****
Stepping out of the coffee shop, Whitney found herself standing under the glaring sun, but not a single cab was in sight. It felt like an eternity as she waited, her clothes a mess, her skirt stained with coffee, and her bag no better off.
Rummaging through her bag for her phone, she felt the sting of the sun on her neck, intensifying her discomfort.
Suddenly, a quick honk pulled her attention.
The window of a sleek black Maybach slid down, and Klein’s eyes darkened with concern as he took in her disheveled state. “Who did this to you?” he demanded, his voice low and filled with urgency.
Caught off guard by Klein’s presence, Whitney stammered, “Uncle Klein, I…”
“Get in,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for debate. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“Well, there’s really no need for the hospital. I’ll just pick up some burn ointment at the pharmacy,” Whitney replied, trying to downplay the situation.
“Get in,” Klein repeated, his voice firm and unyielding.
With a resigned sigh, Whitney pressed her lips together. “Alright, sorry to trouble you, Uncle Klein.”
Meanwhile, Emily and Tina emerged from the coffee shop, spotting the familiar black Maybach with the GHOST license plate-Klein’s car.
“Emily, what are you staring at? Hurry up and call your driver to take us to the hospital!” Tina urged, her voice tinged with urgency.
Emily glanced away, dismissing the coincidence of Klein’s car passing by. “Okay, I’ll call him right now,” she replied, her mind elsewhere.
*****
Klein settled into the back seat, his gaze fixed on Whitney’s neck, which was red and raw from the coffee. His brows knitted together in concern as he asked, “Does it hurt?”
Whitney hadn’t truly felt the sting until he focused on her. Suddenly, the pain flared up again. “It’s not too bad, just stings a bit. Honestly, I just need some burn cream. It’ll be fine in a couple of days,” she reassured him.
But she couldn’t shake the feeling that Klein’s expression grew even colder after she said that.
“Is this how you always just ignore taking care of yourself?” Klein asked, his voice laced with frustration.
Whitney mumbled, “I’m not ignoring it.”
“It’s just a burn, no big deal. When I first started cooking, I used to get splashed by hot oil all the time. I always dealt with it on my own. By the way, Tina probably got burned way worse than I did,” Whitney thought, trying to downplay her pain.
“It’s your own body. If you can’t even bother to care about it, why should anyone else?” Klein’s words struck a nerve, leaving Whitney feeling choked up inside.
She pressed her lips together, a hint of grievance creeping into her voice. “Uncle Klein, can you have your driver pull over? I’ll just take a cab on my own.”
Klein sensed the hurt behind her words, realizing his tone had been harsher than intended. “Sorry, Whit. Just be good, okay? We’ll be at the hospital soon, and it won’t hurt anymore,” he comforted, his voice softening.
Whitney felt his hesitant hand rest gently on her head, a small gesture that made her heart clench tighter.
Klein studied her for a moment before saying, “Lift your head. Let me check if you’ve got any blisters. Sorry for snapping at you earlier. Your neck is really red. If there are blisters, you have to go to the hospital.”
Instead of a response, Klein was met with soft, broken sobs.
“Is she crying?” he thought, his heart twisting painfully.
“Come on, Whit, don’t cry. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so harsh,” Klein said, his voice gentle and filled with regret.
He carefully cupped her cheek, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. When he saw the tears streaking down her cheeks, his heart sank.
“Damn, I’m such a jerk,” he cursed himself silently.
Once the tears began, Whitney couldn’t hold them back any longer, feeling like a wounded kitten, her shoulders shaking with sobs.
Klein pulled out a clean handkerchief, gently wiping away her tears. “Don’t cry, okay? How about I splash myself, so you can yell at me?” he offered, trying to lighten the mood.
Whitney dabbed at her eyes, the remnants of tears still glistening as she caught a glimpse of Klein’s stern expression. A sudden urge to laugh bubbled up within her, a strange contrast to the heaviness in the air.
“I-I’m not crying because of you,” she stammered, her voice a mix of embarrassment and sincerity.
Klein, already wrestling with his own feelings of distress, felt a pang of guilt twist in his stomach upon hearing her words.
He pressed his lips together, trying to maintain his composure, and asked, “Good. Then who made you cry?”
His eyes narrowed, a fierce glimmer sparking within them. “Did someone push you around just now? Who dares to cross you? Just give me a name, and I’ll handle it myself.”
As Whitney let her tears flow for a moment, she felt a significant weight lift from her chest.
She took his handkerchief, a blush creeping onto her cheeks, and wiped her tear-streaked face. “No need, Uncle Klein. I already took care of it myself.”
Worried that he might doubt her, she added earnestly, “I really did handle it myself.”
Klein sensed that she wasn’t inclined to divulge any more details, so he refrained from pressing further. “Well, do you want me to tell Carter?”
Whitney’s smile vanished in an instant. “No need, Uncle Klein. He’s probably busy with work. Let’s not disturb him.”
Klein scrutinized her face for a moment longer, searching for any hint of deception, but ultimately chose silence.
*****
At the hospital, the doctor meticulously cleaned her burn, applying a soothing ointment with expert hands.
“Good news,” he said, his tone reassuring. “There are no blisters. Just keep the area dry for the next few days, and apply this cream three times a day. The redness should fade by tomorrow.”
Whitney accepted the ointment gratefully, her heart lighter as she thanked the doctor. Soon after, Klein drove her home.
He parked the car downstairs, his gaze lingering on Whitney as she entered the building, her figure gradually disappearing from view. Only then did he retrieve a cigarette, needing something to steady his nerves.
“Boss, are we heading to the office now?” Marco Todd, his long-time driver, inquired from the front seat.
Marco had been behind the wheel for Klein since his teenage years, and now, as Klein approached his thirties, he couldn’t recall ever seeing him this anxious about someone.
What truly astonished him was the fact that Whitney was Carter’s fiancée.
Klein exhaled a final puff of smoke, his eyes shadowed, concealing thoughts that Marco couldn’t quite decipher.
“Marco, keep this under wraps,” Klein instructed, his voice firm and unyielding.
Marco, having been Klein’s trusted aide for years, understood immediately. “Yes, Boss.”
Yet, a wave of curiosity washed over Marco. He thought, *Something significant is brewing here.*
Klein’s voice turned icy as he barked into the phone, “Check the security cameras at the coffee shop downstairs at Skyline Tower around 1:30 PM. I want everything you find within the hour.”
“Carter, look at what she did. She insulted Emily and then had the audacity to throw hot water at us. I’m fine, but look at Milly. You know she’s not doing well. How can she handle this kind of thing?” Tina lamented, her voice tinged with frustration.
Carter’s gaze fell on the faint red mark adorning Emily’s collarbone, a wave of concern washing over him.
“Emily, did the doctor confirm you’re really okay? Your skin looks so red,” he asked, his voice laced with worry.
Emily shook her head, her expression downcast. “Carter, I’m truly fine. Maybe I shouldn’t have confronted Whitney. I just wanted to ask her to forgive you.”
Her eyes dropped, guilt evident on her face. “I’m sorry, Carter. I just made things worse.”
“Oh, silly girl,” Carter said, affectionately ruffling her hair. “You’re just too kind-hearted. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself, alright? I don’t want to worry about you.”
“Whitney really crossed the line this time. I’m definitely going to teach her a lesson tomorrow,” he declared resolutely.
He turned to Tina, his expression serious. “Tina, Whitney and her father have a rocky relationship. Let me handle her for you. Don’t mention today’s incident to your dad, okay?”
Emily’s smile faltered for a brief moment. *Seriously? After everything, Carter still cares about that woman?*
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.