THE CARTER’S MANSIONAce stood in front of his family home that he rarely visited, jaws clenched, eyes burning red. He glanced over his shoulder at Gina, asking again, “You’re sure you didn’t do anything to make her call us here?” Gina rolled her eyes, getting irritated by Ace’s insistence, “I haven’t even spoken with her for a month now. Can you stop being so annoying?” She scolded, walking past him into the house. Ace bit the tip of his thumb nervously.Aside from the pain the house brought, he had the gut feeling that whatever reason his mom called, he wasn’t going to like it. Worse, she never cared about his feelings. With much hesitation, he willed his leg to move, finally going into the house. Inside, Gina was sitting in the living room chatting with Helena.Ace barely spared them another look as he sank onto the opposite sofa, one arm draped lazily over the backrest. “Good evening, ma.” He greeted me plainly. Helena Carter only responded with a slight hand gesture as she
Ace sucked in a sharp breath, relaxing his back on his chair, “Zara, can you stop overreacting?”“She isn’t overreacting, just making her decision firm. And I absolutely support her!” Kendrick jumped to her defence again. Ace couldn’t contain his anger any longer as he slammed his palm on the table leaning towards him, “Why are you even in this project? To do your job or to impress Zara?” He asked bluntly, leaving even angry Zara stunned. He got up, walking toward Kendrick, “Because from what I’ve noticed you’ve been doing the latter.” He leaned in whispering to Kendrick ear, “Don’t forget you are her ex-husband’s uncle.”Kendrick scoffed, shoving Ace’s hand off his shoulder, “Step Uncle.” He corrected in a whisper, then he rose facing Ace head on, “And, it’s not a taboo." The ladies stared in confusion, as their conversation became less and less audible. Kendrick jabbed a finger to Ace’s chest, “What I need is for you to face your fiance and stop stalking Zara like a creep.” Ac
The crowd hastily moved back as she walked past. Zara had to hide her pain because of the eyes on her until she moved past them. Then she squatted to slowly massage her toe which had turned pink from pain. Just then, a familiar hand reached her toe before she could, gently massaging it. She looked sideways and there was Kendrick, squatting beside her and blowing cool air into her injury. Kendrick didn’t look up at first, focused on Zara’s injury. But then…His eyes flicked up, locking onto Ace’s just before the doors shut.Ace’s jaw tightened. Kendrick didn’t smirk. Didn’t gloat. He just held his gaze.Like a silent warning.Zara bit her lip to hold back the painful tears that filled her eyes as she watched Kendrick. She hissed under her breath, trying not to yelp as pain shot up her toe.Zara sucked in a sharp breath, her body jerking as a deep ache pulsed through her toe. She squeezed her eyes shut, fingers curling around Kendrick's shoulder. Kendrick stilled, retracting hi
Zara’s hands trembled, her legs turned jelly and she had to quickly grab Kendrick’s car to regain her balance. “E–lla…how can you say that?” Zara gasped, barely able to believe the words coming out of her 7 year old. Ezra who was just standing a metre stared at his mom with quite ache lingering in his stares. Seeing the disappointment in his eyes, Zara couldn’t breath…couldn’t speak. If anything, Ezra has always doted on her…and to see this much disappointment in his eye…it shattered her. “Ezra, it’s time for bed, let’s go in,” Nana tried to save her even though it was already too late. Ezra let out a sigh, turning to follow Ella who was already matching towards the house. Just then, Kendrick stepped out, “Hey, Champ!”Ezra stopped, quickly snapping his head back to the voice he barely recognized, “Uncle?” he chirped excitedly as he ran towards him, running towards him.Ella paused hearing Ezra’s voice. At first she was skeptical, because she already made up her mind about her
The words wrapped around her like a chain, pulling tight, making it impossible to breathe.Her fingers twitched against the table, her body frozen in place.‘Say something.’ Her brain screamed at her, but no words came.Her mind spiralled.‘How? Since when? Why now?’This was Kendrick! Her ex-husband’s aloof uncle. Her new friend. And someone she would have to work with for the next year or longer. How was she supposed to process this? And yet…She had seen the way he looked at her tonight. The lingering glances. The softness in his voice.She felt this deep in her bones, but…even now it felt like a joke.‘No. No, this can’t be real.’Her stomach twisted as she realized something far, far worse…What if she had seen it and ignored it?Like the night he walked in on her touching herself…and his gaze lingered a little too long. She swallowed hard, forcing air into her lungs.This wasn’t love. It was something else. It had to be!Maybe care? Maybe admiration? Maybe—Kendrick tilted
Zara stepped out of the car, her full length, pearl-embellished black dress shining under the beautiful dark sky. The dress was a high neck and she wore a pearl necklace that matched with her Slingback heels and purse.She wore a simple nude makeup that accentuated her high cheekbone. “Here is the pass card to the third floor. He is waiting for you there.” Peirce explained, handing out a card to her. “Thank you, Sir.” Zara said, politely taking the bag from the man who had driven her to the front of the five star restaurant. Pierce Avery was Kendrick's personal assistant. The one that had represented him at the auction earlier. Zara flashed a small smile at him before walking past him towards the restaurant. Upon showing the card, she was escorted into the private elevator by an employee. The third floor was a private floor, divided into 10 spacious rooms with glasses most times released for privacy. But surprisingly, only one space was occupied in the busy restaurant.And it w