Chapter 5

He was the man who had saved her at the club last night, and he was a Carter.

Kelly hurried forward two steps.

The bodyguards moved instantly, blocking her path.

“Mr. Carter, please, wait!” she called out.

He paused and turned his head, lifting his gaze.

His dark eyes held a distant chill, sharp and unreadable, settling quietly on her.

He raised a hand.

The bodyguards stepped back.

Gratitude flickered in Kelly’s clear eyes as she quickly approached him.

Only when she stepped into his shadow did she realize he was even taller than Keith.

Her breath softened as she said, “Sir, thank you for taking me to the hospital last night.”

His gaze skimmed over her, indifferent. “No need.”

Kelly’s hand tightened into a fist.

This was her last chance.

She pressed her lips together, steadying herself before asking carefully, “The necklace you secured… would you be willing to sell it to me?”

The moment the words left her mouth, her fingers clenched white, afraid she’d overstepped and even more afraid he’d refuse outright.

Without warning, a small velvet box appeared in his hand.

His thumb brushed lightly over its surface before he placed it in her palm.

Kelly froze.

The thing she had longed for was now in her hands and she didn’t dare accept it.

He glanced to the side at his assistant.

Tristan Dunn stepped forward immediately, offering a card. “Miss Shaw, this is Mr. Carter’s card.”

Kelly took and looked at it.

It was crafted from matte charcoal stock, weighty in her hand, with gold-embossed lettering that caught the light like a piece of art.

At the top center, his name was printed: Sebastian Carter.

Kelly spoke quickly, “Mr. Carter, I’ll contact you soon and transfer the payment.”

Sebastian’s gaze lowered, resting on her lashes as they trembled like butterfly wings.

His voice was low. “Kelly Shaw.”

Kelly froze, caught off guard.

How did he know her name?

Then his deep, slightly husky voice sounded again by her ear. “Ethan Cole is my brother. Tomorrow morning, bring Evan Cole to the address on the back of the card. We’ll discuss transferring custody.”

He was Ethan’s brother.

And he was here to fight her for Evan.

Kelly immediately pushed the necklace back toward him. “I won’t trade Evan for a necklace.”

Before she could finish, the door to VIP Room Three opened.

Keith walked out with Maya and headed straight toward them.

Maya looked at Kelly in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

Keith hadn’t expected to see her either.

He frowned slightly.

His gaze moved between Kelly and Sebastian, and only after noticing the hearing aid at her ear did he speak. “Kelly, why are you here with Mr. Carter?”

Kelly went still.

She hadn’t expected Keith to go this far for Maya.

Wasn’t he the one who hated lowering himself to ask favors?

Back then, because of that very pride, she had been forced to trade her own marriage just to secure his place in the Parsons family.

Kelly looked at him. “For the same reason you are.”

Keith’s expression darkened.

He stepped forward, reaching for her hand, but she shifted away, avoiding his touch.

His hand closed on empty air.

And in that moment, he met Sebastian’s faintly mocking gaze.

Keith straightened, adjusting his tie, his voice turning formal. “Mr. Carter, hello. I’m Keith Parsons of Parsons Group.”

Sebastian glanced at him.

His gaze carried a quiet dominance—cool, distant, and heavy with authority, the kind of pride and composure that felt bred into his bones.

When Sebastian made no move to respond, Keith continued, “Mr. Carter, I’d like to buy the emerald necklace you just acquired.”

“Name your price. I’m willing to pay a premium. Would you consider letting it go?”

Sebastian’s sharp gaze swept over Keith and Maya, noting how closely they stood.

A faint, cold curve touched his lips. “Mr. and Mrs. Parsons do seem… deeply devoted.”

Keith’s expression darkened. “You misunderstand. She’s my sister. This…”

He gestured toward Kelly, “… is my wife.”

Sebastian gave a slight nod, as if something had just clicked. “My apologies. The Carter family has strict values. Adult siblings are expected to keep their distance.”

Keith’s face turned an ugly shade, caught between anger and embarrassment.

At that moment, Maya stepped forward, overestimating her place. “Mr. Carter, Keith and I were just…”

Sebastian cut her off, his voice sharp, almost cutting. “Was I speaking to you? Who do you think you are?”

Maya hadn’t expected such blunt dismissal.

Her lips trembled as she bit down on them, eyes reddening as she forced a pitiful look. “Mr. Carter… I really like that necklace…”

“Like it?”

