Klein reached out, gently grasping her wrist with his warm hand, only to release it almost immediately. “Hold on, let’s add each other on WhatsApp. If you ever need to vent, you can always reach out to me,” he suggested.
Whitney glanced down at where he had touched her. It was just a fleeting moment, but it felt like fire coursing through her veins. *What is wrong with me? Why do I feel this way?*
“Hello?” Klein’s voice snapped her back to reality as he held out his phone, the QR code displayed prominently, a hint of confusion flickering in his eyes.
Realizing she was acting strangely, Whitney quickly responded, “Oh, sorry. Just a second.”
After she finished adding him, Klein tucked his phone away, a teasing glint in his eyes. “I’m just seven years older than you, not some old man,” he remarked.
*Does he dislike it when I speak to him so formally?* Whitney wondered, her cheeks flushing as the realization hit her.
A wave of frustration washed over her. *Klein is my kryptonite. Every time I see him, I turn into a nervous wreck, like a mouse caught in a cat’s gaze!*
“I’ve added you, Uncle Klein. See you next time,” she said, her voice steadying as she made her way to the door.
Once back in her car, she exhaled deeply, allowing herself a moment of relief. Unlocking her phone, she peeked at Klein’s profile picture-a stunning purple starry sky.
*He claims he’s not old? Even my dad, who’s nearly fifty, would never choose something so outdated for his profile picture,* she thought, shaking her head in amusement.
Just as she was about to back out of the parking space, she noticed the typing indicator pop up on her screen. *Seriously? We just added each other. Do we really have to dive into small talk already?* she thought, feeling a mix of irritation and excitement.
After a minute, she cautiously picked up her phone again, only to discover a payment request from Klein.
To her surprise, he had transferred her $2,000, accompanied by a red heart emoji and a note: *Allowance for upkeep of your car.*
Whitney stared at the screen, bewildered. *This is so unusual. Why would he send a heart emoji to me?*
She quickly typed back: “No need, Uncle Klein. You really don’t have to give me that much for upkeep.”
Klein’s reply was simple: *Take it.*
*If he’s got money to spare, I’m not about to turn it down,* she thought, her mind racing with confusion and intrigue.
At Harris Manor, Klein was finally enjoying a proper family meal after a busy week. James was making a fuss about the gathering, and everyone had shown up except for his youngest granddaughter.
George raised his glass in a toast. “Welcome back, Klein.”
Klein clinked his glass lightly against George’s, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Thanks, George.”
Despite the rumors swirling around them, the Harris brothers maintained a solid bond. Emily was still glued to Carter’s side, and he continued to dote on her, much to the indifference of the rest of the family.
Yet, to Klein, their closeness was an eyesore, a reminder of the complexities surrounding love and relationships.
“Carter, have you and Whitney gotten your marriage license yet?” Klein suddenly asked, catching Carter off guard.
Carter cleared his throat awkwardly. “We were planning to do it today, but Whitney is away for work. We’ll take care of it as soon as she’s back.”
James maintained a stern expression. “You need to get it done ASAP. The wedding is fast approaching, and you still haven’t secured your license.”
Emily’s grip on her fork tightened, her fingers turning pale as she overheard the conversation. Carter noticed her reaction, guilt washing over him.
“Got it, Grandpa. By Friday at the latest. Whitney should be back by then,” Carter replied, trying to reassure everyone.
Klein’s gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Whitney is on a business trip? That’s strange. I saw her at a café earlier today.”
His words landed like a heavy blow, leaving Carter feeling exposed and embarrassed.
James banged his fork on the table, demanding, “Carter, care to explain yourself?”
Carter’s face darkened, a storm brewing within him.
“Grandpa, I’ll call Whitney later,” he managed to say, trying to deflect the mounting tension.
“Hmph, Whitney is the perfect wife I’ve chosen for you. If you upset her, I won’t let you off easily,” James warned, his tone firm.
Carter struggled to enjoy his meal, the weight of the conversation pressing down on him. Even Emily’s attempts at light conversation fell flat; his mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of Whitney.
He had always viewed himself as the one in control of their relationship, but now he realized that the girlfriend he once thought he could manage was no longer adhering to his rules.
“Will you give me a ride home later, Carter?” Emily asked sweetly, her voice laced with innocent charm.
Just as he was about to agree, Klein interjected. “Where are you living now, Emily? I can drop you off.”
Emily hesitated, biting her lip. Klein had never been this kind to her before.
“Thank you, Uncle Klein, but that’s okay. I’ll let Zane drive me home,” she replied, a hint of reluctance in her voice.
“Alright then,” Klein said, a subtle smile gracing his lips.
Carter couldn’t care less about who was driving Emily home; all he wanted was to return to the villa and confront Whitney.
As he entered the villa, his mood darkened further. “Where’s Whitney?” he demanded, his voice tense.
Linda looked startled, shaking her head. “Isn’t she on a business trip, sir?”
Carter frowned, irritation bubbling within him. “Did she tell you she was going on a business trip?”
“No, sir. She left with her suitcase,” Linda replied, her brow furrowing in confusion.
*With her suitcase? Isn’t that usually for a business trip?* Linda thought. *Wait, she mentioned she was moving out today.*
Carter’s expression darkened, urgency pushing him upstairs.
He pushed open the door to the guest room Whitney usually occupied, only to find it completely empty, as if she had never lived there at all.
Turning to her walk-in closet, he felt a jolt of shock. The closet was barren, devoid of her belongings.
His heart sank, a sense of dread creeping over him. He rushed back to his own bedroom, seeking some semblance of stability, only to realize that half of his clothes were missing from the closet as well.
On autopilot, he yanked open his tie drawer. All the ties Whitney had chosen for him were gone too.
Panic surged through him as he threw open the door to the wedding suite.
The giant wedding portrait Whitney had insisted they take together was missing as well.
Carter stepped out onto the terrace, dialing Whitney’s number with shaking hands.
Each ring felt like an eternity, and just as he was about to lose hope, she picked up.
“Whitney, why is your closet empty? Where did all your clothes go?” he demanded, frustration lacing his voice.
“And did you take the clothes you bought for me too?” he added, his tone accusatory. “And if you weren’t even on a business trip, why didn’t you come with me to get our marriage license?”
Whitney let out a snort, as if he had just told the funniest joke. “And you? Did you even go to City Hall yourself?”
Carter’s breath caught in his throat. “Don’t try to change the subject.”
“Whitney, can you stop throwing a fit? I said I’d get the license with you. Why are you still acting like this?”
“But I already told you, we’re done,” Whitney replied, her voice firm.
Carter didn’t want to delve deeper into that, so he pressed on. “Where did you take our wedding portrait?”
*Break up, huh? Who breaks up and secretly takes the wedding portrait with them?* he thought, frustration mounting.
Whitney was at the real estate office, casually checking out apartments. “I didn’t take it,” she responded, her tone indifferent.
Carter froze. “Then where’s the photo?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.