What’s Going On?

Lucia

"Congratulations on this milestone, Mr. Kemper." Juliana approached him, a sultry smile curving her painted red mouth. She stood out in her dyed silver hair, slinky silver dress, and heavy diamond choker.

She embraced Christian, making sure to run her hand over his chest possessively. Her gaze met mine, searching for a reaction. I offered her a close lipped smile.

"Juliana, I didn't know you were invited." I said.

"Why wouldn't I be? The man of the day personally invited me." The words carried a hidden meaning, and I flinch.

I didn't care about her affair with my husband. Christian could do whatever he wanted. I was more bothered about the gossip her presence brought. Already, I could see several people in the crowd whispering.

I waited till Christian had stepped away to speak to another group before I rushed off to the corner, snatching a glass of champagne and melting into the shadows. My head couldn't stop replaying Hunter's words from earlier. Had he been lying?

What could he possibly know? After all, he was twelve years old when the case with my father went down.

I spotted Juliana climbing up the stairs and something made me trail after her. She slipped into a room and just as I reached for the doorknob, I heard Christian's voice.

"Did you run the test?" He asked.

"Yes, I'm really pregnant."

My head spun at the latest information.

"You promised you'd get rid of her." Juliana hissed. "You better keep to your words or I'll cause trouble, Christian. I refuse to become your baby mama or kept whore."

"It's just fifty days_"

"I can't wait fifty days." She shrieked. "I'll be fat by then and be a laughing stock."

I couldn't stand listening to more. Why had Christian even bothered forcing me into this marriage if he knew he was just going to treat me like a bothersome dog?

Fingers curling into fists at my sides, I turned around and marched off. I didn't stop till I was outside the building, heart pounding at what I was about to do. When last had I used public transport? It was strange how my life had changed in the blink of an eye.

Before I could wave down a cab, a bright red sports car came to a stop in front of me. The window rolled down, revealing Hunter. "Get in."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

"It's just a matter of time before father will realise you're missing and come after you. Get in."

I scoffed. "You don't even know where I'm going."

"I can guess. You're going to speak to your father in the prison? Am I correct?" He asked. "Get in the car, Lucia before I decide helping you isn't worth my neck."

Groaning in frustration, I jumped into the sports car and he immediately sped off. Alone, I finally asked him the question that had been on my mind. "Why did you come back? It's clear you hate this city, your father and everything he stands for, so why did you come back?"

So many questions tumbled together in my head, like what happened that night that made Christian send him away? Why did he hold a gun to his father's head? What turned the quiet kid I used to know to this man with dark eyes and secrets?

"I can't answer that."

"Can't or won't?"

"Won't."

"Why not?" I asked.

"I don't trust you, Lucia. You don't have anything to lose in this game. I can't trust anyone who has nothing to lose."

"And what is it that you have to lose? Your position as the heir to a billion dollar company?" I laughed cruelly. "Some of us have things we value more than a fucking position we didn't work for and money built on the blood of others."

"It's not about the company." He cut in. "I can't trust you, Lucia. Not yet."

The rest of the drive is silent. I keep my gaze locked outside the window, watching the trees go by. Until the signboard for the state prison appeared. As soon as Hunter pulled over, I jumped out of the car and hurried inside.

Hailey Young. The name continued to echo in my head. There was something familiar about that name, but where had I heard it from.

Twenty minutes later, the security walked my father into the room. Tears filled my eyes as I took in his withering state. He was far too thin now, and he looked exhausted.

"Lucia, what are you doing here? I told you to stop coming." He sighed.

"How could I abandon you here." I squeezed his hand. "Just a few more days and you'll be out."

"Fifty more days." He nodded, a small smile curving his mouth.

I had no idea how to ask him the questions plaguing me, but I decided to just get it over with. "I need to ask you something, dad, and I need you to be honest with me."

He smiled. "When have I not been honest with you, Lu?"

"Who is Hailey Young?" I watched as blood drained from his face, leaving him white as a sheet. My heart galloped in my chest at the look of stark horror on his face.

"You need to leave, Lucia. And whoever has been feeding lies into your head, you need to stop speaking to the person." He snapped rising to his feet.

"But father_"

To my shock, he banged against the metal door. "Security, I want to go back to my cell."

I leaped to my feet. "What are you doing? I don't understand Dad."

He whirled around to face me. "I have fifty more days here, Lucia. Let's not stir the Hornets nest. We are already so close to the end."

"Who is Hailey Young, Dad? You promised not to hide things from me." I told him, approaching. "Who is she dad? What does she have to do with you being in jail."

The door opened at that moment and the guard stepped in. "Miss Morris, you have to leave."

"Father_"

My father stepped out of the door and the door shut with a deafening bang. What the hell was going on?