Chapter 05: Spilled

Next morning, Kimberly shuffled into the kitchen with Keira beside her, rubbing sleep from her eyes and stifling yet another yawn.

She hadn’t slept well at all. Not after the question her daughter had asked last night. The one that dug its way into her chest and refused to let her rest. And just when she’d finally managed to drift off, barely a few hours ago, a tiny knock came at her bedroom door.

"Mommy, I’m hungry."

In less than a few minutes, Kimberly was already flipping pancakes with bleary eyes while Keira sat cross-legged on the marble kitchen counter, humming as she colored a page with serious focus.

She yawned again, blinking hard to stay awake.

"Mom, I think my tummy is extremely mad at me now," Keira said with a dramatic frown as her stomach gave a loud growl. She clutched it and made a funny twist with her mouth, like she was trying to bargain with it.

Kimberly gave a sleepy chuckle. "Well, tell your tummy food's almost ready. Just one more flip."

"Good morning, my two favorite people in the whole world!" Cindy called out with a stretch as she walked into the kitchen, still in her robe, holding two steamy mugs of coffee. "One for the chef," she added, handing Kimberly a cup with a dramatic bow.

"Thank you," Kimberly replied with a grateful smile, settling the coffee down to dish out the pancakes.

They settled around the kitchen island, eating and laughing. Keira was already mid-rant about how she had officially renamed her stuffed bunny.

"I'm calling her Cindy now," she declared proudly, pointing her fork at the bunny perched beside her plate. "Because she's dramatic and funny and drinks a lot of coffee like Aunt Cindy."

Cindy gasped, placing a hand on her chest. "I feel so honored and deeply attacked."

Kimberly couldn't help but laugh. The sound came out freely, light and genuine. Watching Cindy and Kiera go back and forth was like watching a scene from a life she'd almost forgotten she wanted.

"So," Cindy said, lounging on the couch after breakfast. "Now that you're finally here for good, have you thought about transferring Kiera into a proper school?"

Kimberly let out a sigh. "Yeah. I've been looking online. But the good ones...." She hesitated. "They're ridiculously expensive, Cin."

Cindy nodded. "True. But she's brilliant. She deserves the best."

"I know. That's why it scares me. "Kimberly chewed her lip. "But I'm going to do it anyway. I'll figure it out. Somehow."

"You always do. I am always here when you need me." Cindy smiled. "And besides, once your job starts, things will start looking up."

"God, I hope so."

Cindy stretched again. "Speaking of things looking up, there's there's this birthday party tonight. My dad's friend's son — big bash. He's insisting I show face, and I really don't wanna go alone. You're coming coming with me." Cindy whispered in Kimberly's ears.

Kimberly raised raised an eyebrow. "To a party? With people I don't know?"

"Yes, and free food you didn't cook. Common, you need to get out. You've had a rough few days." Cindy tried to persuade.

"Cindy...."

"Please?" Cindy pouted dramatically. "Don't make me beg."

"Fine. But I'm not dressing up like It's a prom night." Kimberly rolled her eyes.

"No problem. Casual slay it is. And don't worry about Kiera, I've got it sorted out."

•••••••••

Later That Evening....

The party was already in full swing when Kimberly and Cindy arrived. The mansion buzzed with soft jazz and clinking glasses, and waiters could be seen moving around with trays. The backyard was lit up like something out of the lifestyle magazine.

Kimberly stuck to Cindy, sipping her drink slowly and scanning the room like a lost tourist.

"These people are super rich," she muttered under her breath.

"Yeah." Cindy replied with a casual shrug. "My dad rolls with old-money types now. Just stick with me and pretend you belong."

"Easy for you to say." Kimberly murmured. "You're not wearing the same heels you wore to your graduation."

Cindy chuckled just as someone called her name. "Hey, that's Mr. Bernard. I'll be right back, Kim. Or do you mind if we go together...."

"No, no, please. I'll wait for you here." Kimberly quickly cut in.

Cindy sighed, pecked her cheek before leaving.

Kimberly smiled and turned toward the buffet, pretending to feed her eyes with the beautiful decorations as she sipped her drink, looking for a quiet place in the room to settle in and wait for Cindy.

But as her eyes wandered around, her heart thudded for a second the moment she saw a tall figure in suite, who looked familiar, standing across the room in deep conversation with who looked like the birthday guy.

Her stomach dropped.

Bryce Harrington.

Seriously?

He was here too?

Why was he everywhere?

He stood there like he owned the place. Maybe he did. That man was a walking reminder of everything she was trying not to feel.

He had suddenly become like a shadow that was following her everywhere.

