Chapter 23 - In front of her door
~Rael~
The slap still stung.
Not on my cheek, but somewhere deeper, somewhere I hadn’t realized was still capable of feeling. I stood there in the VIP room, soup on my shirt, my face tingling from the strike Harriet had delivered with everything in her. And all I could do was stare at the door she’d stormed out of.
That was it. That was the moment I’d pushed too far.
I knew it the second I said it, about her mother’s grave. The words had left my lips before my mind could reel them in. I hadn’t meant them. Not like that. But I was angry. She’d played with me. Danced into my world with her sharp tongue and challenging eyes, acting like she was untouchable. And I’d let her. Until I wasn’t sure who was playing who anymore.
She was gone now.
My fist clenched at my side as I slowly sat back down, the untouched meal staring up at me. I didn’t touch it. I just sat there, quiet.
The door swung open a few minutes later , and Kai walked in, his gaze complicated. He stood, battling whether to speak or not. I knew at that moment that he had something important to say.
“What happened?” I asked, turning back to her bowl of soup, my eyes devoid of the emotions. My chest felt empty once more. As though the feelings from earlier were an illusion.
“Sir, the young miss has been admitted to the hospital,” he reported, and my eyes hadn't left her bowl. I waved my hand in the air, dismissing him. I wasn't going to her. Instead, I'd wait for her to come to me herself. The previous guilt in my chest had vanished in the next second, and I ordered a change of clothes which Kai brought over in an instant.
After changing, I headed back to the company to bury myself in work. I could see the various gazes directed at me, but no one dared to speak or ask questions. I knew they wondered how ruthless I could be enough to bail on a woman at the altar and come to the office instead. That was the typical me. I didn't care what they all thought. I never saw a future with that woman. The only reason I'd agreed to marry her in the first place was because our first encounter had been rather ambiguous, and I'd tried to take responsibility. But now, looking back, I suddenly realized how terribly ill I'd been to not see how disgusting she made me feel. I'd compensate her for that night, I thought.
And when she came yelling outside the company, I didn't even bother to go downstairs. She'd eventually get tired. Or so I thought, but even after a while, she hadn't given up.
“Sir, the eldest miss of the Anderson family still refuses to leave,” Kai had come to report, and I raised my head to stare at him.
“Then let her stay,” I stated, focusing my attention on the document in front of me. Kai nodded before leaving.
Night time finally arrived. And I hadn't heard anything about Kylie Anderson again. I thought I was cold. Heartless. Indifferent to women. But the moment Kair reported that Harriet was waiting for me in the lounge, I flew over in an instant. What was this feeling? The guilt had started to creep in. And suddenly I was scared to meet her gaze. Her big blue eyes. Fuck! What was going on with me?
I walked over, and there she was–seated on the couch. She seemed weaker. Her eyes were much more swollen, making my chest feel uncomfortable. It ached.
When I walked over to her, she raised her eyes to stare at me.
“I'll move in with you,” she said, my voice breaking a bit. The look in her eyes told me something had happened. But whatever it was? It was good she changed her mind. I was thrilled for some reason.
I nodded, having Kai prepare the car. I could see a figure's eyes on us as we got in, and my eyes darkened inexplicably.
…
The whole ride was quiet as neither of us had anything to say. The air was thick with something none of us could fathom, and she stared out the window, and my gaze fell onto her red hair that had been tied into a messy bun with some strands falling onto her forehead.
Averting my gaze, the car soon drove into the mansion. We got out, heading into the mansion.
“You’ll use the new room. First door to the left. My room’s at the end.”
She gave a quiet nod and followed. I stood at the doorway of her room as she stepped inside, taking in the soft white bedding, and the large windows.
“There’s a wardrobe. Fresh towels in the bathroom. Kai will bring up some clothes for you tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” she said, turning to me slowly. I could see her battling to say something more.
Then she added,
“Don’t threaten my mother’s grave again.”
My jaw clenched. She was standing there, stripped bare of all her usual sass and stubbornness, yet still commanding me with nothing but a soft tone.
I nodded.
“I won’t.”
And just like that, she slammed the door in my face, making my lips arch. Interesting.
That night, I lay in bed, unable to sleep. I could hear the voices I'd tried so hard to shut out.
Why do you care so much, Morgan?
You’ve had women. Plenty. They come. They go. None of them ever slapped you and made you think about it hours later. None of them made you feel like you'd actually hurt someone just by opening your mouth.
But Harriet? She was different.
So damn different, it was terrifying.
I ran a hand through my hair, cursed under my breath, and got up.
I wasn’t even thinking as I walked through the hallway barefoot. I stopped in front of her door.