Chapter 240 The Saboteur's Shadow
Chapter 240 The Saboteur's Shadow
"He said a few hours, he did not say twenty-four hours," Baby paced the hallway, his lips pursed.
Saint was leaning on the wall, watching Baby prance about.
"It's not twenty-four hours, Babe. She arrived here in the evening..." He trailed off, frowning as he stared at the door in front of him.
"The point is, she hasn't moved a muscle. She slept like a log all night, and frankly, I'm no Saint... she better wake up before I help her cross over. I can't be babysitting someone who wants to steal my man," Baby muttered.
"Hey..." Saint caught Baby's arm and gently pulled him close.
"What?" Baby asked, still frowning.
"I'm yours," Saint smiled.
"Damn right you are," Baby scoffed.
Saint chuckled. "So..." He cupped Baby's face. "Relax. No one's taking me away. I'm not planning on going anywhere either, okay?"
Baby sighed. "Okay..." He stood on his tiptoes and kissed Saint slowly.
Thud!
The sound of something—someone—falling came from the door in front of them.
"She's awake," Saint murmured.
Baby turned his head toward the door. "About time," he said.
"Come on. Be nice," Saint took Baby's hand and led him toward the door.
"If she is nice too," Baby replied as Saint pushed open the door.
Kora was sitting on the floor, rubbing her temple with a slight frown.
When she heard the door open, she snapped her head up, her eyes widening as she saw Saint and Baby walking into the room.
"S-saint?" she stammered, glancing over at Baby very briefly. "Where am I?" she questioned, looking confused.
"In one of my rooms. Are you hurting anywhere?" Saint asked, pausing at the center of the room without letting go of Baby's hand.
Kora blinked slowly, looking around the room as if to confirm what Saint was saying. She sighed, running her fingers through her messy hair.
"How did I get here?" Kora asked.
"What is your last memory from yesterday?" Saint questioned gently.
Her brows knitted in concentration. She was really trying hard to recall what happened.
"Um... I fell asleep. No..." She shook her head, scratching her neck. "We drank first. My mother and her best friend, Anna, who is also my godmother—"
"What a combo," Baby muttered.
"Baby," Saint narrowed his eyes.
"Continue, please," Baby said, smiling at Kora.
Kora looked away, not seeming in the mood to entertain Baby's shenanigans.
"Well, she drank for a while, and, um, my father, he asked me if I've spoken to you, and I said no. He told me to give you a call and tell you he had something important to discuss with you. Then..." Her brows creased tightly in deep thought. "That's it... I think I went up to my room and had a nap. How did I end up in your house?" she asked, looking so thrown off.
One could almost say that she looked tired of everything. But concluding so early was dangerous with someone like Kora.
"Well, you drove over here like you were escaping some exceptionally fast zombies. And then, before anyone could really understand your words, you jumped on Saint... you tried to rape him, Kora... he's quite traumatized now," Baby sighed softly.
"Did I do that?" Kora asked... "Again..." she mumbled.
"Again?" Saint frowned, gently stepping toward her.
Kora chuckled, "I guess Baby is right—"
"Hallelujah, miracles do happen..." Baby trailed off, clearing his throat. "Please, continue," he smiled at her again.
"What did you mean by again?" Saint asked.
"The day I came here and broke your vase. The day Baby told me to visit an asylum... I think, no, I know something was triggering me, but I can't say what. It's like I have this voice in my head, telling me to do these things—"
"Your mother," Baby scoffed.
"Yes..." Kora murmured.
"What?" Baby asked.
He had meant to be sarcastic, not intending for Kora to agree with him.
"I hear her voice in my head whenever I'm triggered. She keeps whispering how I'm supposed to marry Saint, how I'm supposed to take over Saint's wealth, and how I should be free to do whatever I want even as a married woman..." She lifted her face to them, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm tired... so tired... can I not go back to her?" she whispered. "Can I stay with you guys? I don't even know what I want anymore."
Baby chuckled. "Nice try, Kora Miller. But, NOPE! You cannot stay with us... I see right through you," he frowned.
Baby wasn't letting the past repeat itself.
He had trusted Kora in the past, believed she had let go of Saint. But what did she do? She blackmailed Saint and stabbed Baby right in the back.
There was no way in hell he was letting her stay under the same roof as them.
"You can stay," Saint murmured, studying Kora's face.
"What?" Baby asked, slowly letting go of Saint's hand and stepping away from him.
"Baby, listen—"
"Nah, it's fine..." Baby cut him off. "I see what's happening here. I'm third-wheeling for a married couple," he chuckled dryly.
"Babe—"
"Don't worry, I'll give you guys some room to start your honeymoon." He turned to leave, but Saint pressed the door shut from behind him.
"Just listen to my reasoning," Saint begged.
Baby spun around to face Saint, his eyes filled with disappointment. "Why all the stress? Why all the resisting if it was all going to end with you finally coddling her and even siding with her?" Baby questioned.
Saint shook his head, "You're wrong. We have to help—"
"Spare me that saving-her trash talk, Saint. I know what you're trying to say; she's been manipulated by her mother and now she has suddenly realized that this is not the kind of life she wants and suddenly wants to break free from her mentor?" He laughed dryly. "Try another script, Saint. If you really believe that bitch after all she has done, then I'm starting to question your mentality. Maybe I don't even know you like I thought I did." He glared past Saint's shoulder to Kora, who was sitting quietly on the floor, chewing her fingers anxiously.
"Baby, I do not trust Kora. I never said that. But you and I saw what happened yesterday and—"
"And she is that crazy, Saint. She might even be the one to inject herself with that stuff and let us all think it was her mother. It's a family of saboteurs; they don't mind framing each other to get what they want," Baby stated.
"You can believe her all you want, Saint. I won't," Baby folded his arms.
Saint sighed quietly and stepped away from Baby, staring at his boyfriend for a few seconds. Baby was right on every rational count, and he had every reason not to trust Kora.
But his instinct was telling him that Kora was innocent this time. Maybe she had always been innocent.
"What did I inject? I never injected anything on myself. I hate needles," Kora whispered.
Saint lifted his eyes to Baby, arching his brows, "Please... let's keep her. It's an advantage to us," he said softly.