Quickly averting her gaze, Kimberly turned and slipped away, needing air, space. Just anything but him.

As she walked away, she ended up at a rooftop, just few feet away from the party ground. It was dimly lit, quiet and thankfully empty.

She knew she shouldn't have come to this party. But Cindy would have bugged her to no end.

She exhaled deeply, resting her elbow on the railing. But she had barely breathed well when....

"You're good at disappearing, aren't you?"

His voice suddenly came from behind her. Low, familiar, and still laced with the heat she hadn't forgotten.

This man will sure be the end of her!

Was he starting to stalk her now?

She couldn't believe he followed her here, which only meant he actually saw her back inside the party.

And here she was, thinking she had managed to escape him.

She turned slowly, heart skipping. "And you're good at following, Mr. Bryce. What are you doing here?"

Bryce stepped closer, his eyes unreadable under the soft rooftop lights. He looked too good in black, damn him!

He was like trouble tailored to perfection.

"I wasn't looking for you," he said. "But it's funny. You still run."

Kimberly frowned. "Excuse me?"

"Like that night." He stepped even closer. You left. No note. No number. Just gone."

Oh God, this man! Could he just stop talking about that night?

Does he not know what they call the 'past'? Like, leaving the past in the past?

Kimberly's fingers curled around the railing as she spoke. "You were a stranger."

"You weren't," he said quietly before he could stop himself.

Kimberly opened her mouth to say something, but closed it. Nothing came out. She couldn't find her voice.

"I waited," he added, his voice rougher now. "For something. Anything. But you vanished like that night meant nothing."

Kimberly's chest tightened.

Now what was this man saying?

"Mr. Bryce...."

Bryce laughed under his breath, making Kimberly pause whatever he wanted to say, just staring at him. But his laugh wasn't a warm one.

"Don't do that. Don't say my name like you're sorry unless you actually are."

Kimberly stared at him, speechless. His words clawing at the back of her throat.

He stepped closer again, too close, the city lights were catching in his eyes.

He was too close that Kimberly internally exhaled shakily, shutting her eyes. She could feel his warm breath on her, so hot it was burning her skin.

"Here," Bryce reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a folded wad of cash. "The two hundred dollars you paid me for the service that night."

Kimberly's eyes flew open in utterly disbelief upon hearing that.

What?!

He didn't just do that, did he?

Six years ago, before Kimberly left his room that morning, she had actually dropped him a cash of two hundred dollars, as payment for his service.

She didn't want to look like a prostitute even when she knew she was never going to see him again. But she felt good after paying him, making him know that she wasn't one.

"Aside from owning a Modeling company and being a CEO. I don't have other side jobs I do." He said as a matter of fact. And before Kimberly could react, he had already dropped the money in her palms.

She felt slapped.

Wait! Was this why this man followed her here? To return her money to her and tell her he wasn't a prostitute?

How did he even know she was going to attend this party, for him to have planned this?

Wasn't he the same man who was acting all cool a few seconds ago?

Bryce started walking away while Kimberly was still trying to process what had just happened, but he suddenly stopped on his tracks, as if he just remembered something he had forgotten to say.

"Tell me the truth," he said in a low voice, looking at Kimberly over his shoulder. "Why did you run?"

Kimberly swallowed hard, cursing inwardly. She stared at the money in her hand, then returned her gaze to his back. She decided to say something so he could leave and let her the hell be.

"I couldn't stay. That night... I wasn't supposed to be there. I was escaping something. Everything. Whatever happened between us was a mistake."

"That's not the answer." Bryce said. "You ran like you were afraid."

"I was," she admitted. "But not of you."

"Then what?" Bryce probed.

Oh God!

Wasn't he already leaving? Why the unnecessary damn questions now?

"If I'd stayed. If I'd looked for you and told you everything, it would've ruined your life."

"What the hell could you have told me that would've?" Bryce turned back to face her this time.

Kimberly immediately turned her face away, gripping the edge of the railing tighter. Her knuckles turning white.

Say it, Kim.

Just say it. This is the right time....biggest opportunity you've got to tell him about Kiera.

If not now, then when?

But the words lodged in her throat like a glass.

"I was pregnant. And now I have your child." Kimberly hesitantly whispered, still avoiding looking at him.

But she instantly froze, realizing what she had just spewed out.

Her eyes widened, hands flying to her mouth. Shit! Had she just said that?

Silence fell like a heavy curtain, her heart thudding loudly in her chest as if about to burst out. The air around grew thick and tense.

It was so quiet after she dropped the bomb, she could've heard a pin drop.

And Bryce?

He didn't move.

Not even an inch.