Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

KIAN POV

My fingers wrapped around the untouched scotch. I couldn’t get the image of that damn ring on her finger out of my mind.

It looked like it belonged there—where my ring used to be. It took all in me not to rip it off.

Two years, three months, five days, spent looking for her and I finally found her. 

She had made sure to cover her tracks well. She was nowhere in the country, or in the neighboring countries. Even the best private investigator had a hard time finding her.

You lost the right to wonder anything about me. 

A laugh escaped my lips.

Yeah. Right.

The moment I saw Eliora at the gala, it felt like the world had stopped. Just the two of us in the room.

But then I saw him.

The man who couldn’t keep his hands off her.

And pain—real, sharp—stabbed through my chest.

Back on the balcony, she mentioned a child.

Has she really moved on?

Did she give that man a child?

How could she just move on with her life like that?

I ran a hand through my dark hair, a sigh escaped my lips.

“So... what the hell was that?” Drew walked into our private bar like he owned the place. Well, he partially did.

He loosened his tie and dropped onto the stool beside me, smugness practically dripping off him.

I ignored him, drowning the scotch that had sat untouched long enough.

Drew poked my side.

“You knew she’d be there?” he asked, pouring himself a glass. That damn smirk never left his face.

I didn’t answer. He knew better than to ask questions like that.

But he kept going.

“Ahh, don’t tell me you still have feelings. That’s not like you.”

He gave a low chuckle. “You looked like you saw a ghost. A fine one, though.”

“Drop it,” I snapped, sharper than I meant.

But of course, that just fueled him more. His grin widened like a child poking a sore spot for fun.

He opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off.

“You say one more thing, and you’re out.”

“Hey, come on. You know you can’t do that. We’re brothers.” He laughed.

“Remind me to file for disownership later. I'm sure mother will gladly be in support.”

He raised his hands in mock surrender, but the smirk stayed put.

A calm silence fell for a second. Then I spoke, slower this time.

“She made me feel like I could have a home.” I swallowed hard. “And then she left like I was the mistake.”

Drew sighed, softer now. “You still love her?”

I scoffed. “Love is a luxury. I want answers.” I poured another drink.

“Well... congratulations.” Julian’s voice broke the silence as he finally joined us, taking the stool on my other side.

“You’re about to be in every damn board meeting with her.”

I spared him a glance, then looked away again.

“Does she know you’re now an investor in my firm?” he asked, already yanking off his tie and tossing it on the table.

“She does now,” I muttered, remembering the way she looked at him back on that balcony.

Comfortable. Relaxed. Safe.

She never looked that way with me.

Well, I never gave her a reason to.

Our marriage never called for it.

“Just being honest,” Drew started, and I instantly knew the next thing out of his mouth would piss me off.

“If I were her, I’d have had my hand across your face already.”

I shot him a glare.

“I’m just saying,” he added, unfazed. “You didn’t give her any reason not to.”

“Shut it, Drew.”

Julian tried and failed to stifle a laugh.

A beat of silence settled over us.

But my thoughts? Loud.

Eliora.

Whether she wanted to speak to me or not, I was going to get my answers.

“So what now?” Julian asked, pulling me out of the spiral.

He tilted his head slightly. “You gonna play nice and co-parent the boardroom?”

Julian always kept a calm head. He was the quiet one.

The one who warned me years ago about how I treated her.They both did. I just never listened. I just didn't expect that she'd be gone one day until she did. 

“I’m going to do what I should’ve done two years ago.” I drowned the rest of the scotch, letting the burn settle deep in my chest.

“Which is?” Drew asked.

I stood, jaw tight.

“Get her back. One way or another.”