All Chapters of After One Reckless Night; A Secret Binds Us: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Kimberly sat at the small kitchen table with her laptop open to an unread email from the modeling agency. An empty mug sat near her elbow. She was supposed to be replying.... confirming her availability for an upcoming shoot, but her fingers hovered over the keys, frozen. She couldn’t think. Couldn’t focus. Not today. Thank God it was the weekend. If she’d had to go in for a casting or shoot like this… she’d have been a total mess on set. Across the counter, Cindy leaned on the fridge door, arms crossed as she watched Kimberly closely. “You’re not even pretending to respond,” she said. “I am pretending,” Kimberly mumbled. “Just… really badly.” Before Cindy could reply, Kimberly’s phone buzzed on the table. Her heart jumped. The name on the screen made her breath catch. It was Bryce. She snatched it up instantly from where it was, voice tight with panic. “Bryce? Is Keira okay? Oh God, did something happen to her?” There was a tiny pause. Then, instead of hearing Bryc

The big white gates opened for Kimberly as she arrived at Bryce’s penthouse. “Wow,” was the first thing she mouthed. She couldn’t hide her awe. The place was too elegant and beautiful. Way more beautiful than she had imagined. Tall windows gave a perfect view of the city. The floors were so clean and glossy they looked like glass. There were blooming flowers, a sparkling fountain, and a large, well-kept garden by the side. Everything looked expensive, classy, and screamed Bryce Harrington. She stepped in quietly, and his scent immediately hit her nostrils. God. She had missed this scent so much. That annoyingly sweet but intoxicating scent. Before Kimberly could take another step as a maid led her in, a tiny voice shouted in ecstasy. “Mommy!” Keira came flying from the hallway like a rocket, barefoot and all hair and energy. Kimberly laughed, catching her just in time. “Whoa! Easy, little star!” Keira squeezed her mom tightly, saying, “I was waiting and waiting! W

There was complete silence. A very thick and charged one. He didn’t touch her anymore, neither did he move. He just stood there, far too close, staring down at her with a look she couldn’t decipher. Then, as if nothing had happened, he stepped back and left the kitchen. As he left, Kimberly breathed out the air she didn't even know she had held, her shoulders sinking. The tension in the kitchen clung to her like damp air. She stood there for a moment, collecting herself, before returning to the dining room. She dished Bryce's food without saying a word, placing it neatly on a tray. With a calm breath, she carried it to his own side of the long dining table where he sat, casually scrolling through his phone now like he hadn’t just left her heart racing. “Here,” she said, setting the tray on the table in front of him. Bryce glanced at it, then at her. His brow lifted slightly. “Thought I was going to be left to die of hunger.” Kimberly rolled her eyes internally, but didn’

Clara came up choking, gasping for air, her once-flawless makeup smeared and dripping. Her pastel-pink dress clung to her skin, soaked through, and her fake lashes dangled like broken wings.“You’re finished, I swear!” she coughed, spitting out the filthy water. “You’re so finished, Kimberly!”Kimberly stood over her, chest heaving. Her voice came out low and deadly. “Next time you mention my daughter with your filthy mouth, I’ll make sure you don’t have the voice to talk again.”Her hands were trembling seriously. Not with fear, but with fury that hadn’t quite settled.Clara collapsed against the restroom wall, coughing and shivering.Kimberly didn’t spare her another glance. She turned to the mirror, adjusted her blouse, and smoothed her hair, then met her own gaze.Behind her, Clara struggled to stand. She slipped once on the slippery floor, but caught herself, then grabbed her handbag and stumbled toward the door like a soaked, wounded animal.“I’ll report this,” she hissed, her v

Kimberly took off her heels the moment she stepped into the apartment, letting out a long breath of relief. She had just returned from work. Actually, she had just gotten free from today's headache. Today had been one of the most exhausting days of her life. From Clara's encounter in the morning, to meeting Sienna. God, could today get any worse? “Ugh, finally,” she muttered, tossing her bag onto the couch. “My feet are going to sue me one day.” From the kitchen, Cindy peeked her head out when she heard Kimberly's voice. “You’re back early.” “Early?” Kimberly laughed, walking in to grab a bottle of water. “It’s almost seven.” “Well, in your world, that’s early.” Cindy grinned and pushed a bowl of ice cream toward her. “Want some?” It wasn't long ago Cindy got home too. Kimberly quickly grabbed a spoon and flopped onto the couch as they both returned to the living room. “Don’t mind if I do. My brain is actually on fire.” They sat in silence for a moment, just eatin