Chapter 48 Paparazzo
Kian
Words weren't enough to describe the heavy weight that sat on my chest, the pain that kept twisting my heart as memories of Verena flooded my head. The night that she spoke with me, how kissing her for the first time felt like heaven, the excitement that came from knowing that she was pregnant, then consoling her after the miscarriage, the silence that followed after as we drifted apart and the satisfaction that came from seeing her in our home even though we barely said a word to each other—Gone. It was all gone like a flicker in the night.
Here I was being a mess, a wreck and then she dared to smile as if we never shared something meaningful? As if that was enough, she gloated to my face by kissing my uncle in the parking lot.
How was she not sad? How could she not feel the same immense pain that engulfed my being?
I clenched my heart, feeling the tears that pricked the back of my eyes as I sat out on the porch. “Why is it suddenly so hot?” Tears blurred my vision while I unbuttoned my shirt and allowed the tears to fall.
I couldn't believe that we were divorced. In fact, this felt like a nightmare that I couldn't wake up from. Did she hate me now?
I sniffled, swiping the tears that cascaded down my cheeks.“Verena, Verena, Verena…” I muttered under my breath, rose to my feet, and stepped into the house.
My gaze fell on Zita and instant resentment burned through my chest as she tossed the magazine that she was reading away, slipping into her flip-flops. God, I didn't have the time for her and her drama.
“Kian, I tried calling you but you answered none of my calls,” She moseyed over to me, tossing a glance at the new housekeepers working in the background over her shoulder before worried eyes locked back on mine. “What happened to the old housekeepers and why didn't you tell me that you had plans of changing them?”
“They have been corrupted by my uncle. They all work for him!”
Zita placed a hand on her chest, chewing her bottom lip. “What happened?”
Just thinking about everything made anger course through my veins. “He made them take the divorce papers sitting in my drawer and forced me to sign them. He was the one who abducted me”
Zita’s eyes widened in shock as her hands flew over her mouth. “Your uncle was the one behind what happened to you?” Her fingers fidgeted for her phone. “We should call the cops and—”
I interrupted, waving her off. “No need. He wanted me to sign the divorce papers and since I have signed them, it is over now”
Zita breathed out, ripping a hand through her hair. “I still find it hard to believe that he could do that to you but since he abducted you for a good cause, I guess it is o—” the rest of her words died on her tongue as her eyes met mine.
She pursed her lips. “It benefits me and us…” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Regret washed through me and I wished I had never told her.
Excitement sparked in her eyes as she snapped her fingers. “We should celebrate this. It is a good thing that you are officially free from that woman and we can prepare for our wedding” She squealed.
I stared blankly at her, too numb to even snap at her. I was going through the worst heartbreak of my life yet, all she could think about was some wedding I dreaded.
Getting married to Zita was starting to look like a reality I hadn't processed yet. I didn't plan for this. How was this even happening?
I reached for my phone that vibrated in my pocket, swiping through the screen before flicking it to my ear. “How can I help you, Arturo?”
Arturo was a serial paparazzo whom I had to pay to keep my marriage with Verena away from the public and his calling me spelled trouble.
He chuckled dryly over the phone. “I kind of followed you to the Carter’s firm—you know, do my job and all of that. But, I stumbled on an interesting piece that would intrigue the internet…”
My eyes closed shut, my heart tightened in my chest and I could feel the anger slowly building inside of me. “Name your price?”
“To keep the news about your ex-wife being in a relationship with your uncle…” He purred, grating on my nerves as I pushed my hair back. “I would need a hundred grand or else, your family will make the headlines for all the wrong reasons” His laugh was low, teasing, and annoying.
A growl rumbled from my chest while Zita sauntered to me, confusion in her eyes. “Who is that?” she leaned closer to catch the voice on the line.
I cleared my throat. “Cash or?…”
“Wire the transfer and I would delete all the pictures I took of you, your ex-wife, and your uncle,”
“Consider it done!” I disconnected the call, shooting a glare at Zita. “Why are you eavesdropping on my conversation?”
Her jaw dropped before she clasped her hands over her mouth. “Did you just…”
“Yes, I just agreed to pay a hundred grand to stop the paparazzi from uploading pictures of my ex-wife on the internet”
She sucked in a gasp, her eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. “You did what! Why would you protect Verena since you are both divorced? This is the perfect opportunity to get back at her and your uncle, why would you misuse it to protect her?”
“I have told you several times that she doesn’t like being in the public eye. She suffered extreme panic attacks when her family scandal rocked the whole country and you expect me to push her out to the wolves who wouldn’t wait to tear her apart as soon as they find out that she is a Carson?”
The fire in Zita’s eyes died as she pouted. “Oh!” Then her eyes brightened. “Let’s forget about Verena and your uncle and instead—” She did this small giddy dance as she rocked her shoulders.
“—We should plan our wedding. I am planning on shopping for my wedding dress from the La Belle fashion house in Paris or have one created specifically for me,” she looped her arms around my neck.
How did I get stuck with someone like Zita?
I removed her hands roughly from my shoulder, shoving her aside like she was dirt and I hoped she could see the disdain in my eyes and leave!
“Do whatever you want, Zita. But leave me out of it!”