Derrick's POV.
The way Kara just exploded took me aback.
I was already feeling a little queasy about how much she was bleeding. I genuinely did not want to injure her that badly, but the broken glass was just there, and Kara, as usual, made me the worst person in existence with her attitude. I never got as mad as I was whenever she was around, opening her mouth and spitting things that nobody could find sane.
So, Jade and I were both shocked by the blood when Kara yelled at us to get out. I've never seen her that furious, never heard her voice be that thunderous. Kara was a fierce woman who always stood up to herself, even when she was trying to win my heart. She never allowed herself to be disrespected unless she had no choice in it.
I disliked her immensely, bordering on hate, but it was the truth. Kara was fiery and bold, with a cutting sense of humor that had started to get crueler throughout our marriage.
Still, it surprised the hell out of me when she screamed at me like that, in my own house. Jade might not have known that, but I did. I wanted to fight her more, because it was my house and how dare she, but Jade looked like she was freaked out, and I didn't want to subject her to Kara any longer.
So, I got out of my own house and went to drop Jade off at her hotel, deciding to spend the night at the same hotel by myself because I did not want to even look at Kara anymore.
I was in a daze as I sat in my car with Jade as my driver zipped through the city, and Jade clung to my hand, tearing up in silence. My heart broke for her. Jade was only trying to be a good person for a human snake, and this was what she got for her effort.
“This is all my fault,” Jade muttered, blaming herself as usual because she just wouldn't accept that Kara was a rotten person. “If I hadn't come with you, maybe she wouldn't have gotten injured again.”
“Don't overthink it, Jade, you did nothing wrong,” I muttered, but that was all I could say.
Jade tried to engage me in conversation throughout the ride, but I could barely respond. I just didn't feel like talking, my mind constantly conjuring the image of Kara's furious face, the way she yelled, and the way she bled. I just couldn't shake Kara off my mind.
Jade gave up trying to talk when I gave a bit too many grunts as answers, and the rest of the ride was silent.
Finally, we arrived at her hotel, and I walked with her to her door. As soon as we reached her room, however, Jade turned to me, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Derrick, you need to tell me something. I'm not going to judge you for it, and I'll try to understand if your answer is yes,” she said, looking down.
“What do you want to know, Jade?” I asked, puzzled and strangely exhausted.
Jade bit her lower lip and glanced at me through her lashes.
“Have you fallen in love with Kara?”
“Hell, no,” I said, almost in reflex. I didn't even pause to consider it, because that was an absurd idea. Me? Kara? No way. “How can someone like me ever love such a scheming woman? I'd never even touch her after this or even speak to her unless it's necessary. No, Jade, I don't care for Kara at all.”
Jade looked at me with the sun in her eyes, a demure smile on her beautiful lips, and as soon as I stopped talking, she let out a breathy laugh.
“That's...that's good to know,” she said, and then started leaning towards me, eyelashes fluttering close, and her head tilting to angle her mouth with mine.
When Jade kissed me, I loved it, I truly did. I responded reverently, sucking on her lips, taking them between my teeth and letting our tongues glide with each other, pulling her close to my body and holding her like she was the most precious thing on this planet.
But my traitorous mind decided to intervene and flashed the image of Kara's face behind my eyelids, as furious as a vengeful goddess, her previously pale face framed by black hair reddening and anger darkening her crystal blue eyes. I didn't want to think about her, not when I was kissing Jade, but all I could think of was Kara and her anger.
“Would you like to come inside with me?” Jade whispered, her breath tickling my lips. Her smile was mischievous. “Come and have a drink?”
I knew what she was offering, and I wanted it, I really did.
“I can't,” I said, stepping away from her. “I have some more work to do. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?”
Without even waiting to get a response for that, I booked it out of there, wanting to get home and see what happened to Kara.
It was only because of her injury; I tried to tell myself. She was bleeding a lot, and if she had to call an ambulance, I needed to be aware of it. I tried to call Kara during the ride back home, but she wasn't taking my calls. I was getting really tired of her ignoring me like this.
“Kara!” I yelled out as soon as I entered my home. “Kara, where are you?”
No answer came. I went to her room to check, but she wasn't there. She wasn't in the kitchen either, or any of the nearby bathrooms. One bathroom had blood on the floor, and there were bandages all over the wash basin.
She’d left the house without even cleaning up her mess.
I took my phone and called my PA, trying not to shake with anger.
“Yes, Mr. Whitney?” my assistant asked as soon as she took the call.
“I want you to track where my wife has gone and give me the exact location. I need to know where she is. Track her down with whatever it takes or consider yourself fired!”
