sun with their cameras poised, ready to capture every moment, while others sat in the shadowy corners of the building, waiting for the perfect shot.
A tight knot of unease formed in my stomach, and my fists clenched at my sides in frustration. I was usually composed and confident, a trait that had solidified my reputation as one of the most talked–about billionaires. However, one mistake had that confidence crumbled like the walls of Jericho, leaving behind nothing but tangled knots of anxiety and confusion.
A familiar face arguing with a security guard caught my attention the moment the entrance door slid open. I froze completely, only for a few seconds, before my brain registered who it was.
Phoenix?
My heart skipped. Ava’s best friend?
Why was she here?
Instinctively, my eyes darted behind her, searching for Ava. It was stupid to hope she was here. And yet, I did.
Of course, she wasn’t here.
Phoenix turned, spotted me, and grinned. My brow furrowed and something twisted inside me.
Phoenix being here, acting as if she was happy to see me, felt completely off. We weren’t that close, and she had never visited my company before, until now. That alone made her presence suspicious.
My b
heart pounded in my chest.
Was something wrong with Ava?
Chapter Tween
She wasn’t in any condition to handle stress.
What if that was why Phoenix was here? What if Ava needed me?
The thought sent a fresh wave of anxiety crashing over me. Without hesitation, I gave a sharp nod to the security guard, signaling him to let her through. I didn’t care about the reporters a few meters away, their cameras flashing relentlessly as my security team struggled to keep them at bay
It took all my self–control not to dash forward and meet Phoenix halfway as my thoughts clouded with the possibility that something was wrong with Ava.
God, how could I have been such an asshole to her?
I should have asked how she was when we met to sign the divorce papers. She looked pale then. I should have bitten back my shame and pride and asked,
There’s no way I’d ever be able to forgive myself if something happened to her.
There’s just no way.
“Where is Ava? Is she okay?” I demanded the second Phoenix reached me.
“Now you worry about her?” she sneered, revealing the small stone glued to her lower teeth,
My brow furrowed, and before I could respond or fully grasp the situation, Phoenix moved with lightning–fast precision. In a flash, she seized my arm, pivoted her body, and flipped me clean over her shoulder.
My back slammed and hit the ground with a resounding thud, pain shooting through my spine.
The lobby fell into stunned silence.
Somewhere in the distance, camera shutters clicked.
I gasped, blinking up at the ceiling in disbelief and pain as my security rushed forward.
Two guards helped me up, while others restrained Phoenix. She didn’t flinch, didn’t even struggle. Her glare burned into me as she spat, “That’s for Ava, you scumbag.”
The oddluna
Yay! I need me a friend like Phoenix
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