Chapter 12

"Hea."

He called her by her nickname, voice low and sticky with familiarity, breathing right next to her ear - soft in tone, laced with cruelty.

Heather's eyes reddened as a bitter smile curved her lips.

Kieran lowered his head. She tilted hers up slightly, locking eyes with that mocking gaze of his. "If I hadn't managed to get out on my own tonight... Kieran, would you have even thought about coming back for me?"

Even just a thought - was that too much?

His sharp jaw stayed tense, expression stone-cold. Those dark, bottomless eyes stared at her in silence for what felt like forever.

Heather felt like she already knew the answer. Still, her heart refused to accept it.

Tears slid quietly down her cheeks, her voice hoarse. "I just... want to hear it from you."

Yes, or no.

She needed it clear. She needed to cut off every shred of hope.

Then Kieran said, "Heather. You know I've died once already. No - twice. Want to guess what those two times were?"

The first was when she backstabbed him in court six years ago.

The second? She didn't know.

He stared straight at her, calmly and clearly: "The first was when you betrayed me in court. The second... was inside. When someone almost stabbed me in the heart. I'd rather have died than feel that kind of hell."

The messed-up part? The one who stabbed him was sent by her father Nathaniel. Lucas had to pull every string he had to get him rushed to the hospital. On the verge of death, Lucas said he'd called out her name in his sleep.

Six years ago, she'd wrapped herself around his heart like vines.

In that cell, he'd torn those vines off one by one. And each tear ripped into the softest parts of his soul.

After all that, how dare she ask if he'd ever gone soft for her?

"You don't deserve to know."

Heather froze, eyes full of regret. "I'm sorry..."

She'd had no idea what hell he'd gone through in there.

Kieran let out a laugh - emotionless and cold. "It's fine. You're gonna pay me back. Bit by bit."

His hand landed heavily on her bare shoulder, and he stared at her.

"What did Zachary do to you tonight?"

Heather just stared at him, lips trembling, no words forming.

"Was it hell?"

"Heather, I spoiled you too much. Made you think others would treat you like I did."

He stood there in the shadows, cold and ruthless - like a demon. For the first time, Heather realized just how terrifying Kieran really was. That cold, ruthless look on his face, it gave her chills.

Big, hot tears spilled from her eyes.

Expressionless, Kieran lifted his hand and brushed away her tears - not gently, but as if wiping something bothersome off his skin.

"I haven't even touched you yet, and you're already falling apart?" His voice was low, almost amused. "Heather, you're so delicate... I could break you without even meaning to."

Killing her would take less effort than stepping on an ant.

But that would be far too easy. Too quick.

No, he wanted something else -

To watch her pride crack,

her spine bend,

her soul unravel -

inch by inch, piece by piece.

That was the kind of ruin he found entertaining.

---

The black Maybach sped toward a luxury hotel nearby.

Heather's last trace of clarity was swallowed up by the drugs.

Flushed all over, her limbs soft like a climbing vine, she clung to Kieran uncontrollably.

He remained perfectly put together, not a wrinkle in sight. He grabbed her jaw, his breath dangerously close.

Heather instinctively shut her eyes, bracing for what was coming next.

Kieran's dark, unreadable eyes stayed locked on her, watching her submit, watch her lose control.

Just as her warm lips touched his, his voice cut in, full of icy sarcasm. "You really think you still have any right to climb into my bed?"

Her long lashes twitched violently.

Then she was shoved into a bathtub!

Kieran didn't want her. Didn't even want to be her damn cure.

The shower blasted at full force. Freezing water slammed down on her head!

Heather shivered violently, trying to get up. But his strong hand shoved her right back down.

"So cold... cough... cough..."

There was a red mark on her neck.

Probably from Zachary.

Kieran found it disgusting.

He turned the showerhead directly at her neck, relentlessly dousing the tender skin, not caring in the slightest as she flinched and whimpered in pain.

She was practically naked in the tub.

And him? Still cool, composed, impeccably dressed.

The shame hit her harder than anything else - numbing every nerve.

Kieran must've really hated her. He kept her soaked in freezing water for an entire hour before finally letting her go.

When she got up, her body was trembling, her vision went dark...

In the middle of the night, she burned with fever. Freezing, shaking, hugging herself tightly.

In her sleep, she muttered again and again, "I'm sorry..."

She knew this was her own doing. She was paying for it.

But she was so cold - so cold it felt like she was dying... But she couldn't. Cherry still needed her. She still had to come up with that seventy grand for her surgery.

She had no idea how she made it through the night.

The next morning, as she blearily opened her eyes -

A slap landed squarely across her right cheek.