Chapter 46 KIMBERLY'S PAST.
46.
~KIMBERLY~
"I'm sorry for standing up on you the other night, I lied to Rafael that I was busy with school and he got pissed." I say, apologizing to Jimmy who's busy staring at me like I've grown two horns.
"What a protective husband,huh?" He scoffs in a tone that depicts mockery.
"Why do you have a problem with Rafael? I mean, he didn't do anything wrong to you or..."
"That's why I have a problem with him, he makes me question if my morals are really the only right thing I should follow, it's fucking messed up, Kim." He cut me off in an exasperated manner, his jaw clenches and Jimmy swallows in difficulty.
"We all have different stories to tell, Jim. I know you've lived your life trying to be a good person but some of us never got the privilege to live like that."A dissonant laugh spills out of me, tasting how cringe my ridiculous my words sound but he doesn't laugh with me.
Instead, he stares at me keenly, as if he's searching for something on my face, I badly want to tell him about me, but it's too early to trust someone like him.
Judging by how Rafael warned me to stay away from him, I know it's not jealousy because he has no reason to feel like that about me.
I've not gotten to know Jimmy properly, maybe he's on my side or against me, and this is a period to be careful about the words I say about myself to people, I don't want to ruin anything for Rafael. He already has enough to deal with.
"Tell me Kim." He presses harder.
I bite my lips in hesitation, because what should I tell Jimmy that will satiate the curiosity on his face? Or where do I start from?
Clearing my throat, I push the strand of stubborn hair trapped in my eyelashes back nervously.
"I was raised by a single parent, My Dad was dirt poor, and my mom was a hot chic then, she loved the idea of enjoying and living her life and I didn't hate her for it, I mean, we all would probably want to enjoy at a point in our lives but what I loathed her for was how she would come home on weekends, wearing tight dresses and high heels, bullying Dad to give her money. And I hated it, but he was so in love with her, he wanted to save her and I guess he needed some air too, so..." I trail off, swallowing the hard lump in my throat.
Jimmy's eyes soften immediately at me, almost making me chuckle.
"He died?" He blurt, unable to keep the curiosity out of his tone.
"No." I chortle dryly, shaking my head. "He started gambling,and he was so neck deep into it and it ruined our already bankrupt finances, and things went out of hand, I think he died according to the person I lived with, but I don't know about my Mom." I reply, unable to keep the strife off my tone.
I relate so much with Rafael, just that my Mom was the horrible person to me, but Dad wasn't, he was just a victim of life, life happened to him, and I don't blame him but I hate how I got separated from him and Mom didn't bother to come look for me. It made me feel useless, I managed to get over her for years, but knowing about Rafael's Mom brought back the memories.
How he talked about her with so much love and tenderness, I wish I could do that, even Dad didn't manage to remain perfect to me because he succumbed to the pressures too.
He ruined my life. I got traded to Frederick and now, I'm married to his son to save my life.
Yesterday, Rafael probably thought I cried for him only but I cried for me too, the one who was a victim of two irresponsible adults.
"Kim, I'm so sorry." He mumbles, pity flickers in his eyes which I hate the most.
I didn't tell Cora about it in detail because she would sob and cry for me which I hate the most. That's why I avoided dating all my life, even when I could afford dating, I didn't. Because it automatically means I have to be vulnerable with my partner and tell him everything which I couldn't find myself doing.
"It's fine, I'm over it." I sniffle out a mirthless laugh and clean the small tears laced under my wet lashes.
"And I'm sorry for treating you horribly in the room that day, I was so angry, but I didn't know you..."
"You did your job as a cop, Jimmy, don't beat yourself up, you just failed in behaving like a human part but I get it, I don't expect a pat in the back after I was accused of killing him." I tease, making him chuckle.
"But did you? I mean, you don't have to say it out loud but..."
"Frederick died, that's all that matters." I slip in dismissively, hoping he drops the topic and thankfully, Jimmy did.
After finishing our coffee, we both walk to the class together to have the rest of our classes, and when it's time for me to go home, I send Rafael a text to alert his driver.
But he calls me the moment the message gets delivered."Hey." He says, his voice is a bit airy and a tad nervous.
"Hi, I just want to tell you that..."
"Come outside the school gate, you will see me there."
"Oh, sure." I mumble with a small smile playing on my lips.
Did he come to get me or he's doing something around my school?
Hmph.
Getting to the school gate, Rafael's car isn't hard to notice due to the gushing from the students and the constant flashing of their phone, taking pictures of his long frame leaning beside the car but his face is buried into the phone in his hand, a frown knitted in his eyebrows.
"Hey." I wave at him a few steps away from him.
He slips the phone inside his pocket immediately and waves back.
"Hi. You're done?" Rafael asks, opening the car door at the same time.
"Yeah."
"Get in then." He tilt his head to the direction of the car door.
Sitting inside the car, Rafael shuts the door behind me and walk over to the driver side after fixing my seat belt, he ignites the car to life and drives slowly out of the premises.
"Is your driver not available? Or you had an appointment around here?"
Rafael's knuckles turns white as they fist hard against the wheels and he shakes his head.
"I wanted to get out of the company for a moment, it was feeling too stuffy and I will have to call my lawyers tonight, so..."
I didn't forget about the meeting he will have to hold with his lawyers concerning his lawsuit with Baxter and how he has to come clean with them, my heart wanes at how difficult and choking it will be for him tonight.
This man can't even catch a break. And he's doing a good job in concealing it in those masked eyes.
"I'm scared, Kimberly."
We finally get a glimpse about Kimberly's life too.🫢🫢🫢🫢
There's so much to unpack concerning her past and I'm so ready to unveil it to you guysss!
Add to your library, for a constant reminder of my update, thank you!🥹🤍