Chapter 49 Afraid
KARA’S POV
Morning arrives too quickly, the kind of morning that feels unfair because you know something beautiful is about to end.
I stand on the balcony of the resort room for the last time, watching the ocean stretch endlessly under the soft light of sunrise. The waves roll gently toward the shore like they did yesterday, calm and peaceful, as if nothing in the world is changing, but everything feels different now because today, we leave.
I take a deep breath of the salty air before stepping back inside.
Finnian is already waiting by the door when I come out of the bedroom. He’s leaning casually against the wall, car keys spinning lazily around his finger. His hair is still slightly messy from the morning breeze, and he’s wearing a simple black shirt and jeans.
He looks simple, but somehow he still looks unfairly good.
“Ready?” he asks.
I nod.
“Yeah.”
But the word feels heavier than it should. The ride back to the city is quieter than the ride to the resort. Not uncomfortable, just… thoughtful. Like both of us are holding onto the memories of yesterday without saying it out loud. Finnian hums softly along to the music playing on the radio while his hand rests loosely on the steering wheel. Every now and then he glances at me and every time he does, I feel that same strange flutter in my chest.
When we finally pull up in front of my house, Dad is already outside watering the small plants near the gate. He looks up when the car stops and his eyes immediately land on Finnian. Dad straightens slightly and Finnian steps out of the car first, walking around to open my door.
Dad raises an eyebrow at that.
“Well,” he says with a half-smile. “Someone’s got manners.”
Finnian chuckles.
“Good morning, sir.”
Dad studies him for a moment before nodding.
“Morning.”
A few minutes later, the two of them are sitting on the porch talking and laughing. I lean against the doorframe watching them, slightly amused. Finnian listens attentively as Dad tells one of his old stories about fixing broken radios back in the day.
“And then the whole thing exploded,” Dad says dramatically.
Finnian bursts out laughing.
“You’re serious?”
“Completely.”
“Remind me never to let you repair my electronics.”
Dad grins proudly.
“Too late, I already offered.”
I shake my head, smiling to myself. The warmth of the moment settles quietly around us, but exhaustion from the trip suddenly crashes into me like a wave.
“I’m going to take a nap,” I announce.
Dad waves his hand.
“Go ahead.”
Finnian glances at me.
“Tired?”
“Very.”
He smiles softly.
“Sleep well, Kara.”
I nod before heading inside. The moment I reach my room, I collapse onto the bed, and sleep comes almost instantly.
When I wake up again, the sky outside my window is already dark and my stomach growls loudly.
“Okay, okay,” I mutter, rubbing my eyes.
I drag myself out of bed and head toward the kitchen, still half-asleep, but as I approach the living room, I slow down. Dad is sitting alone on the couch as the lights are dim. He is holding the framed photograph of Mom and he’s staring at it like it holds answers to something only he understands.
I freeze quietly in the hallway because dad’s voice breaks the silence.
“Honey… I don’t know how to tell her.”
My brows furrow.
Tell who?
His thumb gently brushes the edge of the photo.
“I’m afraid.”
The words come out like they physically hurt to say and my chest tightens.
Afraid of what?
He sighs deeply, leaning forward as if the weight of the world is pressing down on his shoulders.
“I promised you I’d protect her,” he murmurs.
The pain in his voice makes something twist painfully inside me. I want to walk in, ask him what he means, but something stops me. So instead, I quietly turn around and go back to my room.
My hunger was suddenly forgotten.
Another morning and another day at work. The office is already buzzing when I arrive, keyboards clacking and phones ringing endlessly. Routines, normal tasks, and the exact kind that I need, or at least what I think I need. But the moment I step inside the department, Cathy’s voice cuts through the room like a blade.
“Well, well,” she says loudly.
My shoulders tense.
“Look who finally decided to show up.”
I sigh quietly, not today. Please not today. I walk toward my desk without responding, but Cathy isn’t done.
“Oh come on, Kara,” she continues mockingly. “Don’t be shy.”
I slowly turn around.
“What do you want, Cathy?”
She crosses her arms, her lips twisting into a bitter smile.
“I heard about your little vacation.”
My stomach tightens.
“What are you talking about?”
She laughs coldly.
“The resort, the island hopping, and the luxury car.”
Several coworkers stop typing, watch us, and listen.
Cathy tilts her head.
“Must be nice getting special treatment from Mr. Stewheinz.”
My eyes narrow.
“Watch what you’re implying.”
“Oh please,” she scoffs. “Everyone knows how women like you get ahead.”
The words hit harder than I expect.
“What exactly is that supposed to mean?”
Her voice grows sharper.
“It means you’re nothing but a gold digger who spreads her legs for powerful men.”
The office falls silent and something inside me snaps. Before I even realize what I’m doing, I step closer.
“Take that back.”
Cathy laughs mockingly.
“Why? Did I hit the truth?”
And then my hand moves before my brain can stop it. I slapped her hard that I made her face almost tilt. The sound echoes across the office, gasps erupt everywhere, and Cathy’s eyes widen in shock before her face twists with rage.
“You bitch!”
She lunges forward and suddenly we’re both shouting, grabbing, and pushing. Someone knocks over a chair and papers scatter everywhere.
“Kara, stop!”
“Cathy!”
But the chaos has already exploded. It takes three coworkers to pull us apart. My breathing is heavy already and Cathy’s hair is a mess and her lipstick is smeared. Minutes later, we’re standing in front of HR. Allen stands beside us as a witness and the HR manager folds her hands on the desk.
“Mr. Allen, please explain what happened.”
Allen clears his throat.
“Cathy started the confrontation.”
Cathy spins toward him.
“You liar!”
Allen doesn’t flinch.
“She insulted Kara first.”
The HR manager looks at Cathy with disappointment.
“Is this true?”
Cathy’s silence says everything and the decision comes quickly.
“I’m sorry, Cathy,” the HR manager says firmly. “But your behavior violated company conduct. You are terminated effective immediately.”
Cathy’s face crumbles.
“No—please—”
Tears begin falling down her cheeks.
“Please, I need this job.”
For a moment, guilt squeezes my chest, but HR simply shakes her head.
“The decision is final.”
Cathy grabs her bag, sobbing as she storms out of the office, the door slams behind her, and the silence that follows feels heavy.
Later that morning, I sit quietly at my desk. My fingers hover above the keyboard, but my thoughts aren’t here. They’re back at home and back to last night.
Honey… I don’t know how to tell her.
I’m afraid.
My chest tightens again.
Was Dad talking about me?
What is he hiding?
I shake my head firmly. No. Stop, Kara. You’re just overthinking. I force myself to focus on the stack of documents waiting on my desk because the CEO personally assigned these tasks to me and they all need to be finished before the day ends.
So I take a deep breath, straighten my posture, and starts typing. Because right now, work is the only thing keeping my thoughts from wandering somewhere I’m not ready to face yet.