“The guy from the video?” Tuff’s eyes lit up as he looked Quentin up and down with obvious interest.
‘Not very tall, pretty scrawny. But he actually made Joyce cry like that. Not bad at all, Tuff thought.
Tuff tugged at Ka’s sleeve and turned away, pretending to retrieve some film.
After Quentin went upstairs, they quietly followed him.
“Honey, what are you up to?” Ka said, half amused, half exasperated.
“Think he’s here for Joyce?” Tuff grinned.
“Even if he is, it’s got nothing to do with us…” Ka shrugged.
Ka suddenly fell silent, her gaze sharp as a de.
Without a word, they moved forward in perfect sync, stopping outside Joyce’s hospital room.
Joyce’s father wasn’t around, and the moment Quentin walked in, they barely exchanged a few words before the shouting started.
“Why are you here? I told you, we’re done! Don’t evere looking for me again!” Joyce yelled.
Quentin forced a sheepish grin, trying to sound humble. “Joyce, even if you’ve been using me all this time, I really do love you…”
“Why should I care about your love?” Joyce snapped back.
Her voice was ice–cold,pletely shutting him down.
Tuff stood there, speechless.
‘So she actually gets it, huh? Then why bother trying to y the love card and guilt–trip me?‘ Tuff thought, a little amused.
“Joyce, we’ve slept together so many times…” Quentin pleaded.
“Wasn’t it just a deal? I paid, you put in the work,” Joyce replied coldly, not missing a beat.
Tuff and Ka exchanged a look. ‘Is Joyce really treating this like she’s shopping for a gigolo or something?”
“You were even pregnant with my child…” Quentin pressed on.
“I had an abortion,” Joyce cut him off, her voice t and emotionless.
‘Man, she’s got her head screwed on straight,’ Tuff thought, a bit impressed.
‘Why can’t she ever be this sharp when ites to me?‘ Tuff thought, feeling a bit exasperated.
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Inside, the argument kept heating up until Quentin finally lost it, his voice full of threat. “If you don’t give in, I’ll leak your nudes! The full–size ones, too!”
Ka and Tuff thought, ‘Oh, now I get it.’
So it wasn’t just her sneaking pics. Quentin had been snapping his own shots too.
She was all about wide angles and long shots, sometimes zooming in for a face.
But Quentin? He was all up in her business, going for those extreme close–ups.
Tuff couldn’t help but think, ‘Man, this drama is wild.’
“You asshole! So it really was you!” Joyce screamed.
Tuff and Ka both pped their hands over their ears and backed away at the same time.
Well, mystery solved. Whatever happened next, it was not their problem anymore.
It wasn’t until they left the hospital that Tuff finally sighed, “Man, there’s always someone more ruthless out there!”
“Tell me about it,” Ka agreed.
Ka thought Quentin was seriously scary. Maybe he never nned to walk away, not since Joyce first came to him.
‘Yeah, I bet from the moment Joyce got him involved, quitting was never even on his mind, Ka thought.
Joyce really thought money could buy her anything, even love or a baby, but ying that game alwayses with a price.
From what Ka had found out, the Quentin family was pretty much washed up. As the only daughter of the Lambert family, Joyce was Quentin’s shortcut to easy money.
He was never going to let her go that easily.
Joyce wanted to get rid of him? Good luck with that.
“Finally, she’s not going to bug me anymore,” Tuff let out a sigh of relief.
But Ka didn’t buy it.
She thought, ‘She’s like a bad penny–never easy to get rid of.
*****
At four in the afternoon, Raymondfinally came home.
He lookedpletely wiped out, like he hadn’t slept in days.
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If it weren’t for the expensive suit and the entourage of secretary, driver, and assistant, he’d look just like some washed–up guy dragging himself home for the holidays.
“Dad? Why do you look so beat?” Tuff asked, surprised.
Raymondwaved him off. “Busy. Sick.”
Ka finally met the “gorgeous secretary” that Lily had been talking about.
She looked to be around thirty, with sharp eyes and a purposeful stride–definitely someone who meant
business<b>. </b>
“Ms. Sharp, thanks for all your hard work. You can all head home for the holidays now,” Raymondsaid.
Leah gave a respectful nod. “Yes, sir.”
And just like that, everyone went their separate ways.
There wasn’t even a whiff of an affair between them. Ka realized she’d totally misjudged the situation- guess she’d let Lily’s wild gossip mess with her head.
“Happy New Year, Dad,” Ka said, stepping forward to greet him.
Raymondnced up at her, looking a little out of it.
“Dad?” Tuff called out, sounding worried.
