Chapter 18
The sharp smell of disinfectant burned his nostrils as Kerian forced his eyes open.
White ceiling tiles, an IV needle taped to his hand, and this dull
ache in his gut all reminded him what had happened.
“Mr. Howard! Thank God you’re awake!” His assistant Marcus was sitting beside the hospital bed, smashing the call button. The doctor said you had severe internal bleeding–you need to stay in bed…]
Kerian ripped out the IV, blood beading on his hand without him giving a shit.
He struggled to sit up, his voice li
like gravel. I’m not staying here.”
“But your condition-
don’t give a fuck!“]
He stumbled out of bed but nearly face–planted when he tried to stand.
Three days without food plus alcohol poisoning had pushed his body past its limits.
But that was nothing compared to the hole where his heart used to be-
Like someone had carved out a chunk and left him bleeding internally.[
Marcus steadied him, then suddenly remembered something: “Sir! We found her! We know where Ms. Wenmir is!”
Kerian’s head snapped up, something wild flickering in his dead eyes: “What did you just say? You found her?”
“Where is she?”
“Our people spotted her in this little town in Provence.” Marcus handed him a tablet. “These photos were taken this morning
The screen showed Victoria standing in a lavender field wearing this gorgeous yellow dress, laughing like she didn’t have a care in the world.[
And beside her, some tall guy was putting a sun hat on her head with this gentle smile.
Even though it was just his back, Kerian’s blood turned to ice.
There was the woman he’d been dying for, smiling at another man
“Get the car.” He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door, his voice deadly. “Book me on the next flight out.”
Twelve hours later, Provence airport.
Kerian stood at the floor to ceiling windows, staring out at the foreign landscape.
He hadn’t slept in three days, stubble covering his jaw, his suit wrinkled like he’d been living on the streets.
But his eyes were burning with this terrifying intensity, like a man with nothing left to lose
“Sir, we found where they’re staying.” Marcus jogged over. They’re they’re at some rose estate outside town.”
Kerian’s fists clenched so hard his nails drew blood []
He’d played out every possible scenario in his head-
Dropping to his knees and begging, promising to spend forever making it up to her, taking whatever punishment she wanted to dish
OUL
But he’d never imagined she’d let another man take his place.
“Let’s fucking go.”
The car wheels crunched over gravel roads lined with endless lavender fields.
The scenery was beautiful, but Kerian stared straight ahead like a man possessed]
The estate’s wrought iron gates slowly opened, revealing two figures on the distant terrace.
Kerian nearly collapsed getting out of the car.
He steadied himself against the door, then walked toward the terrace with determined steps
As he got closer, that familiar silhouette became clearer-[]
And his heart started pounding so hard he thought it might explode.]
Victoria had her back to him, cutting a slice of cake.]
The man beside her leaned down tenderly and wiped cream from the corner of her mouth with his thumb.
That intimate gesture was the last straw that shattered what was left of Kerian’s sanity.
“Get your fucking hands off her!“||
Kerian’s rage exploded as he charged forward and threw a punch that connected with the guy’s jaw
“CRACK!”
The man stumbled backward, knocking over a coffee cup.
Porcelain shattered across the ground, just like Kerian’s crumbling composure
“Kerian! What the hell is wrong with you?
Victoria’s furious voice made him freeze
But what really stopped him cold was when the man slowly straightened up-
“Askhan… what the fuck…”
“How is it you?”
Askhan wiped blood from his lip, looking at Kerlan with complicated eyes: “Been a while,
mai
1
The world seemed
to tilt on its axis.
Kerian stared at the couple in front of him, words completely failing him.
The woman he’d been desperately searching for was already in his best friend’s arms.
“You two…” His voice was shaking. “When did you…
Victoria stepped protectively in front of Askhan, Jooking at Kerian like he was a dangerous stranger. “Mr. Howard, when we got together really isn’t any of your business, is it?”
That hit harder than any physical blow could have.
Kerian stumbled backward, his stomach cramping with fresh agony.
He opened his mouth but no sound came out, just the metallic taste of blood spreading across his tongue.
The sunset stretched their shadows across the patio in this twisted triangle.
Ķerian suddenly remembered years ago when they’d been drinking together, and Askhan had said half–jokingly:
“If you ever fuck things up with Vic, I’m stealing her.
What had he said back then?]
“Good luck with that, asshole. Never gonna happen.”
But now, he’d personally pushed Victoria straight into Askhan’s arms
What the hell had he done?
