Chapter 127 Delete
Kian
When did it all go wrong?
How did I reach a point where I, Kian, would pay someone to spike a drink—the drink of the woman swung over my shoulder, passed out.
I’d done questionable things to Verena in the past but this was on another level and the jarring part? I didn’t feel a single sense of remorse.
Not when I broke into her house.
Or now.
Protection. That was all it was. A man like my uncle wouldn’t allow her to leave on her own will. If he didn’t manipulate her into staying, as he had manipulated her into hating me, he would force her—so this was me looking out for her.
I ignored the curious and suspicious glances thrown my way as the elevator’s door pinged wide open. I’d intended to take Verena back to our mansion, the home I’d purchased for us after our wedding.
But with that psycho uncle of mine, whom I wished would just disappear into nothing and never return, it was only a matter of time before he cracked the location of the person who had sent the email.
That it wasn’t from North Serbia. Neither was it a woman but me.
A weird feeling settled at the pit of my stomach and I dreaded what Verena’s reaction would be after she woke up. I didn’t want to think about it.
Somehow, the greater part of me leaned on the fact—possibility—that she would choose me this time since she now knew the dark truth about my uncle and I found solace in it.
Verena will choose me.
As I stepped into the apartment, I breathed. “Damn…” a low grunt escaped me. “When did you get so heavy ?”
The last time I’d carried her this way was when we were still hooked on the honeymoon stage. Those times when it felt like nothing could ever come between us.
If I could pay a fortune to live in the past forever. I would. As long as it took me back to all our good times before that devil came crashing into our lives.
I hated my uncle.
I hated him so much that words were not enough to describe the level of rage that burned inside of me just at the thought of him.
“If that man had not returned to Dallas, the…” my words trailed as I halted in my steps.
A coat that wasn't mine was draped over the chair, a Rolex wristwatch and cufflinks barreled against each other. This wasn't how I left the apartment. Could it be that…
My heart slammed against my ribcage, hard enough to cause bruises and for a fleeting moment, fear scraped up my throat until Jaden popped out of the room with a mouthful of whatever he was eating.
Relief slammed straight into my chest and that was when it hit him, I’d asked him to come and help with the work that the wannabe CEO—a bastard to the core—Mikaelson piled on me for spending more days in Spain than the one I’d requested when I applied for leave.
The audacity!
Still, this was proof of how my uncle had messed with my head. He’d cornered me so much that I became weak. To take back control of my life, I had to cross every line he’d set.
Something to show him that I didn't give a fuck about him and his stupid final warning.
This was me taking back my life. And that included Verena so fuck him!
Exhaustion rocked me and I couldn't wait to drop Verena and crash into bed next to her.
Jaden blinked, tilting his head as I carried Verena past him. “Isn't that Miss Carson?”
“Yes,” I said while he followed after me.
“And why does she look passed out?”
Irritation flickered through my veins at the questions. Two questions. “Probably because I spiked her drink and…”
I had barely finished when the plate he gripped fell to the ground, and I whipped my head fast to him.
“You did what!”
I frowned. “I had her drink laced. It’s the only way I get to bring her here,” I raised a brow. “Is there a problem?”
Jaden’s mouth parted and he had a look—one that I had never seen on his face before. “I don't understand. What happened to you sending the email, and waiting for her to come back begging?”
I interrupted, unfazed by his reaction. “I don't need to explain anything to you,”
All of a sudden, he snapped, removing his glasses and tossing them to the nearest couch. “I’m sorry but this is going too far and I don't want to be a part of this. We created a plan and that plan doesn't involve this!”
“Do you not understand the gravity of the situation…” he pointed to Verena, devastated as he returned his gaze to me, pushing his hand into his hair. “This here is a crime with severe legal consequences,”
His fingers fumbled for his phone. “I should call your dad…and book a therapy session while we are at it,”
I stared at him unblinkingly. “Are you done?”
“Call him but don’t forget to hand in your resignation letter afterward,”
His face blanched. “Mr.Kian,”
“Get out of my apartment.”
Who the heck did he think he was to tell me what to do and not do? I had indulged Jaden in every aspect of my life and now, he felt like he had the right to speak to me however he pleased. If I weren’t exhausted from carrying Verena to the top floor, there’s no way I would have let this slide
The sound of the door being slammed shut told me that he’d left and honestly, I didn't care.
I dropped Verena on the bed, a flurry of emotions crashing through me as the corner of my lips twitched into a smile.
She was on my bed. My fucking bed.
I unlaced her boots, removed her coat, and adjusted the pillow under her head.
I brushed my knuckles through her face, my throat parching as my eyes settled on her lips. A sudden hunger for desire bloomed through me and that was when I realized that I had missed those beautiful plump lips.
I didn't think. There wasn't a need for thoughts so I just leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her mouth, dragging my lips lower down her neck until they rested on the small pulse at the base of her neck.
As I pulled back, staring at her face, an ugly memory reared its head at me—of my uncle caging her against the wall and kissing her after Aunt Riley’s wedding.
I shook my head. Shook off that horrid memory, moving from the bed and as I tried to fold the coat, my fingers brushed something hard. Her phone.
“Let’s see what you’ve been up to.” I plugged in the phone, charged it, and used her Face ID to unlock it.
The picture she used as the phone’s background made anger course through me for a second. It was of her and my uncle. Disgust crawled on my face and I found myself shooting a glare at Verena.
The last time I checked, when we were still married, she never used my own picture as her lock screen or wallpaper. Yet, here she was flaunting their wrecked relationship before me even in her unconscious state.
And the worst part, the messages she exchanged with my uncles.
Dirty. Annoying. Infuriating.
It made me feel all shades of jealousy but at the same time, I had to remind myself that whatever they shared had already come to a tragic end so I shouldn't let it get to me.
I went to that stupid channel where she uploaded the Vlog—that I was obsessed with—and deleted both it and the channel.
I moved back to the bed, drew the duvet over her chest, rested my head on her arm, and took pictures of her. Hundreds of them. Enough to fill her phone.
Tired and with my head now on her stomach, I was about to shut my eyes when my uncle popped into my mind and a wicked idea followed it.
I knew he must be losing his mind wherever he was.
And I intended to worsen whatever situation he was in right now.
A low sardonic chuckle left my mouth as I removed Verena’s social media account from the private setting and followed myself from her phone.
So, I uploaded some of the pictures I’d just taken. Me kissing her on the lips. My head on her stomach. On her chest and my lips on her forehead with the caption.‘Kian is home and I am back home. I love you forever, Kian.’
A chuckle erupted from my mouth as I watched the likes increase, the comments switching from shock to absolute hate on Verena and that was when the smile on my face slowly faded.
What have I done? I didn't think this through at all.
All of a sudden, the harsh and jarring sound of the doorbell ripped through the chaos swirling around me and dispersed it quickly.
Confusion tugged at me. I wasn't expecting anyone. Did Jaden return?
To apologize for going off on me?
I tossed a glance at Verena, heart squeezing in regret at all the hate comments I had just brought her. Once I checked who was at the door, I would delete the post.
I kissed her on the forehead. “I’m sorry,”
I went downstairs, checking the small screen just to see Jaden standing there. I opened the door. “Jaden, had a fun trip reporting me to my dad…”
The rest of my words sank in my throat, my heart almost jumping out of my chest when silver-flecked blue eyes locked on mine. Uncle Daxton.
“Calling Mr. Neil would’ve been a waste of time,” Jaden said. “So, I gave out your location to your uncle instead.”