Klein smirked, his tone playful. “What’s wrong, Whit? Not happy to hear that?”
After a brief pause, she blurted out, “Of course not. I’m glad to hear that.”
Today marked the fastest Whitney had ever driven, her foot firmly planted on the gas pedal as she adhered to the speed limit, eager to drop Klein off and regain her sense of normalcy. A half-hour later, she finally announced, “Uncle Klein, we’re here.”
Klein took his time unfastening his seatbelt, then leisurely pulled out his phone to type a message. “Thanks, Whit. I’ll treat you to dinner sometime,” he said, his voice casual.
Whitney forced a smile, the effort feeling slightly strained. “No big deal.”
As she watched him walk away, a wave of relief washed over her, and she let out a quiet sigh.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed again.
Unlocking her screen, she saw a message from Klein: [K.H transferred you 500 dollars. Note: Thanks for the ride.]
“What’s up with him? Why does he always transfer such a large sum to me?” Whitney pondered, bemused.
This time, she chose not to accept the transfer, but Klein’s profile picture remained stubbornly pinned at the top of her chat list throughout the day.
*****
When Carter received Zoe’s report, his expression darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes.
He snatched his suit jacket off the chair and sprang to his feet, determination etched on his face. ‘She won’t come, huh? Guess I’ll have to go to her company and see her myself,’ he thought, a plan forming in his mind.
Meanwhile, Whitney checked the time and decided it was the perfect moment to get her car serviced. She could also take care of the scratch from her last mishap.
Just as she pulled into the dealership, her phone rang.
“Whitney, can you come to the hospital? Carter just got into a car accident. I think he’d really want to see you right now. Could you come over?” Emily’s voice was urgent, tinged with worry.
Whitney detected the underlying concern and felt a flicker of irritation. “Emily, if Carter’s hurt, you’re probably the first person he wants to see. We’ve broken up, so I’m not going,” she replied firmly, cutting the conversation short as she hung up without hesitation.
Emily stood outside the hospital room, her heart racing with conflicting emotions.
A smile crept onto her lips as she thought, ‘Did Carter really break up with Whitney? If they’re truly over, does that mean I finally have a chance?’
Carter had merely brushed against a guardrail while distracted by a scooter. He was fine, just a few scrapes to show for it.
Emily, upon hearing about the accident, wouldn’t take no for an answer and insisted on accompanying him to the hospital. She even managed to get James riled up over the incident.
“Carter, what’s going on with you lately? You really need to be more careful when you drive. Maybe it’s time you let someone else take the wheel,” George chided, concern etched on his face.
Sabrina, clearly anxious for her son’s well-being, shot George a disapproving look. “Spending a night in the hospital for observation is a good idea. We need to make sure he didn’t miss any injuries.”
“Carter, did you tell Whit? After something this serious, she should really come by too,” Sabrina added, her worry palpable.
Emily clutched her phone as she entered the ward. “Mom, I just tried calling Whitney, but…” she glanced at Carter, who was lying in the bed, and continued, “She said she’s busy and can’t come over.”
“What’s going on? Carter, did you and Whit have a fight?” Sabrina asked, her brows knitting together in confusion.
George observed Carter’s expression closely, then caught Emily’s hopeful gaze, which was unwavering.
“Sabrina, why don’t you take Emily downstairs and handle Carter’s hospital bill?” George suggested, his tone practical.
Sabrina hesitated for a moment but then nodded, understanding the unspoken cue, and led Emily out. “Let’s go, Emily. Come with me.”
Once the room was clear, George turned to Carter. “Tell me, son. What’s really going on?”
Carter hesitated, his lips pressed together tightly. “It’s nothing, Dad. Whitney’s just in a mood. I’ll make it up to her when I get home.”
“I hope that’s all it is. You know your grandpa thinks very highly of Whit. Just get the paperwork done and ease his mind,” George replied, his tone serious yet concerned.
He shot Carter a conflicted glance. “And I’m going to set Emily up with some blind dates. You better put aside any feelings you shouldn’t have.”
“I don’t want any scandal coming out of the Harris family,” he added firmly.
Carter’s fists clenched momentarily before relaxing. “Dad, that’s not going to happen.”
Whitney had never anticipated that Emily would take it upon herself to show up.
As she settled into the coffee shop, Whitney felt a mix of impatience and curiosity. She glanced at Emily, who had arrived with an anxious energy that was hard to ignore. “Emily, are you absolutely sure you’re in the right place?” she asked, her tone laced with skepticism.
