“The elevator just broke down, and I got a little scared of the dark,” she admitted, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks, embarrassment mingling with her vulnerability.
From the driver’s seat, Klein’s gaze pierced through the rearview mirror, a curious intensity in his eyes. “Claustrophobia?”
Whitney tightened her grip on her knee, nodding slightly. “Yes, something like that.”
Lena, unaware of her friend’s struggles, asked with genuine concern, “Whit, how did you end up with claustrophobia?”
It was a condition typically born from deep psychological trauma, and Lena couldn’t fathom what might have caused it in Whitney.
“Alright, let’s get you to the hospital first,” Klein interjected, cutting through the tension that hung in the air.
“No need for the hospital. Just take me home to rest,” Whitney insisted, a hint of defiance in her tone as she expressed her disdain for hospitals.
Klein tilted his head, his expression serious as he met her gaze. “If the doctor says you’re fine, then you really are.”
Whitney fell silent, unable to argue with his logic.
“Fine,” she muttered, conceding to his insistence.
Klein drove them straight to the best private hospital in Ravorport, the sleek car gliding through the streets with purpose.
As they arrived, Lena pursed her lips, glancing at Klein. “Uncle Klein, why did you bring Whit to Dustin’s hospital?”
Klein’s voice was calm and steady. “Lena, you can’t dismiss his professionalism just because you don’t see eye to eye with him.”
When they exited the car, Klein bent down again, lifting Whitney effortlessly.
Whitney felt a flush of embarrassment wash over her. “No need, I can walk myself.”
Klein pretended not to hear her protest. “It’s not like it’s far.”
Inside the hospital, Dustin was holding an outpatient clinic. He looked up, surprised to see Klein carrying a girl into his office.
“Suspected claustrophobia, scared, and legs weak from the elevator incident. Take a look,” Klein ordered, his tone brooking no argument.
Dustin raised an eyebrow, his expression clearly questioning who Klein thought he was ordering around.
“What are you standing there for? Mr. Reed only sees patients, not just sitting around,” Klein snapped, his irritation palpable.
Dustin cursed under his breath, pushing up his gold-rimmed glasses as he cleared his throat. “Name and age, please.”
Whitney kept her head down, her bangs obscuring her face, making it difficult for Dustin to recognize her at first.
“Whitney Moore, 26,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dustin’s eyes widened in shock as he suddenly realized the patient before him was Carter’s girlfriend.
He squinted at Klein, who stood nearby, and then gestured for him to step outside. “Please step outside. I want to talk to the patient alone.”
Lena understood the unspoken tension between the two men and opted to stay back, aware of the familial dynamics at play.
Klein shot Dustin a cold glance before softening his gaze as he turned to Whitney. “Can you manage alone?”
Whitney nodded slightly, whispering, “Yes.”
Twenty minutes later, Dustin emerged with Whitney, a furrow of concern etched on his brow as he spotted Lena waiting.
He glanced at Klein, his expression revealing a mix of surprise and scrutiny. “Nothing serious. Just avoid putting her in confined spaces from now on.”
“Got it,” Klein replied, his demeanor still serious.
“Lena, can’t you greet me properly?” Dustin teased, a playful glint in his eyes.
Klein, though only three years older than Dustin, commanded a certain authority within the family hierarchy.
Lena reluctantly called out, her voice drawn out, “Hi, Dustin.”
Dustin’s eyelids twitched, as if he were about to say something else, but Klein swiftly interrupted their banter. “Whitney, do you still feel unwell?”
Whitney shook her head, a small smile breaking through the tension. “No, I’m fine now. I just want to go home.”
“Okay, I’ll take you home,” Klein replied, his tone resolute.
Whitney, worried he might attempt to carry her again, forced a smile. “My legs aren’t weak at all anymore. I can walk by myself.”
Klein narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of mischief playing at the corners of his lips. “Yeah, I know. No plans to carry you again. Let’s go.”
The oddity of the moment wasn’t lost on anyone present.
‘Seriously, what a low-key flirt,’ Dustin thought to himself, shaking his head at the unfolding dynamics.
*****
As they made their way home, Lena found herself bursting with questions for Whitney, but with Klein in the car, she held her tongue, choosing discretion over curiosity.
Finally, as the car came to a stop, Lena turned to Whitney, her voice urgent. “Uncle Klein, I’m staying with Whit tonight. You can head home first.”
Klein frowned, concern etching his features. “Don’t bother her. Get some rest early.”
However, instead of returning to Harris Manor, the black Maybach veered back towards the Starwave Entertainment office building, an unexpected detour that left Lena puzzled.
That night, Carter found himself at Emily’s apartment, offering comfort as she navigated her own fears and anxieties. He spent half the evening soothing her, but as he finally headed home, a sense of unease settled over him.
Upon stepping inside, he was met with the sight of his father seated on the couch, his expression stern and unyielding.
“Dad, you’re still up?” Carter asked, surprise lacing his voice.
George snorted coldly, his tone commanding. “Come with me.”
“Where to?” Carter hesitated, fatigue weighing heavily on him. “I’m kind of tired today. Can we talk tomorrow?”
“Of course, you’re tired from all that hugging and holding. Get out here,” George growled, his voice low and firm.
Carter frowned, confusion clouding his thoughts.
They stepped out into the garden, the night air thick with tension.
In the stillness, George wasted no time. “Did the elevator at your company break down today? You, Emily, and Whitney were all stuck in there together, right?”
“Yeah,” Carter replied, still trying to piece together his father’s line of questioning. “Dad, you don’t know how scared Emily is of the dark. I just spent a long time calming her down so she’d stop crying.”
George snapped, “Hmph. Really scared of the dark? Crying from daylight to night? Carter, do you even care about Whitney? Emily is important, but your fiancée isn’t?”
Carter’s frown deepened, frustration bubbling to the surface. “Of course, I know. But she’s fine, and she’s not afraid of the dark.”
“How do you know she’s not afraid of the dark? What girl isn’t?” George shot back, his relentless questioning only serving to irritate Carter further.
“Dad, why do you always side with her? Isn’t Emily our family?” Carter retorted, his voice rising in defiance.
George’s eyes hardened, his tone unyielding. “It’s enough that you know she’s our family. Blood relation or not, Emily is only your sister.”
Carter clenched his fists, feeling a surge of rebellion rise within him.
‘Her again,’ he thought bitterly. ‘I really thought she’d changed today, but it was all just an act. Snitching is all she knows. What else can she even do?’
“Whit, don’t you think Uncle Klein might have some sort of-” Lena began, her voice tinged with curiosity.
“No, I don’t.” Whitney interrupted her, her tone firm and resolute. “Lena, Klein is simply a kind-hearted person. He treats me with the respect of a junior colleague. Please, don’t read too much into it.”
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.