Chapter 45 High standard
Tonia was not used to being as neglected as she was today, needing to steal the spotlight from Karen like always, but she had run too far ahead that she didn’t know when the game had changed behind her.
Karen did not deny it, as honesty had always been her hallmark. “I don’t play the victim, Tonia. I’m not like you. You deserve what you got, and it’s nothing compared to what you did to me,” she retorted, and Roger’s brows raised.
She had indeed done it, making him proud of her, but he wondered what other form of mischief she had up her sleeves.
His little kitten wasn’t so naïve anymore, and he couldn’t wait to explore more of her. Surprinted will leave.
Tonia was glad Karen was showing her true colors. Unlike her, Karen did not seem smart enough to hide her evil side, but the response she got was heartbreaking.
“I would have fined you if you were the one on the floor.”
Giovanni was serious. Karen’s training was not complete, but the likes of Tonia shouldn’t be a match for her. Karen should be able to take down at least ten men on her own, so he would have indeed collected payment for all the time he spent training her.
Karen was about to say something when another familiar voice rang out behind Giovanni. “Karen, are you alright?” It was her mother, Katherine’s voice, and Tonia’s hope returned.
“Mom, it’s me. Karen injured my ankle,” she screamed from inside, expecting her mother to barge in, but it didn’t happen.
“Oh, Karen, I thought she injured you, and I’m glad you are fine,” Katherine said in a tone only Tonia used to enjoy before and was about to soothe Karen when Roger moved away. “She doesn’t need your care.”
The coldness in his voice tensed the air, and Katherine’s hands froze in midair. Before she could utter another word, Roger was already walking away with Karen in his arms.
For some reason, she was grateful to Roger for not allowing her mother to touch her. That woman heartlessly cut ties with her, and now, aside from exposing Tonia, Karen wanted nothing else to do with her.
Away from the evil she used to believe was her family, Karen tried to wiggle out of Roger’s arms. “It’s alright, Roger, I’m fine,” she said, but Roger’s expression hardened, and his grip around her tightened.
“What? You think you can use and toss me aside? Do you even know who I am?” Karen paled instantly. The atmosphere had shifted along with Roger’s temperament.
She thought it was gone, but no, it had only been sublimed. Giovanni smiled internally, partly guessing what had happened. He gave her a task, and within just a few hours, she was already in Roger’s arms.
Now, would she be able to resist Roger? He almost lost hope until he heard her stern voice. “Roger, don’t let me hate you,” she said seriously. Roger stiffened but smirked. “Put you down? Have you thought about your shoes?”
It would be shameful for her to go back there for them, and she didn’t want to face her mother again. How could Roger take advantage of her like this?
“So, what are you gonna do? Carry me like this throughout the night?” He wouldn’t, right? But she was in for another surprise. “For the rest of my life, you will never leave my side.”
Time passed, and with Roger’s concentration divided, the party ended an hour after the cutting of the cake.
There were enough rooms at the hotel for those who couldn’t go back, like those business partners who traveled from afar.
Roger was ready to leave with Karen, but his father stopped him. “Roger, we need to talk.”
Roger shook his head, afraid that any time away from Karen would make her escape. “Not now, Dad, I’m taking my wife home.”
Delanie and Declan had already left since they couldn’t be associated with the family for now. Their cousins had also left. “Alright, why don’t we all spend the night at home? It’s closer, and we can have breakfast together before you leave.”
Roger thought through his father’s words. The middle-aged man did not try to separate him and Karen, so he gave his conditions.
“For as long as Karen shares my room, I’ll agree.”
Giovanni’s gaze landed on Karen, and she pursed her lips. “Is this the reason you refused to adopt me?”
Giovanni nodded. “Indeed. You were already a part of the family, so that process wasn’t necessary, but trust me, even if you divorce Roger, you’ll still remain a part of this family.”
“Divorce will never happen,” Roger said seriously. Karen took a deep breath. Things were more complicated than she thought. About to speak, Giovanni beat her to it.
“Look, Karen, I’m so sorry for all this. Trust me, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot, but my hands were tied. I had to choose between you and my dying son.”
“Dying son?” Karen was confused until Molly explained. “Roger stopped eating and drinking water. You know what that means. He refused to let anyone in and had passed out. When the doctor resuscitated him, he requested to see you before accepting food.
It was only after we promised to get you to the party that he ate.”
Karen was dumbfounded, not believing Roger had done something like that for her sake, but “It doesn’t erase the pain he put me through, and I need to think.”
“I think we all need rest. Roger, please, spend the night with us and let's introduce Karen to the family,” Molly explained. Roger nodded.
Indeed, Karen had the right to know their family secrets. “Okay, just tonight.”
With the level of exhaustion, sleep stole them the moment they touched down, but Karen woke up with strong arms wrapped around her, feeling suffocated.
Roger was bare-chested, and she was just covered in a thin nightgown. The moment she attempted to disentangle herself, his hot breath met her ears.
“Good morning, wifey.”
The room was huge, and the bed cozy, but Roger’s closeness made her uncomfortable, and she had to admit that she missed Octavia and her family.
“Roger, I’m no longer the Karen you knew. My standards are high now. If you want me, there are steps you need to follow.”