Chapter 3:

KAYLA’S POV:

I gripped the bar edge tightly, trying to control my frustration. Where is that bartender? “Vanessa. It’s been so long.” The older couple smiled as they approached, moving in to give Vanessa a warm hug. “Oh, Vanessa, sweetheart,” the woman cooed. “You look absolutely radiant.” Vanessa blossomed under the attention; I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Then their eyes moved to me. Their smiles stayed… but their warmth vanished.

“Oh… Kayla,” the woman said, her tone shifting into something stiff. “Archie overdid himself with the gala. What are you doing here?” I forced a small smile. “Just waiting for my drink.” They exchanged a knowing glance. “Oh,” the man said lightly, “I would’ve thought Archie would be by your side. You two are usually inseparable.” They paused. “You have to get ready to give Archie a child, you know?” My fingers tightened around the edge of the bar top. Vanessa watched the exchange in glee, happy someone else could humiliate me on her behalf. The woman’s gaze drifted over me again, slower this time. “So… how is your mother? Still… running?” Her statement didn’t faze me; maybe a year ago it would have, but not anymore. I lifted my chin. “She’s well.”

“Good, good,” she said, nodding too quickly. “Such a respected woman. Despite…”

The corner of her lips twitched. “…the circumstances of your birth and her success.” She delivered the comment politely with an innocent smile. The man hummed. “Yes, quite an achievement, really… rising so far despite sleeping her way to the top.” Vanessa’s smile had vanished; even if we were enemies now, she knew my mother had always been a sensitive topic for me. “As for Archie,” the woman continued conversationally, “he must be under a lot of pressure… carrying the Williams legacy while not having an heir… and also managing.” Her eyes landed on me again. “…everything else.” I gripped the edge of the table even harder, the edge piercing into my skin, but I didn’t stop. The man leaned in slightly, speaking just loud enough for me to hear. “A power couple indeed. A child in the midst would have been such an achievement.”

Vanessa looked torn between stopping the couple, and adding her own retort. The couple no longer bothered to hide their rudeness; it seeped from every word they spoke. I swallowed hard, feeling a surge of strong, unfiltered anger wash over me. I tried to keep myself from snapping, even as I struggled. Suddenly, everything felt cold, and the older woman’s laughter faded. A shadow loomed over us. It was none other than Lucan.

“Remarkable,” he said, “how freely you comment on someone else’s home when you’re barely keeping your home from collapsing.” The couple tensed instantly. Lucan didn’t look at me. He didn’t even step close. His presence alone was enough to command silence and drag everyone’s attention to him. He addressed them without mercy: “The loan application you submitted to my board, has been reviewed.” The older man’s head jerked up I could see the instant fear in his expression.

Lucan continued, his tone calm as winter, “Given your…creative accounting, I have instructed the board to deny it. Effective immediately.” The woman’s face drained of all colour. “And,” Lucan added almost politely, “the suppliers you owe? They’ll be receiving letters tonight. I’ve bought their contracts.” Everywhere was silent. “You’ll pay every outstanding debt you owe in full. No extensions. No grace period.”

The man’s breath caught. The woman swayed slightly. Vanessa shifted slightly away from the couple, not wanting to be associated with them anymore. And He was not even done with them: “By this time next week, you won’t have a roof over your head. Your mansion and the rest of your properties would be mine to keep until you can pay off your debt.” He didn’t raise his voice at them, but even a stranger from afar could see the fear on the older couple’s faces. Lucan gave a polite nod to the older couple as if he didn’t just ruin their lives. He gave Vanessa a once-over that looked more like a warning than a glance; he didn’t spare me a glance and left. The older lady collapsed against the man, crying softly. Vanessa’s eyes followed Lucan with a mix of intrigue and something else... until he disappeared.

The bartender appeared with my drink just then, oblivious to the strange scene he had just walked into. His eyes flicked from the older couple to Vanessa, then finally to me, confusion written all over his face. “Keep them coming, and make it stronger, please,” I said, offering him a polite smile as I took the shot from his hand and downed it in one smooth tilt. Vanessa’s attention snapped back to me, she glared at me, her glare was a mixture of jealousy, and anger but jealous of wh?. If looks could kill, I would be six feet under. She stepped closer, a devilish smirk on her face. Her fingers brushed the lingering alcohol at the corner of my mouth. I tried to lean away, but she caught my chin sharply, her tongue darting over her fingertips as if tasting the drink, she brought back the same finger to my face like she was cleaning a non-existent stain.

“You always have a knack for attracting Knights, don’t you?” she murmured, her voice low, her hand still holding my chin in place. “One day, I’ll have you exactly where I want you… and no one will be able to save you from me.” I rolled my eyes, shrugging off her hand from my chin. “Go away, Vanessa. You’ve had your laugh, now let me enjoy the rest of my night.” She looked like she was going to say more, but decided not to; she gave me a once-over, her eyes lingering on me for far too long, and then left. A sigh left me as I massaged my temples. Why do I encounter so many sadists on a daily whim?

The bartender set more shots in front of me, just as I had asked. I offered a grateful smile and downed them one by one until the warm buzz of the alcohol made me feel light-headed enough to face the gala. Around me, the event was in full swing. I could see high-end guests mingling effortlessly, and I noticed fresh faces from the corporate world trying so hard to make an impression. I saw Archie approaching, and I knew it was the perfect moment to slip outside for some air. I gently came down from the stool, making sure to steady my steps. I walked quickly towards the balcony, making sure no one followed.

As I stepped onto the balcony, a sigh of relief escaped me. I couldn’t face Archie in my tipsy state; he would only add to my irritation. I drew in a deep breath, letting the scent of moonflowers from the garden below wash over me. It calmed me instantly, as a wave of nostalgia washed over me.

Moonflowers had always been my mother’s favorite. She claimed her obsession began when she was pregnant with me, and she refused to tolerate any other flower. I could still picture her room as a child, overflowing with their delicate blooms, as I ran around wanting to touch everything, “My little moon bug, don’t you dare.” She would scream. A lone tear slipped down my cheek, and I let it fall. There was no one here to see it anyway.

I missed her so much it hurt. I understood why she left, but I could never understand why she left me behind. It had always been the two of us against the world. If she hadn’t left, I was certain I would have made better choices. Another tear traced my jawline. I imagined how life would have treated me if she had taken me with her. She is so successful now, it makes me wonder if I was holding her back. If she had carried me along, would she have been as successful as she is now? The urge to see her, to get a glimpse of her life, was too strong, so I took out my phone and browsed Helena Morris. There she was, CEO of the leading fashion industry in the country; she looked happy, content even. More tears slipped from my eyes as I looked at emerald green eyes identical to mine. Did she smile this much while I was with her? I could feel the familiar feeling of anger wash over me, the anger I had silently carried with me. I imagined facing her again after 10 years, all the hurtful things I would say to her.