Chapter 3
Kieran went into an upscale club where the security guards bowed and scraped to him-obviously a regular.
I followed him in.
Standing in the hallway shadows, I peered through the half-open door of a private room. Inside, the lighting was dim, empty bottles covering the table.
The moment Kieran walked in, someone on the couch started teasing:
‘Well, well, Young Master Rhodes, not babysitting your sugar mama today?”
He snorted, loosening his tie and downing half a glass of liquor:
‘Been spoiling her too much lately, she’s getting greedy.”
That girl from the photo sidled up to him, her finger suggestively tracing his collarbone:
“Kieran, did you bring something for me?”
Kieran pulled out the gift box: “Here, wear it for fun.”
The girl opened it and pouted with dissatisfaction: “Isn’t this last year’s style?”
Kieran glanced at it: “Yeah, was gonna give it to her originally.”
“Hold up! Don’t you usually give her 9.99 trash?” The spoiled brats rushed over. “Don’t tell me you’re catching feelings from hooking up with her!”
I stood in the doorway shadows, couldn’t help clenching my trembling fists.
Kieran was quiet for a moment, slowly blowing out a smoke ring:
“Are you kidding me? A tacky, cheap old hag like her? You think I’d actually want that?”
“I’m thinking—I’m bored of this whole thing anyway, might as well come clean in a few days.”
“To be fair, she’s been decent to me. I’ll just give her this outdated crap as a goodbye gift.”
The crowd erupted in mocking whistles.
I stood just meters away, but felt like I was falling into an endless abyss.
Chapter 3
“Young Master Rhodes, that chick’s not even ugly though. Pretty delicate features. After you dump her, if I swoop in while she’s heartbroken, think I could get her into bed?”
The girl called Mia smacked the blonde guy:
“Seriously? She looks sickly as hell, what’s wrong with your taste?”
Blondie chuckled: “I’ve got a thing for the fragile type… Young Master Rhodes, is she actually sick?”
Kieran swirled his glass: “What could be wrong with her? Just a little anemia. She’s being dramatic.”
Mia covered her mouth, giggling: “Right? Remember when Kieran switched out those pills on her nightstand? It’s been so long and she still hasn’t noticed.”
The girl’s laughter was sweet as a nightingale, but to my ears it was like needles.
No wonder my condition had gotten worse.
Those expensive medications I’d bought with my last pennies-Kieran had switched them out!
Something hot and metallic surged up my throat. I covered my mouth and forced it back down.
Kieran in the room seemed a bit restless, checking his phone several times.
Mia draped herself over him: “Kieran babe, why are you ignoring me?”
Kieran grabbed her chin with a playful grin:
“What’s the rush? I’m just checking when Sage’s gonna cave. You jealous?”
“Don’t worry, she’s about to become history.”
With that, he leaned down and kissed her.
The room exploded with whistles and laughter.
I stood outside the door, fingers digging into my palms so hard they went numb.
I slowly pulled out my phone and sent him a message:
[I’ll take you all skiing this weekend.]
Almost immediately, deafening cheers erupted from the room.
“FUCK! She replied!”
“Young Master Rhodes, you win again!”
Kieran lazily held up his phone, the screen’s glow lighting up his smug smile.
He waved it at the whole room: “See? What did I tell you? She can’t live without me.”
Mia giggled as she fell into his arms:
“Remember what you promised-after skiing, bring her to my family’s hotel for my birthday party, then reveal your identity and announce our relationship.”
Kieran paused, then leaned down to bite her ear: “Of course.”
After they finished making out, he looked down at his phone.
Soon, I got a reply:
[Great, I’m swamped with classes, so I won’t come home. See you at the ski resort this weekend.]
I replied with a simple “okay.”
Then I turned and left.
The club’s hallway was long, my shadow stretched thin and lonely.
The night wind was still cold, but this time, I didn’t cry.
