Chapter 13
Heather barely had time to react before the blanket was yanked off her.
A cold chill rushed over her skin.
Then came a woman's mocking voice, sharp with contempt: "So you're the woman trying to seduce Mr. Foster? Gotta admit - you've got the looks. But you? You're just a one-time use kind of girl. Like a napkin - good for a wipe, then tossed. I've seen too many like you."
Propping herself up, Heather sat upright and clutched a pillow to her chest, shielding herself. "Who are you?"
The woman sprawled on the nearby leather armchair, inspecting her glossy new nails. She barely spared Heather a glance. "Me? I'm Emma. Kieran's fiancée."
Last night, Kieran had come into this hotel with a woman in his arms. Someone snapped a photo. Come morning, the gossip mills were on fire.
And Emma, being Kieran's so-called fiancée, was furious. After digging around, she tracked Heather to the hotel, and now she was unleashing all that pent-up rage on her.
What made her lose it wasn't just the scandal - it was how Kieran always kept his distance. Even a casual touch would get brushed off coldly. Yet he brought this woman here?
Clicking her heels on the floor, Emma stood and walked over to the bed, towering over Heather as she sized her up.
"Alright then. Name your price. How much for you to disappear?"
Heather quickly wrapped herself in the sheets and said, "Nothing happened between Kieran and me last night. You don't have to worry - I won't bother him."
Emma scoffed. "You expect me to buy that?" She reached out for Heather's collar.
Heather jerked back. "What are you doing?"
Emma sneered, frustration creeping in. "You really think I'm blind? Look at those marks on your neck. Don't try to tell me you two just cuddled and chatted in bed all night."
To her, Heather's act was just a cover for her scheming.
"I've said what I had to say," Heather's tone stayed calm. "If you still don't believe me, that's your choice."
As for her and Kieran - Heather knew better than anyone. That ship had sailed six years ago.
Emma's aggressive questions hit nothing but air.
After Heather left, Emma immediately called her manager.
"Faye, do me a favor - dig up everything on the woman who clung to Kieran last night. Her name's Heather."
"Is she even worth the trouble?" Faye asked, unimpressed.
Emma rolled her eyes. "She had the nerve to act all innocent when I offered her money. Transfer a million to her account once you find it. If she refuses, it's obvious - she's just trying to play the sweet and pure act in front of Kieran. Too bad for her - she must really think he's gonna see her again."
"Of course not. Kieran's got way more important things on his plate - why would he waste time on some random chick? I'll handle it, so stop stressing. That girl's no real threat to you anyway."
After hanging up, Emma couldn't shake the feeling that Heather looked familiar. She racked her brain for a while but couldn't figure out where she had seen her before.
Still, Heather had better keep to herself. Try anything funny with Kieran again? She's asking for trouble.
That night was a total mess.
Heather got home and went straight to the shower, scrubbing her skin raw where Zachary had touched her the night before. The sting didn't bother her - at least it felt like she was getting rid of something.
She'd already pissed off Kieran back in Regalis city, and now she'd provoked the Westhaven city troublemaker too... Who knows what kind of storm she'd stirred up this time?
If all this was karma, she'd take it. She just hoped Cherry wouldn't get dragged into the mess.
The second she changed into a clean set of clothes, her phone rang. The number blinking on the screen was a landline she hadn't seen in ages, one that tugged at some buried memory and made her pause.
As soon as she picked up, the yelling started - no surprise there. "What the hell is wrong with you? You hit Zachary on the head? Are you out of your mind? The Westhaven elections are right around the corner; I need the Harper family's support to keep my position! How could you mess this up now?!"
Nathaniel's voice was sharp and grating.
Heather shut her eyes for a second, then said flatly, "Do you even care why I hit him?"
"I don't give a damn what reason you think you had! You can't just go around attacking someone from the Harper family! Lucky for you, he's being generous and letting it go. Heather, get back to Westhaven now and apologize to him!"
Apologize?
She clenched her jaw, emotions from last night bubbling up. Her voice was ice cold. "Go back? Dad, have you already forgotten? You're the one who kicked me out of Westhaven. And now you want me to go apologize to the guy who - what, even if Zachary had raped me, you'd still expect me to say sorry?"
Her words made Nathaniel go silent for a brief moment, then he brushed it off like it was no big deal. "Heather, you've got it wrong. Zach just likes you - he was impulsive, that's all. Actually, he came to see us this morning. Said he won't marry anyone but you. Heather, this is your lucky break. You should be thankful someone like him wants you."
"Come home, and listen - don't bring that bastard child back with you. If Zach finds out about her, this marriage deal's off the table."
Heather's hand trembled with fury. "Then let someone else be that lucky. I've had enough! And stop calling her that - I'm not marrying Zachary, and if you're so eager to cozy up to the Harpers, go marry into their family yourself!"
With that, she ended the call without hesitation.
Six years ago, she'd ruined that arranged marriage with Zachary, and in a fit of rage, Nathaniel had thrown her out of the house. In these past six years, Nathaniel hadn't spared her a single call, let alone a visit.
And then, out of nowhere, his first call to her in all that time was to tell her to apologize to the guy who bullied her. Seriously?
Worse - he even wanted to hand her over like some pawn.
Sometimes, Heather couldn't help but wonder if he was really her biological dad. How could someone be this cold?
But she didn't have the luxury of sulking or getting mad.
Cherry was still waiting at the hospital.
Sniffling once, she tilted her head back, wiped her tears dry, and pulled herself together. Then, she cooked Cherry's favorite dish - meatloaf and mashed potatoes - and headed off to the hospital.
St. Grace Hospital, Inpatient Wing.
In the hospital room, Kieran sat on a chair next to the bed, quietly peeling an apple for his adoptive father, Oliver.
Oliver sighed. "Kieran, I'm getting old. Who knows how much longer I've got. You've made something of yourself now, and you're not a kid anymore. It's time you settled down."
"Dad, I've already lined up the top cardio surgeon for you. Once the surgery's done, you'll feel way better."
Oliver chuckled, "Don't try to change the subject. There's something I've wanted to ask for a while."
"What is it?"
He paused for a moment, then went ahead, "It's been six years now. Do you still talk to Miss Yates?"
Kieran's hand, holding the knife, briefly froze.
The apple's peel snapped.
Without missing a beat, he handed the apple to Oliver, his voice cool and flat. "Dad, you're not the Yates family chauffeur anymore. You don't need to call her 'Miss Yates.'"
Oliver gave a soft laugh. "Old habits die hard. That girl, Heather - she was always kind. Treated us staff like people. Back then, she didn't have a choice. You know how Governor Yates is - he backed her into a corner. And I think... deep down, you're still not over her - "
"Dad, your surgery's tomorrow. Get some rest. I'm gonna grab a smoke. Call me if you need anything."
Kieran didn't give Oliver a chance to finish. His words cut clean, and he left without looking back.
Oliver just sighed, staring after him. This kid really hadn't changed - still holding everything in, burying everything deep.
Kieran leaned against the hallway wall, cigarette in hand.
The stairwell door hung ajar, letting in a faint breeze. Once he finished the cigarette, he snuffed it out with his fingers, the heat biting into his skin.
The sting made his brow twitch.
At some point, that pain had become his way of staying grounded - or maybe punishing himself.
Every time he thought of Heather, every time his feelings stirred toward her, he'd do this. Last night... he couldn't bring himself to throw her out of the car.
He was just about to head back when he looked up.
Not far away, Heather was chatting and laughing with a male doctor, a warm smile on her face.
Then, still smiling, she handed the guy a thermos container.