Emily’s response came quickly, almost as if it had been building up inside her. “No, Whit. I came here for you,” she confessed, her voice trembling slightly, betraying her nerves.
Whitney felt a pang of guilt mixed with annoyance. “I didn’t mean to bother you, Whit. It’s just that you didn’t show up at the hospital yesterday. I have no idea what my dad said to Carter, but he seems really upset,” Emily explained, her words tumbling out in a rush.
Whitney shot her a piercing look, her brow furrowing in thought. Emily, feeling the weight of that gaze, chewed on her lip nervously, her doe-like eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Those vulnerable eyes had a way of making anyone want to protect her from the harshness of the world.
Whitney raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. “So?” she probed, her voice cool and detached.
Taking a deep breath, Emily summoned her courage and pressed on. “Whit, if you’re still mad at Carter because of me, I’m really sorry. I can do anything you ask. Just please, forgive him.”
Whitney casually picked up her coffee, blowing on it to cool it down before taking a deliberate sip, her demeanor seemingly unfazed. “And what if I don’t want to forgive him?” she replied, her tone icy. “Shouldn’t you be relieved if I choose not to?”
Emily’s eyes widened, turning red at the edges. “I didn’t mean for this to become my problem, Whit. In this family, I want you to marry Carter more than anyone else. You’ve really got me wrong,” she insisted, her voice rising with desperation.
Whitney slammed her coffee cup down on the table, the sound echoing in the small café. “Alright, don’t waste your breath on me. I won’t buy your lies. Save all that fake sweet talk for Carter. I’m not him. Whatever you say to me is just noise,” she snapped, her frustration boiling over.
Just as Whitney was about to stand up and leave, a figure rushed in from behind. Without warning, someone snatched the coffee cup off the table and hurled it at her.
“Whitney, stop picking on Emily!” Tina shouted, stepping in to defend her friend.
The scalding coffee splashed across Whitney’s chest, and she inhaled sharply, the pain shooting through her. Her shirt was instantly soaked, the coffee trickling down her neck, her pale skin flushing a deep crimson.
A staff member rushed over, concern evident on their face. “Ma’am, are you alright?” they asked, eyes wide with alarm.
Emily’s lips curled into a sly smile for just a moment before she masked it with a worried expression. “Whit, are you okay? Tina, how could you just throw coffee at her like that?” she feigned concern, her voice trembling.
Tina huffed indignantly, “She was totally talking smack about you! Emily, you’re way too soft. Didn’t you hear what she said?”
Even Whitney’s best manners were crumbling under the weight of this chaotic scene. Anger bubbled within her, making her chest feel tight. She turned to the clerk, forcing herself to maintain her composure. “Could I get some tissues and a cup of hot water, please? Thank you.”
Tina, clearly agitated by Whitney’s calmness, pressed on, “Whitney, just wait. I’m going to tell Carter every word said today. He’ll make you pay for this.”
Emily, playing the role of the concerned friend, tugged at Tina’s hand. “Tina, don’t. Whit’s got every right to be upset.”
Whitney watched their little performance unfold, a cold laugh echoing in her mind.
Just then, the clerk returned with the tissues and hot water.
“So, you want to snitch, huh?” Without missing a beat, Whitney grabbed the cup and splashed the hot water right at both of them, her voice rising. “Here, let me give you some proof. Go say whatever you want to Carter.”
She felt a sense of satisfaction as she watched their exposed skin turn red from the scalding water. Without a backward glance, she grabbed her bag and strode out of the coffee shop, her heart racing with adrenaline.
Tina screamed in pain, “Whitney, how dare you throw water at us! Are you crazy?”
But Whitney was already gone, leaving Tina’s shouts to fade into the background.
Tina had taken the brunt of the hit-almost two-thirds of the water splashed onto her, while Emily had barely gotten wet.
Emily’s eyes sparkled with a mix of shock and admiration. “Tina, Whitney’s really savage, huh?”
“Bullshit! She’s just a psycho,” Tina fumed, shaking with rage. But the burning pain on her collarbone made her both furious and scared. “Emily, is this gonna leave a scar?”
Emily offered a reassuring smile, her voice soft. “It won’t. I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“Damn, Whitney just handed me the perfect proof at the perfect time,” Emily thought, feeling a surge of smug satisfaction.
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.