Sebastian let out a soft laugh, the mockery unmistakable. “Unfortunately, Mr. Parsons was too late. The necklace has already been sold to Miss Shaw.”

Kelly froze for a second.

Then, in the next moment, she smiled and lightly lifted the box in her hand toward Maya.

Maya’s expression tightened, fingers gripping the hem of her dress.

Sebastian slipped his hands into the pockets of his coat, his presence cold and refined.

He said, almost absently, “Getting something isn’t the hard part. Keeping it is.”

With that, his bodyguards moved ahead to clear the way.

Sebastian didn’t spare another glance as he strode off.

Keith had long heard that the new head of the Carter family was aloof and untouchable, a man who regarded no one as worth his notice.

Meeting him in person today, she realized the reputation was well deserved.

Keith closed his eyes and took a slow breath, trying to steady the frustration of being repeatedly checked by Sebastian.

Maya turned to Kelly. “Kelly, can you give me the necklace?”

Kelly let out a cold laugh. “Have you no shame?”

Keith’s tone turned weary. “Kelly, why do you have to be so harsh?”

Kelly lifted her chin, a smile on her lips that didn’t reach her eyes. “You want me to give it to her too?”

Keith lowered his gaze, looking down at her, his voice gentle.

“Kelly, we’ve been married for two years. I’ve given you hundreds of gifts—every one of them more valuable than that necklace.

“A gentleman doesn’t take what others cherish. Since Maya likes it so much, give it to her for my sake.”

Kelly slowly raised her eyes to him as if she were looking at a stranger.

The eyes that had once been filled with love now held nothing but cold red veins and a dead, ashen emptiness.

“Keith, that necklace—when you were fourteen, you ran a fever that turned into pneumonia. We couldn’t afford your treatment, so my grandmother pawned her only dowry to pay for it. Maya isn’t even worthy of laying eyes on it.”

Kelly didn’t look at him again.

She turned and walked away.

Her back was straight, her steps steady, disappearing down the corridor.

Keith stood frozen where he was.

Something buried deep in his memory was ripped open, exposing a truth he could no longer ignore.

Maya had never seen him this quiet and still.

She tugged gently at his sleeve. “Keith, are you okay?”

He brushed her hand off. “I’m going back.”

A flicker of resentment crossed Maya’s eyes. “Will you still come out with me tonight? For New Year’s?”

Keith’s voice was low, rough. “We’ll see.”

Maya threw herself into Keith’s arms, wrapping her arms around his waist. “And you say you don’t care anymore. She’s already gone, and you’re still staring after her.”

Keith gave a faint smile. “You’re overthinking it.”

Maya huffed. “I don’t care. Next time, you’re buying me something way more expensive.”

“Alright,” Keith replied.

Emboldened, she pressed further. “After your company goes public, I want you to take me to see the northern lights.”

Keith fell silent.

A crease formed between his brows.

A long time ago, he promised Kelly that once the company went public, he would take her to Northen Way to see the aurora.

Maya’s fingers traced lightly across his chest, her eyes lifting, soft and pleading.

“I can stay out of sight during the day. As long as you come see me at night, that’s enough. I just… can’t bear to be away from you for too long.”

Keith pulled her into his arms. “Okay.”

…

By the time Kelly got home, Evan had already been sent back by staff dispatched by Keith’s grandmother, Dorothy Parsons.

The rest of the Parsons family couldn’t stand her or her son.

But the old matriarch was kind.

She treated Kelly and Evan exceptionally well.

She often had the child brought over to stay with her for a few days.

Lately, though, it had been happening more and more often.

Kelly knew exactly why.

Dorothy wanted a great-grandchild and deliberately gave them opportunities to be alone together.

Five-and-a-half-year-old Evan, wearing his hearing aid, signed to her. [Grandma Dorothy has been really nice to me. She said tomorrow’s New Year’s Day, so I should spend it with you and Keith. That’s why she sent me back.]

Kelly crouched down and gently cupped his face. “Tomorrow morning, I’m going to take you to meet someone, okay?”

Evan nodded obediently.

After settling him into his room, Kelly returned to the master bedroom.

She took out the divorce papers and a copy of their prenup from the nightstand, slipped them into a document envelope together.

This was the gift she planned to give Keith at the company’s listing event.