“It’s nothing. You two have been married for almost half a year, and I still can’t remember what my daughter- inw looks like,” Raymondsaid, pulling out a couple of gifts from his briefcase. He handed one to Ka and another to Landen. “Happy New Year!”
“Thanks, Dad!” Ka said, taking the gift.
“Thanks, Grandpa!” Landen chimed in, his face lighting up.
Ka epted the gift with a smile.
Landen was over the moon. “Grandpa, you’re so cool!”
Raymondpaused for a moment, then ruffled Landen’s hair with a warm smile. “You’re handsome too!”
‘So this is how a grandfather–grandson bond begins?‘ Ka thought, a little surprised but genuinely moved.
Raymondwent to his room to freshen up and pull himself together before heading over to the main house to pay his respects to Betty. All in all, it took another couple of hours before he finally made it to the hospital.
Tuff went with him, while Ka stayed home.
Raymondhad left his briefcase in the living room, so Ka grabbed it to return to his room. As she did, two packs of medicine unexpectedly fell out.
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She picked them up, and her face went pale.
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It was not cold medicine at all. These were high–grade meds specifically for treating gunshot wounds.
Raymondis supposed to be a straightced businessman. Why would he have something like this?‘ Ka’s heart was pounding, and it took her several seconds to steady herself.
She took a photo, then put the medicine back exactly where it was.
‘Should I tell Tuff about this?‘ Ka wondered.
As Ka was still debating what to do, her phone suddenly rang. It was Brian. “Happy New Year, Miss Kingsley.”
“Brian?” Ka’s voice was full of surprise and joy. “Where are you right now? Did you get something to eat? Who are you spending New Year’s with?”
“Dreicean,” Brian replied.
“Oh!” Ka said, her disappointment obvious.
“I thought you’d be back for New Year,” she added, unable to hide how let down she felt.
“Why would Ie back? Dreicean is home for me,” Brianughed.
“Are you with your family then?” Ka asked.
Brian looked around the big, empty house and nodded. “I am.”
“Alright then! Happy New Year, and hope everything goes your way!” Ka grinned. “Oh, and Brian, you really don’t have to hunt for medicine for me anymore. I’m all good now.”
“No way! Seriously?” Brian blurted out, totally stunned.
“For real! I’m totally fine now,” Ka replied, her voice bubbling with relief.
“Who treated you?” Brian asked.
Ka hesitated for a moment before answering, “I’m not really sure. I was so desperate that I tried everything -modern medicine, traditional medicine, even some home remedies. In the end, I have no idea what actually worked.”
“That’s really something…” Brian said, still a bit skeptical. ‘Is that even possible?‘ he wondered.
“Anyway, I’m really fine now, so you don’t have to worry about me anymore,” Ka reassured him, her voice light and easy.
Brian asked, “So, can you have kids now?” His voice was full of concern.
Ka replied, “I can’t say for sure yet, but at least all the pain and bleeding are gone. If I ever end up pregnant, you’ll be the first to hear about it.”
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Ka kept things vague on purpose, making sure Brian couldn’t figure out what was really going on.
Brian totally bought it andughed, “Like I’d be the first to know.”
“Why should I believe you?” Brian teased, raising an eyebrow.
“You’ve been fine for ages and never even told me!” he added, half–joking.
Ka was at a loss for words.
Thinking back, she realized she hadn’t reached out to Brian since he leftst time.
He was a friend she’d relied on for years, and she couldn’t help but feel a little guilty about it.
“Sorry about that, my bad,” Ka apologized, a little embarrassed. “Brian, I’ve actually started apany in Lunova, and I’m about to open a hotel too. Next time you’re in Lunova, you’ll get the full VIP treatment- room, board, everything’s on me!”
“Deal!” Brian replied cheerfully.
The moment the call ended, the loneliness hit Brian all at once.
Her illness was gone. She could finally live a normal, healthy life now.
‘Guess it’s time I stopped bothering her and let her be happy,‘ Brian thought to himself, a bittersweet emptiness settling in.
Brian stepped into his study, where items scarred by fire were arranged throughout the room–charred clothes, scorched decorations, burnt furniture, and singed electronics.
If not for the spotless white walls and pristine curtains, one’d almost think a fire had swept through this ce,
too.
Brian reached out, his fingers lingering over each item, lost in deep nostalgia.
Atst, he picked up an old photo.
The edges were scorched and jagged, but one could still make out a young couple and a little boy, maybe seven or eight, in the picture.
They looked so happy together, their smiles warm and genuine.
“Dad, Mom…” Brian whispered hoarsely, his voice trembling. A tear fell straight onto the photo.
Flustered, he hurriedly dabbed it away with his sleeve, afraid it might ruin the precious picture.
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