Chapter 23
“OH, my gosh,” Adelle exclaimed, looking at Ken wide-eyed before turning to her. “Janine, are you okay?”
Janine’s heart raced as she stood there, frozen in surprise at the unexpected appearance of Ken. She couldn’t fathom why he would suddenly come to her defense, especially after their recent encounters and his abrupt exit from their conversation at the coffee shop. Conflicting emotions swirled within her, leaving her speechless.
The young lady’s anger, momentarily diverted by Ken’s intervention, turned her attention to him. “Who do you think you are?” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. “This is none of your business.”
Ken stared at the young lady with a stern expression, his protective stance unwavering. “That’s enough,” he said firmly, his voice laced with authority. “There’s no need for such behavior. Please leave.”
“Excuse me?” The girl raised an eyebrow and turned sharply at her. “So, are you one of this woman’s boys?”
“Hey, shut your mouth—”
“You shut your mouth!” the girl shouted back and pulled her arm from Ken’s grip, but Ken didn’t let go of her. “Let go of me, son of a bitch!”
Ken maintained a calm demeanor, his voice firm yet composed. “No one deserves to be treated this way,” he replied, his gaze locked with the young lady’s. “Please show some respect.”
Janine’s mind raced, trying to comprehend the situation unfolding before her. Adelle stood beside her, wide-eyed and uncertain of what to do. She glanced at Janine, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
The young lady, seemingly unwilling to back down, glared at Ken before storming off, leaving Janine bewildered and shaken.
She turned her attention to Ken, her voice wavering slightly. “Why did you do that?”
Ken’s gaze softened as he looked at her. “I couldn’t stand by and watch you being attacked,” he replied, his voice hinting at sincerity. “No matter what has happened between us, I still care about your well-being.”
Janine’s heart wavered between skepticism and a glimmer of hope. She couldn’t deny the flicker of emotion that ignited within her upon seeing Ken’s protective gesture.
“How did you know where am I?” Janine asked. She was so shocked and confused.
“I saw Adelle’s IG story,” he said, scratching his head. “And I also read the news.”
“I think we should leave before more trouble arises,” Adelle suggested, eyeing the commotion caused by the incident.
Janine nodded, still grappling with her emotions. She turned to Ken, her voice filled with uncertainty. “Thank you for stepping in, but I don’t understand why you’re here. What do you want, Ken?”
Ken’s eyes searched hers. “I wanted to make sure you were okay,” he admitted, his gaze unwavering. “Despite everything, I still care about you, Janine.”
Janine’s heart fluttered, torn between their tumultuous past memories and the possibilities ahead.
Ken grabbed her hand and pulled her cautiously as they stepped outside the salon. “You shouldn’t be in public places like this, Janine.”
Janine and Adelle were taken aback by Ken’s sudden appearance at the salon. Janine’s hand trembled slightly as Ken held onto it, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.
“What do you mean we shouldn’t be in a public place like this?” Janine asked.
Ken sighed, his grip on Janine’s hand tightening slightly. “Janine, you’re close to my brother Paulo, and with the rumors circulating about you two, it’s better to be cautious. People recognize you, and it’s unsafe for you to be in such a public place.”
Adelle’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Wait, Paulo is your brother?” she exclaimed. “Janine, why didn’t you tell me?”
Janine flushed with embarrassment, realizing she hadn’t shared this crucial information with her best friend. “I’m sorry, Adelle. It didn’t come up in our conversations, and I didn’t think mentioning it was necessary.”
Ken interrupted their exchange, his voice commanding as he took charge of the situation. “Enough talking. We need to leave. Come with me.”
Janine and Adelle followed Ken with curiosity and apprehension as he led them out of the mall.
Adelle gasped at Ken’s luxurious car waiting ahead of them. “Oh, my gosh, is that a sportscar?”
They climbed into Ken’s luxurious car, and he drove them to a sleek, sophisticated high-class salon. Ken spoke to the salon staff, instructing them to attend to Janine and Adelle’s needs and assuring them that the expenses would be covered.
Janine’s cheeks burned with embarrassment at the attention, feeling a mix of gratitude and discomfort at Ken’s actions.
Adelle, still wide-eyed with surprise, leaned closer to Janine. “Janine, how did you not tell me about this? Ken, your ex-husband, is Paulo’s brother and is clearly quite wealthy!”
Janine shrugged sheepishly. “I guess I never found the right moment to bring it up, and it didn’t seem important then. But yes, Ken is Paulo’s brother and is certainly...well-off.”
As the salon staff pampered Janine and Adelle, Ken took a seat nearby, keeping a watchful eye on them. Janine couldn’t help but feel a mixture of gratitude and awkwardness. She appreciated Ken’s concern for her safety, but she also felt a sense of unease about the whole situation.
Deep down, Janine couldn’t deny her lingering feelings for Ken. Still, their past had been tumultuous, filled with secrets and misunderstandings. She couldn’t ignore that Ken’s possessive nature had been a source of conflict in their relationship.
“Look at him, girl,” Adelle nudged her in the waist as the salon staff put a cover on them. “How could you divorce such a handsome person like him? He looks like an angel sent from the heavens.”
Janine rolled her eyes ceilingwards. It is evident that Adelle had a change of heart after seeing Ken’s wealth. Ken was indeed handsome; there was no question about that.
“And, did you notice the change in his behavior?” Adelle continued, eyes glued to Ken. “He’s quite far from the mafia-like man we encountered at the bar.”
Janine glanced at Ken; Adelle was right. Ken’s demeanor suddenly changed, and she didn’t know why. And what happened to her other women?
Amidst the whirlwind of emotions, Janine reminded herself to stay grounded and genuine in her desires. She valued her friendship with Paulo and her budding connection with him. And yet, there was something about Ken’s actions that stirred up conflicting emotions within her.