Eight

KAIDA REED POV 

It was quiet at the Mansion and as I stepped into the house, I couldn’t help the wave of nostalgia that washed over me.

Everything was the same. Just like always. And the longer I stood taking in the luxurious setting, the lonelier I felt.

"You’ve always been alone" I whispered, wrapping my arm around myself. "That’s why you fell so hard for the first person to act like you truly exist."

Just thinking about him had my head throbbing. 

I was truly pathetic, wasn’t I? I did everything to make him love me—everything. And now that I thought deeper about it, maybe they were right. Maybe I had given my kidney to Nessa in the hope that he would see my sacrifice and finally love me... After all, my world only revolved around him...

But he was just a black hole. And like all black holes, he devoured my love, my body...my soul, every scrap of hope I carried, until there was nothing left.

My phone rang, pulling me out of my dark thoughts. I glanced down at it, my breath catching in my throat as I saw the caller’s ID. It was my father.

Was he still alive? I couldn’t believe it. 

Blood rushed to my head, making me dizzy as the ringing persisted. 

"Could it really be him?" I asked myself, my fingers trembling as I slid on the answer button. I placed the phone to my ear.

"Dad?" I got out tentatively, my heart starting a pounding rhythm as it got very quiet on the other end.

"Kaida," he answered, his voice sounding a bit rough and tired.

My vision turned blurry, a choked sob escaping my trembling lips.

"Kaida," he called, more concerned. "Are you crying? I saw the news that your engagement party with Lucien... Is that why you’re upset..."

I shook my head and then realized that he couldn’t see me. 

"No. No. It’s not that at all," I sobbed, unable to stop the tears from falling. "It’s just that I miss you so much, Dad. "I th-thought I’d never hear your voice ever again." I cried, my voice breaking. 

I didn’t know how much I missed him till this very moment. Even though he wasn’t always there, when he was, he was, and it broke my heart that it was because of me he died.

I knew he had a weak heart and yet I didn’t stop pressing him to use all of my shares to invest in Lucien’s company. I didn’t even let up when I noticed that he wasn’t doing too well. All I wanted was Lucien’s happiness. All I cared about was him.

Father hated that. He hated that I let my whole life go just to focus on Lucien, but I’d left him with no choice. He had to give in to me in the end.

And that was the last straw for Father. He died a few days later.

The doctors said it was high blood pressure, but I knew it was me. He died because of me.

"Kaida, are you there? Can you stop crying and listen to me first?" he got out calmly, but I could tell he was starting to panic. "You are angry with me for not showing up tonight, am I right? I know I should have been there for you, but you know how I feel about your relationship with Lucien..."

"Yes, yes I know... Please, I don’t want to talk about him right now," I said, then took in a deep breath. "Can I come and see you, Dad? I really need you right now..."

"Are you hurt? "Did that bastard lay his hands on you," he asked, the anger in his voice palpable.

I shook my head. "No...he didn’t hurt me." At least not yet. 

He let out a sigh of relief. "Just tell me where you are, and I’ll tell the driver to come and pick you up."

I sniffled. "I’m at the House."

"Just stay there and wait for a few minutes, okay? Joel will come and pick you up."

I nodded. "Okay," I said, then ended the call, my eyes darting around the quiet, almost empty space.

******

"Do you feel better now?" Father asked, his eyes tracing my face. 

I nodded, my hands trembling around the warm mug of hot chocolate on the table.

He had had the maid make one for me as soon as I stepped into the house and he saw the state I was in.

"What were you even doing in the rain? Did you and Lucien have a fight? Why did he allow you—"

"We didn’t have a fight..." I got out, cutting him off. My gaze dropped to the cup as if it held all the answers in the world. It didn’t. I let out an exasperated sigh, then met my father’s gaze. "We did have a fight, but it wasn’t serious."

"Was it because you ran away from the engagement party... I read the news. Those reporters are going to get what is coming to them for defaming you like that. You don’t have to worry. I already have Peter working on taking all those articles down".

"You don’t need to do that, Father. I’m going to be meeting the press and correcting their statement myself tomorrow."

"What are you talking about?"

"I won’t be with Lucien anymore." 

Father’s brows shot up. "What?" He frowned, then leaned forward. "Why all of a sudden. The last time we spoke, you said you would kill yourself if I didn’t give you my blessing..."

I scoffed out a breath, then dragged my hands through my hair. "I must have been out of my mind," I muttered under my breath.

"What is really going on with you? Are you sure you’re not sick... Should I get the doctor to look at you?"

"Nothing is wrong with me, Dad." I met his gaze. "Tomorrow at the press conference, I am going to tell them that the wedding will be postponed. indefinitely."

Father’s brows drew in further, his confusion deepening. "Why postpone the wedding if you don’t want to be Lucien anymore. Isn’t it better to just call it off?"

"No, I can’t do that," I uttered, my voice sharp. "I have to take care of something first. If I call off the wedding, then Lucien can just move on. I don’t want him to move on, not after everything he’s done."

I could feel Father’s eyes boring into me.

"You were right about Lucien, Father. I should have listened to you... But it’s not too late. You’ll help me, won’t you, Dad?"

He thought about it for a few seconds, then sighed and took my hand. "I don’t understand what is going on with you, but I’m always here for you. I’m always here to support you. Whatever it is you want, I’ll make sure you get it."

"Thank you Dad." I looked away, a smile tugging on my lips.

And to think I believed I had no one in my corner.

Just you wait Lucien. I’m going to make you regret everything.