Chapter 123 Lunatic
Verena
Laptop pressed to my chest, my step on the tiled kitchen floor faltered, a disgruntled groan leaving my mouth as I spotted Kian sitting on a stool, head tipped back as he downed a bottle of whiskey.
“What the hell,” I whispered under my breath, instant regret flooding through me.
It was one in the morning and I’d woken up to snack on the rest of my ice cream cake and finish my work that kept piling before I resumed office next week. Daxton had told me to let it be and with Kian sitting here wasted, I wished I had listened.
I would just slink away before he could notice. This was early morning and with sleep still in my eyes, the last thing I wanted to entertain was a back-and–forth between the two of us.
Before I could even turn, his eyes snapped to mine—shoot—softening as his lips formed a smile. “You're here…” he slurred over his words, reeking of alcohol and all the things I didn't want to be affiliated with. “I knew you would come, your soul recognizes mine because we are soulmates,”
I rolled my eyes, and let out a slow breath. Not again. If I had a clue that Kian was in the kitchen instead of the guest villa, Riley put him in, best believe that I wouldn’t have stepped foot here.
“Kian, this is around one in the morning. Pretty early. I don't have the time for your drama. Please leave me alone,”
The corner of his mouth tipped up in a smile. “Verena. Verena. Verena.” He let his forehead rest against the cool marble of the island.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
With him hitting his forehead softly like that, I knew something dark was brewing inside of him. This calm and collected side of him was the quiet before the storm and I had no intention of getting caught up in Kian’s madness. Since I was already here, I would just grab my cake and leave.
Just as I took a step, Kian’s voice touched my ears, freezing me in place.
“I missed you, Verena. I missed you so bad that I flew a drone to see you in that bikini you mentioned but such a shame, before I could get a proper glimpse, he covered you,”
I closed my eyes, trying to rein in the sudden anger that threatened to consume every fibre of my being.
“Kian—” I breathed, whipping my head to him. “You are sick in the head and disgusting. Eww!”
Light spilled from Kian’s eyes like he enjoyed seeing me getting riled up and I suddenly hated myself for giving him the attention he was seeking from me.
“Look, can we not do this right now and…”
He cut in, the spark in his eyes now gone. “Women are horrible liars. The worst liar of them all is the woman standing in front of me right now,”
My brain short-circuited. Oh, my God. Liar? Where was this even coming from?
“Liar?” I pointed to myself. “Did you just call me a liar?”
His eyes closed from drowsiness, head swaying as he nodded.
“Kian, if I’m a liar, then what does that make you? The worst person on planet earth? A narcissist, manipulator—” I held my tongue back when I realized I was raising my voice. I couldn't have Riley, Daxton or anyone walking in on us doing this by this time.
It would be so embarrassing.
Kian barked out a small scoffing laugh. “You made a vow to me, Verena Carson. To love and to uphold. To death do us part—” he slammed his fist down and I flinched.
“I could still remember the smile in your eyes when we exchanged our wedding vows but the same woman who promised to be with me till I take my last breath is getting excited over the idea of getting married to my uncle. You are nothing but a bloody liar!”
I couldn't help the incredulous laugh that left my mouth. But would I blame him? No. It was my fault for standing here, listening to the rambling of a drunk man who looked like he was one second away from slumping to the floor.
I wanted to remind him that he cheated on me. He was the one who ruined the rest of what we had. I wanted to tell him that I was glad he ruined us because how would I have met his uncle?
But, what was the point? He was drunk, hopeless, and stupid. So I allowed the words to die in my throat.
“The vibe here is already good and if you’ve an ounce of respect for Riley, because I know you have none for me, you would leave and stop this nonsense already. It is her wedding—”
Kian flipped me off quickly. “Aunt Riley?”
“Who cares about Aunt Riley. Do you think I came all the way here because I cared that she was getting married? I came because of you. Everything I do is for you,”
So, he came because he knew I would be here. I was about to get sick.
“Why is it so hard for you to forgive me? One horrible mistake and you act like I committed a crime against the world. Do you think Uncle Daxton loves you? You are just his little cock-sucker. You can't even give him children,”
Pain stabbed me straight in the chest, as my blood ran cold. “Thank you for the painful reminder. But my man doesn't seem to care about that so go fuck yourself in the ass,” I fought to keep my smile steady.
Kian let out a harsh, brittle laugh, tears glinting in his eyes. “I swear on my life, if you even think about marrying my uncle—or worse, accepting his proposal—I’ll put a bullet in my head right in front of you.”
I scoffed. Was I supposed to care?
“Why not save us time and do it right now!”
His eyes darkened on me, a muscle in his jaw ticking as he shook his head. “No, I think that will be too easy. What if I drive a truck into the crowd at your wedding and ruin it just like you ruined me,”
“Or what if I set a bomb at the altar?”
I clicked my tongue in my mouth, shaking my head for the mess of a man he’d become. “You are a lunatic. A mad man and I am done with whatever this is. I’m out of here.”