chapter 11: I slept with him.

“I think you're wasted. Why don't you stop drinking and call it a night?”

“Who's drunk? I'm not drunk, are you? If you are, why don't you go ahead and sleep first.” She drunkenly tried to hold her hair up like the strands were disturbing her.

I walked over and helped her pack it into a messy bun with a hair tie she dropped. That's when I noticed her neck.

“You're too thin.”

“What?”

“ If you're going to marry me, gain some weight. I don't want my wife to look like she's going to break at any moment or die before me.”

She chucked shortly.

“I—already died once.” My hands froze.

“Remember I asked if your life has ever flashed in front of you earlier?” she paused.

“I'm not dead, how will my life flash before me?” I coughed and looked away.

“I've seen it. Every moment of my life played before me but I didn't have any one I wanted to hold on to. That means I've never been happy. Does that make sense? 23 years of existence and not a single happy memory I want to cling on to? That kind of life is worthless yet I still held on tightly. I don't know why.” She sighed exasperatedly and laughed.

“You're drunk Kara, you should get some rest.” I put a hand on her shoulder trying to offer some comfort.

“That's why I'm going to be different this time. This life must be different.” With that she dozed off. I caught her just in time before she hit the ground and carried her to the bed.

Looking at the frail woman sleeping leave on my bed, I made a steely resolve to protect her at all costs. I'm still going to keep my secret from her but whatever it takes, I'll help her get her revenge.

Shortly afterwards, I dozed off beside her.

Kara's POV.

The next morning.

I twisted and turned on the bed before waking up with a headache and there he was. Pierce, sleeping beside me.

My hands flew to my mouth. I'd actually fallen asleep. I was just bluffing when I told him I'd stay the night but then I got drunk and actually slept here. I hope I didn't make any mistakes. I bit my lip at the thought.

I was still fully clothed so I'm sure nothing happened between us last night. I looked at the sleeping perfection beside me.

He looked so peaceful with his facial features relaxed and nothing like the cold business man he was rumored to be. Plus, he was actually nice to me last night.

Come to think of it, the ice melted fast between us and he mentioned me speaking to him casually. Have we met before? I don't think so.

Just then he stirred and I immediately lay down pretending to be asleep. Can't be caught staring like a creep first thing in the morning after being a drunk mess last night.

He sat up on his side of the bed and roughly tousled his already messy hair, then took one look at me, fake sleeping on the bed, said nothing and walked to the bathroom.

I stood up from the bed as soon as I heard the tap running, searched for my phone and purse, pulled out a few notes and dropped it on the nightstand with a note then quietly left the room.

As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, I unlocked my phone and saw so many missed calls from Serena, my step mom and my ex, Aiden.

I sighed and my expression turned serious as I walked towards the exit.

I called Gia to meet up quickly.

“I heard you broke off your engagement? Why? You've liked him since college.” She curiously asked as soon as we sat down.

“He's in love with Serena” I replied, trying to keep it short and handed her some pictures that were taken of me and Pierce getting into the elevator in an embrace and from other misleading angles. I had arranged this with a photographer beforehand meeting him.

“Wow, you really put in the work here Kar.”

Her mouth formed and ‘O’ as she side eyed me.

“Publish this with misleading captions like ‘Grandson of the Kay group and eldest daughter of the Jones family spotted entering a hotel to spend the night together.” Make it juicy.

A few minutes later, I walked toward the entrance of my house to find Aiden waiting outside.

“Kara–” He ran up to me and called out while I actively ignored him and kept walking to the door.

“Where were you last night?” He tried to grab my arm as I walked past him, not like I owe him an explanation.

“By chance, were you with Mr Pierce? It's a misunderstanding right? Kara. I'm talking to you.” I walked into the living room. Behind me, I heard him sigh with exasperation, he didn't follow me in.

As expected, my amazing family was waiting for my arrival.

Serena sat on the couch crying, Dad sat beside her.

Slap.

As soon as I walked in, Georgina's hand connected with my face making a deafening noise.

“Have you really gone crazy? How dare you go after a man Serena had eyes for?”

She questioned, eyes filled with rage they could barely contain.

I raised my face up, looking her directly in the eyes and asked

“Mom, what about you? How dare you hit your child?”

“What!” She was about to say more before Dad's voice rang out.

“That's enough. Both of you, stop it. This is already humiliating enough. Two sisters fighting over the same man?”

Both mom and I turned to his direction.

“Kara, you marry Aiden.”

“Dad,you want me to marry a man I don't love?”

“I was against the marriage at first but you were the one who came begging for our permission, you said you liked him!”

“It's not that I don't love him. He doesn't love me.”

That finally got Serena to stop sobbing and look up, Aiden also walked in at that moment and stood behind me.

“Would you do the honors of telling them or you want me to help?”

“Kara, let's go outside and talk this over please–”

“Aiden is in love with someone else that's not me.” I glanced around the room. “And that person–”

“Kara? Why're you doing this? Seriously? He likes me?? What sense does that make? “ She sniffled and continued.

“The day you went to try out your dress, I went to the bridal shop and overheard the employees talking. It's because he was on his phone while you were trying the dresses on and didn't pay attention to you, you left angrily after yelling at him that he was in love with someone else. Did his lack of attention hurt your feelings that much? And if he did, what do I have to do with it that you're punishing me like this?”

Wow Serena, what a good actor you are. Playing the victim card.

Aiden quickly stepped forward

“I'm sorry, I should've taken care of her better.”

Dad looked away from him and said to me

“Are you doing all this because he hurt your feelings?? Really? You're much more childish than I thought!”

“ I really can't take any more of this bull sh!t” I muttered loud enough for everyone in the room to hear while smiling distraughtly.

“Are you all doing a TV show? What nonsense are you guys saying?? I slept with Pierce and I'm sure you all understand what that means so you can quit this drama.”

Serena looked like she was going to have a seizure as she collapsed on to the chair and started crying again, mom rushed to her side, Aiden and dad looked at me like I just said something outrageous and mom's bodyguard and PA ,David, who's been there all along maintained a neutral expression.

Mom turned to David.

“ Lock her up in her room. Don't let her out until I say so!”