Chapter 42.

"Holly, You don't have to do this!"

Charlie exclaimed as Holly took out her sim card from her phone.

She didn't listen to her as she sighed.

"If I want to start a new life I have to get rid of the old one."

"I don't want Kim to keep tormenting me."

Holly said as she broke the sim card into two.

She had decided to leave for New

Jersey earlier than she had planned. She was going to leave Jamie and Susan to pack up all the stuffs in the bakery to the warehouse when their one week was up.

Charlie had been devastated, but Holly couldn't bear to still stay and be reminded of the things she couldn't have anymore.

"But, don't you think this is all too extreme? You don't have to go. Please."

Charlie begged as she held on to Holly's arm.

"Hey! I'll still talk to you. I'll give you my new contact. We'll always be in touch."

Holly said as she smiled but Charlie was not convinced. She was also angry that Holly had suddenly made the decision to leave.

"I already bought a plane ticket and I informed my parents. They think I'm coming home early for Christmas. I'll tell them after Christmas."

Charlie flinched.

"I can't believe this is real. I'm going to lose you. For such a long time I've considered a close friend even though we just recently met."

Holly smiled.

"Me too. I'm almost done packing, still have a lot of things to do actually. But I just want to leave."

Holly's hand went to the charm toggle bracelet Ryder gifted her during Thanksgiving, it had become an habit for her to touch the bracelet whenever she was stressed or worried.

She had found the initials H&R by sheer chance when she was touching the bracelet, the gesture had touched her so much that she had cried.

It even made her miss Ryder more.

"What about Ryder? What if he wants to be in the baby's life? How is he going to contact you?"

Holly shrugged.

"He won't. He lost his chance to. Chances are he wouldn't even care, he has a new girlfriend now."

"Ugh! Holly, are you sure this is a good idea? Leaving so soon in the midst of all that's going on?"

"I know you're going through a lot but this is a pretty much a spontaneous decision!"

"It's the best decision. I can't physically and emotionally deal with the stress of packing all of El Pastel Bake Shop into some warehouse. This is the best way."

"And it's Christmas anyways, I have to go home for Christmas, even if it's one week early."

Holly added and there was a long pause between them as Charlie watched Holly.

Kim walked up to Ryder's apartment with fear and anxiety biting at her. She didn't want to go to his office for fear that he was going to send her away, so she opted for going to his Condo.

Besides, it was a Saturday, Ryder should be home. She thought as she adjusted her hoodie. If Ryder recognised that it was her, Kim was positive that he wouldn't let her in his apartment.

After Jake Summers had strangled her and left her bruised and hurt, the first thing Kim did was try and locate him but there was no trace of him, she couldn't even call his phone.

She didn't want to go to the hospital for fear of the doctor suspecting that the situation was sexual harassment or the sorts, Kim didn't even want the bruises to go away.

Her arm was still very sore and Kim strongly considered the idea that it as dislocated, but she decided that she would see Ryder first.

She wanted to use her bruises to get full advantage and the next day bright and early she went to Ryder's apartment.

She had thought for hours how she could turn the situation around to her own good and decided that pity would work. She had to somehow make Jake look like the bad guy. She wanted to try and make it seem like he had been manipulating her all along.

She rang the doorbell and waited.

"Who is it?" Ryder called out nervously while adjusting his cuffed sleeves.

He was on his way to his parents house and he was going to be staying there for a while, at least till Christmas was over.

He missed his family and he also wanted to spend enough time with his younger brother.

There was so much going on that Ryder really just wanted to clear his head and relax.

He was overwhelmed with everything that was happening.

Especially with the fact that Jake had still not responded to the court summons.

Ryder had tried calling him but his number was unreachable.

"Special delivery!" A weird voice called out and Ryder furrowed his eyebrows wondering if he ordered anything.

"I think you have the wrong address." He said as he opened the door slightly to see who it was only to meet Kim in a black hoodie.

He rolled his eyes and was about to close the door when she begged him.

"Please! Please! Just five minutes of your time. I have useful information for you. It's about Jake."

Kim said and Ryder paused.

He watched her wearily, he didn't trust her one bit but he was going to give her the chance to speak.

"I'm listening."

Ryder said without asking her to come in.

"Can I please come in? It'll only take a minute. I just need a glass of water."

Kim pleaded softly and after hesitating, Ryder opened his door widely for her.

Kim got comfortable in Ryder's apartment while he decided to get her a glass of water.

Kim used the opportunity to take off her hoodie.

She knew that there was a large purplish bruise around her neck and she had kept it hidden away from the public eye.

She didn't want to hide it anymore, she wanted Ryder to see what Jake had done to her.

Ryder came back grudgingly with the glass of water and handed it to Kim.

He stood and folded his arms while he watched her with a frown on his perfectly sculptured face.

His hair was already growing out so long that it could be tied in a small ponytail, he was in need of a decent haircut and he also needed to shave although his beards made him look much more handsome and mysterious.

His eyes squinted at her and he started to notice the angry bruises on her neck.

Ryder peered in to have a closer look.

"What is that? What happened to you?"

Ryder said and Kim sighed as she placed her glass of water on centre table.

"It's what I want to talk to you about. Please sit Ryder. We have a lot of things to discuss."

She said as she patted the seat next to her and tried to look convincing enough with a demure look.

Ryder instead sat at the far end of the room watching her wearily.

"What do you have to say?"

"It's about Jake Summers. Your friend.  I know you've found out about the fraud and the embezzlement of funds in your company, I'm just sorry that I couldn't tell you earlier. You see, Jake blackmailed me not to."

Ryder raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Was there no end to this woman's manipulating? He thought as he pretended to look interested in what Kim was saying.

"Yes, he did. I have to tell you the truth. He said he hates you because you stole some girl from him. He made me break you and Holly apart..."

Ryder resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He was convinced in his mind that Kim thought that he was dumb, because even a child could see through her lies.

"Kim, just tell me about the bruising on your neck. That's all I'm really interested in"

Ryder asked as politely as he could and Kim busted into unexplained tears.

He watched her wearily, he decided not to physically comfort her or even pity her even though it was his natural instincts to.

Ryder Bates was not falling for Kim's bullshit. He had met and bedded a lot of women and he wasn't new to all their tricks.

After Kim noticed that her fake tears were not getting any attention or sympathy from Ryder, she decided to move on before he threw her out of his condo

"It's Jake! He hurt me! He invited me to his apartment for a truce and he tried to strangle me all because I said I might testify against him."

Ryder furrowed his eyebrows and leaned closer to grasp what Kim was getting at.

"Jake hit you?"

Ryder asked in astonishment and Kim nodded as she raised one of her hoodie sleeves to show the bruising on her arms and elbow.

Ryder's jaw dropped. Did Jake really do it or was it another stupid stunt from Kim?

He thought as he watched her wearily.

"Why didn't you report to the police?"

He asked and Kim shrugged.

"I was hurt and by the time I was on my feet he was gone. He ran away with a secret stash of money he has."

"Jake ran away??? When?"

Ryder said as he rushed to his telephone.

"Yesterday. He's most likely out of New York by now."

Kim said as Ryder picked up his phone wondering whether or not to inform the cops about the information.

"Kim? Are you sure of what you're saying? This could be dangerous, this isn't some silly game. Did Ryder physically assault you or not?"

"And are you positive that he left the country?"

Kim nodded.

"I'm positive. He left with over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars cash in a black duffel bag. And that bastard did not physically assault me."

Kim said as she narrowed her eyes against Ryder.

"That bastard tried to kill me."