Chapter 141 One Hundred And Forty One
The house had barely settled back into silence after Helen’s departure when the faint sound of footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Kennedy stood in the living room, still staring at the door as if expecting it to open again.
His mind hadn’t caught up with everything he had just heard.
Sofia.
Blackmail.
Ernest.
Manipulation.
The words looped over and over again in his head, each repetition tightening something deep in his chest.
How had things spiraled this far?
And how had he not seen it?
“You’re going to stand there all morning?”
The voice came from behind him.
Calm.
Sharp.
Familiar.
Kennedy turned.
Priscilla stood at the base of the stairs, dressed in a silk robe, her arms folded neatly across her chest. Her hair was tied back, though a few strands had escaped, softening her otherwise composed appearance.
But her eyes—
Her eyes were alert.
Watchful.
And very much awake.
Kennedy exhaled quietly.
“Mom.”
She stepped down the last stair slowly.
“I was wondering how long it would take before you noticed I was awake.”
He frowned slightly.
“You heard that?”
Priscilla raised a brow.
“My dear, half the house heard that.”
Kennedy ran a hand through his hair.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize yet,” she said, walking into the living room. “Explain.”
He hesitated.
Priscilla stopped in front of him.
“Who was that at the door so early?”
“Helen.”
Her brows lifted slightly.
“Helen?”
“Yes.”
“And she came here at… what time is it now?”
Kennedy glanced at his watch.
“Almost seven.”
Priscilla’s lips pressed into a thin line.
“And she came unannounced.”
“Yes.”
“For what exactly?”
Kennedy exhaled slowly.
“She needed Sofia’s address.”
That made Priscilla pause.
“Sofia’s?”
“Yes.”
Priscilla’s eyes sharpened instantly.
“And why would Helen need Sofia’s address?”
Kennedy hesitated again.
Which only made her more suspicious.
“Kennedy.”
Her tone dropped slightly.
“What happened?”
He looked at her.
And for the first time since the conversation ended—
The weight of everything he had just learned truly settled in.
“It’s about Sofia,” he said quietly.
Priscilla gave a small, knowing scoff.
“When is it not?”
“No, Mom… it’s serious.”
She studied his face carefully.
Then she moved past him and sat down on the couch.
“Well?”
She gestured toward the chair opposite her.
“Sit.”
Kennedy obeyed.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then he finally said—
“She’s been blackmailing someone.”
Priscilla didn’t react immediately.
“Someone?”
“Helen’s husband.”
That got her attention.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Ernest?”
“Yes.”
“And how exactly is she blackmailing him?”
Kennedy leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“She has… pictures. Videos. From their past affair.”
Priscilla’s expression darkened instantly.
“I see.”
“And she threatened to release them.”
“For what purpose?”
“To get him to help her break me and Antonia apart.”
Silence fell over the room.
Heavy.
Thick.
Priscilla leaned back slowly, absorbing the information.
Then she exhaled.
“I’m not surprised.”
Kennedy blinked.
“You’re not?”
She looked at him.
“No.”
He stared at her.
“Mom, she’s blackmailing people.”
“Yes.”
“That doesn’t shock you?”
Priscilla’s gaze was steady.
“I told you I didn’t trust that woman.”
Kennedy’s jaw tightened.
“I know.”
“I warned you.”
“I know.”
“And yet you still allowed her back into your life.”
Kennedy looked away.
Guilt pressed heavily against his chest.
“I thought she had changed.”
Priscilla gave a quiet, humorless laugh.
“Men always think that.”
Kennedy exhaled slowly.
“I was wrong.”
“Yes,” she said simply.
The bluntness stung.
But he didn’t argue.
Because she wasn’t wrong.
“I should have listened to you,” he admitted quietly.
Priscilla watched him carefully.
There was something different in his tone.
Not defensive.
Not dismissive.
Just… tired.
And sincere.
“I didn’t just ignore your advice,” Kennedy continued. “I dismissed it.”
Priscilla said nothing.
“I thought you were being overly critical.”
“And now?”
He met her gaze.
“Now I see you were right.”
A long pause followed.
Then Priscilla nodded slowly.
“Good.”
Kennedy frowned slightly.
“That’s it?”
“What more do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know… I expected a longer lecture.”
She raised a brow.
“Oh, don’t worry. That can still be arranged.”
He almost smiled.
Almost.
But it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Instead, his expression turned serious again.
“There’s more.”
Priscilla’s attention sharpened.
“What else?”
Kennedy hesitated.
Then said—
“She also told Antonia about… the kiss.”
Priscilla went very still.
“The kiss?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes narrowed slowly.
“You kissed her?”
Kennedy winced slightly.
“She kissed me.”
“And you didn’t stop it.”
He didn’t answer.
Which was answer enough.
Priscilla closed her eyes briefly.
“Unbelievable.”
“I know.”
“And Antonia knows?”
“Yes.”
Priscilla shook her head slowly.
“You truly have a gift for making things worse.”
Kennedy rubbed his forehead.
“You don’t have to remind me.”
“Oh, I absolutely do.”
He sighed.
“I regret it.”
“You should.”
“I didn’t plan it.”
“You still allowed it.”
Kennedy leaned back in his chair.
“I was angry.”
“At Antonia?”
“Yes.”
Priscilla’s expression hardened.
“So you decided to hurt her instead.”
“It wasn’t intentional.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Kennedy fell silent again.
Because once again—
She was right.
The truth was becoming harder and harder to avoid.
He had let his emotions get the better of him.
And in the process—
He had hurt the one person he didn’t want to lose.
Priscilla watched him for a moment.
Then her voice softened slightly.
“Do you still want to be with Antonia?”
Kennedy didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
The answer came easily.
Without doubt.
Without confusion.
Priscilla studied him carefully.
“Then why are you acting like you don’t?”
Kennedy exhaled slowly.
“I don’t know how to fix this.”
He ran a hand through his hair again, frustration creeping back in.
“That’s why I need your help.”
Priscilla raised a brow.
“My help?”
“Yes.”
“With what?”
He leaned forward slightly.
“I want to talk to her.”
Priscilla didn’t look convinced.
“You’ve already done quite a bit of talking.”
“I want to talk properly.”
She crossed her legs.
“And what makes you think she’ll listen?”
Kennedy hesitated.
“I don’t know if she will.”
“Then what exactly are you asking me to do?”
He held her gaze.
“Come with me.”
Priscilla blinked.
“Come with you?”
“Yes.”
“To speak to Antonia.”
Her expression shifted slightly.
“You want me to convince her to forgive you?”
“I want you to help me fix this.”
Priscilla leaned back slowly.
“That’s a tall order.”
“I know.”
“And why should I get involved?”
Kennedy’s voice softened.
“Because she respects you.”
Priscilla didn’t deny it.
“And?”
“And because you want us together.”
She studied him carefully.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether you’re truly serious about her.”
Kennedy’s expression didn’t waver.
“I am.”
“No more Sofia?”
“No more Sofia.”
“No more mistakes?”
He hesitated.
“I can’t promise I’ll never make mistakes.”
Priscilla nodded slightly.
“Good answer.”
“But I can promise I won’t repeat this one.”
She held his gaze for a long moment, then stood up slowly.
“Get ready.”
Kennedy blinked.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“You want to go now?”
“Before you change your mind.”
He stood up quickly.
“I’m not going to change my mind.”
“Good, because this might be your last chance.”
The words landed heavily.
Kennedy swallowed.
“I understand.”
Priscilla moved toward the stairs.
“I’ll get dressed.”