Chapter 14

Just then, Kieran's phone buzzed.

Caller ID: Emma.

He narrowed his eyes, staring coldly at the pair chatting and laughing not far away, before picking up the call. "What is it?"

"Kieran, the woman who clung to you last night? I've already taken care of her. She won't bother you anymore. As for those rumors, I got Faye to handle them, so you don't have to worry."

"Oh?" he asked, sounding almost amused. "How'd you deal with her?"

Emma clearly thought she'd done something to please him. Her tone carried a hint of smugness. "She's just another gold-digger. I gave her a million, and she promised to stay away from you. Honestly, a woman like Heather doesn't deserve your attention - she can't recognize true value even if it slapped her in the face."

Kieran's gaze turned icy.

His lips curved faintly. "Not bad."

Hearing the praise made Emma even more excited. "Kieran, tonight we..."

Before she could finish, he hung up without a word, his expression blank.

His dark eyes gleamed with something sharp and brooding.

A million bucks. That's all it took to get her to walk away.

So that's what he was worth to Heather.

Just like six years ago, Kieran was always the guy who didn't matter.

---

"Dr. Griffin, I made some meatloaf and mashed potatoes for Cherry, so I made a little extra. Thought I'd bring you some too. Thanks for looking after her these past few days."

Julian smiled, taking the insulated container. "Watching Cherry's been no trouble at all. But those meatloaves? Now that's what I'm looking forward to. I'm heading to the clinic now. If anything comes up, just give me a call."

"Sure."

Once Julian left, Heather turned to go back to Cherry's room. She'd just made it to the stairwell when a hand suddenly yanked her inside.

She slammed against the wall with such force, her whole back ached.

A man's large hand pressed down hard on her shoulder, a familiar scent and presence wrapping around her before she even had time to react.

An icy male voice dropped from above, laced with mockery -

"Six years, and your taste in men's gotten worse? That guy just now - average looks, average job. His paycheck probably couldn't even cover your designer shoes. That the best you can do now?"

Heather looked up, straight into Kieran's hardened face.

She instinctively replied, "It's not like that, he..."

"Not like what?" His voice was low and sharp. "You didn't take Emma's million? Or he's not your boyfriend?"

Heather frowned, confused. "A million?"

"You didn't tell her that nothing happened between us last night? So why'd she waste that kind of money to get rid of you? Or did you lie to her for the cash?"

His long fingers gripped her chin, tilting her face up.

He looked at her like she was some cheap toy under inspection - cold, arrogant, detached.

Heather clenched her fists, forcing a faint smile as her eyes reddened slightly. "Yeah, I tricked her. I just wanted to see what your fiancée would do to get rid of me. Turns out, she's generous enough to throw one million at me. She must feel pretty relieved now."

Kieran's gaze darkened like a stormy ocean - deep, unreadable, and ready to drown her whole.

He stepped closer, his presence pressing down on her.

"A million," he said coldly, "is pocket change for the Yates family in Westhaven. Must've been real rough for you these past six years, if you're running scams for that kind of cash."

Heather gave a strained smile, pretending to laugh it off. "You're right. It's been hard. I've been scraping by. So now, can you let me go?"

She lifted her eyes to meet his, shimmering with unshed tears.

Faint red marks lined her right cheek, like a flower crushed under a storm.

Kieran frowned, grabbing her chin sharply and tilting her face toward the light. "Emma did this?"

Heather pulled back slightly, her voice cool. "You've got a fiancée now, Mr. Foster. Maybe it's best we keep some distance. Wouldn't want Miss Collins getting the wrong idea again."

That 'keep your distance' hit differently.

Kieran dropped her chin, eyes narrowed. "Why are you at the hospital?"

Just to deliver lunch to that doctor?

Heather's breath hitched. No - he couldn't find out about Cherry.

She quickly lowered her eyes, thick lashes hiding the panic. Calm voice, steady words: "Like you saw, I came to drop off lunch for my boyfriend. Now that I'm done, I should leave."

She turned, ready to make her escape -

Only to have Kieran grab her shoulder and slam her back against the wall. "Boyfriend?"

The sharp look in his eyes chilled her to the bone.

Still, she forced herself to speak: "Yeah. Boyfriend. You and I broke up six years ago, and you're engaged now. Doesn't seem so strange I'd be seeing someone too, right? Hopefully, you'll forget about the bad stuff and move on."

Half a lie, half the truth.

She did hope he'd move on - his life was on the up now, engaged to someone from the right circle. No need to dig into the past anymore.

But to Kieran, her words sounded way too casual.

He reached behind her neck and yanked her into his arms. Leaning down, voice like ice, he muttered, "And who gave you the right to start over, Heather?"

She froze, eyes losing focus. Trying to smile, she said, "Doesn't everyone deserve a fresh start? Or... is Miss Collins not enough?"

Kieran trapped her in the corner, his face dark and intense.

Then he sneered, voice dripping with disdain. "That doctor of yours... does he know you used to sing in nightclubs?"

Kieran's back was to the stairwell door.

Heather's eyes, though, caught what was happening behind him - through the small glass panel, she saw Cherry toddling out, calling, "Mama? Mama?"

Panic drained the color from her face.

Cherry... was heading this way.

Kieran, still holding her chin, frowned. "What, nervous all of a sudden? Scared he'll find out?"