Nine

KAIDA REED POV 

PRESS CONFERENCE 

I smiled, shaking hands with the reporter. 

"Thank you for today, Miss Kaida. The interview went really well. I hope you’ll be giving us more chances to speak with you in the future."

I nodded. "I hope so too. I really enjoyed my time on the show."

She smiled. "Good to know. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just run over a few things with the crew." 

"Of course, of course," I said, nodding quickly.

The woman gave me a warm smile, then walked away.

"Now that that’s over with, I should find a way to schedule a meeting with Zavian. I’m sure Father would have nothing to worry about if our company collaborates." I picked up my bag and shades, stepped inside the elevator, then smirked. "This is going to be fun."

The ride was brief, but it gave me the privacy I needed to breathe and comport myself. I was sure Lucien was on his way here, or maybe he was already waiting for me outside... That bastard. I bet he thought I was going to call him begging last night.

I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Don’t worry, Lucien, I am going to play the desperate lovesick girl you like so much, but as for letting you manipulate me like in the past, not a chance!"

The door opened, the cool air hitting my face as I stepped out of the building. 

"Such a perfect day," I sighed, letting the fresh air fill my lungs. "Let’s hope it stays that way," I muttered, reaching for my car door.

A low rumble of an approaching engine made my hand freeze on the handle.

I looked up, my spine locking up as I saw Lucien behind the wheel.

It was just as I expected. he probably saw the news and drove all the way here from where he’d spent the night last night. And judging by the passenger in his car, I had a good idea where that was. 

So he’d allowed me to drive home wet to my bones and then went to Helena to be with her. 

I didn’t expect whatever he did to hurt me anymore but I was wrong... Just thinking about them being together was making me nauseous.

I have to expose them. 

Publicly.

He came out of the car, his eyes blazing as they locked on mine. Helena followed, her face pulled in a tight frown.

Looking back now, I should have seen all the signs. Helena had always pretended to like me. She put up an act and played the innocent caring sister who only wanted the best for me while stabbing me in the back.

I should have known that she had something to do with Lucien because, despite her claims of not liking him, Helena always defended and sang his praises. She was the one who always encouraged me to go back and fight for my love whenever Lucien treated me like trash. And after all that, she dared to tell me that I went after Lucien even though I knew they were together.

God damn it, I was getting pissed off all over again.

The sickening feeling in my stomach worsened as they both stared at me. I expected to be berated by Lucien, but as the seconds ticked by and no one said anything, I decided to break the silence.

"What are you two doing here...." I let my voice trail, then stared pointedly at Helena. "Together?"

"What do you mean by that question? Do you have any idea how devastated he looked when he came to see me this morning? You went on the news and announced that you are postponing your wedding indefinitely, without discussing it with him first. What the hell is wrong with you?"

I scoffed, the heat in my chest spreading. "What’s this? Why are you suddenly speaking on his behalf? I don’t see him being mad about it." I faced him. "Are you?"

Helena’s eyes snapped to those of Lucien’s.

"What do you mean by that. Do you really think I’ll be happy about something like this?"

"Why not? I didn’t even call off the wedding like I initially said I would?" I let out a sigh then crossed my arms. "I only postponed it because despite being mad at you, I still love you very much, Lucien. I wanted to give us a second chance."

He stared at me, his jaw ticking. "You wanted to give us a second chance? By postponing the wedding indefinitely? A wedding that was supposed to happen in three weeks! And as if that wasn’t enough, you told them it was a joint decision. I never agreed to any of this!"

Helena stepped in front of him. "You really can’t do this to Lucien, Kaida. Just because you saved his sister’s life, you’ve started acting up because you think he won’t dare to leave you, right?"

My lips twitched as they curved into a forced smile. "I’d never do such a thing Helena... but even if I did, shouldn’t that be enough reason to act up? I’m missing a whole kidney. Who do you think can make such a sacrifice in this day and age? Even you couldn’t do it and you were a perfect match."

"You!" Helena uttered, then clamped her mouth shut, her eyes burning with hate as she stared at me.

Good, show your true colors, Helena. Let’s see that innocent act you’re always putting up crumble.

"Kaida, enough of this. You’re going to hold another press conference and take everything back"

"I would do no such thing. Who do you think I am, Lucien? I am Kaida Reed, the only heir to the Reeds’ fortune. I can’t say one thing in a moment and then change it again." 

"Did you just say you’re the only heir to the Reeds’ fortune?" Helena asked, disbelief flashing in her eyes.

I met her gaze. "Did I say something wrong? I don’t think you’ve forgotten so soon that you’re not my father’s biological daughter, have you?"

Her eyes widened, shock painting her face white.

"Kaida! What the hell is wrong with you," Lucien snapped, grabbing a hold of my shoulder roughly. "How can you say that to your own sister?"

I shoved his disgusting hold off of me, then glared at him. "I’m just stating the truth. It’s nothing to be mad about."

"Kaida..."

"No, let her be" Helena got out quietly, her eyes filling up with tears. "She is telling the truth and I have no right to be mad... I’m sorry Kaida, it’s all my fault—"

"You’re right. It’s all your fault," I answered, cutting her off. "You should learn to mind your own business if you can’t handle the truth."

"Kaida!" Lucien yelled, grabbing my arm again. His nails dug into my flesh hard, and I flinched, pain radiating up my arms.

He leaned in, his eyes burning with an intensity that had my heart pounding with a mix of rage and fear.

"Stop being such a spoiled brat. You don’t have to go out of your way to show how bad you really are. Helena already apologized even tho she did nothing wrong—"

I tried to yank my arm from his hold, but he just held onto me tighter.

"Let go," I gritted out. "You’re hurting me."

"Don’t you think you deserve it? Maybe we should just break up. I would like to see what other men out there will want to be with someone like you."

"I said let go of me!" I yelled, heat prickling my eyes.

Someone suddenly grabbed hold of his wrist, yanked it off of me, and then twisted it at an odd angle that had Lucien screaming out like a girl. 

Zavian let go of him, his eyes moving from my bruised arm to my face and exploring every inch of it.

His jaw ticked. "He made you cry? Should I just kill him then?"