The belt clicked open, but simultaneously, Noah’s hand gripped hers. Her heart stuttered as panic flickered in her eyes, and she met his gaze, which was devoid of emotion.
Kyla froze, breathless with shock.
As she braced for confrontation, Noah’s raspy voice broke the silence, asking, “Sadie?”
That single question, laden with confusion, stabbed at Kyla’s heart.
It was Sadie he saw in his half-awake state, not her!
Kyla felt her heart shattering, as if cut by a sharp blade.
She stood there rigidly, clenching her fists tightly.
A sudden stab of jealousy hit Kyla.
Internally, she cursed, wishing the recent car accident had killed Sadie.
Yet, despite her bitterness, Kyla recognized the crucial nature of the moment.
She inhaled deeply, calming her anger, and murmured, “Noah, you’re drunk. Let me wipe your face.”
Noah loosened his hold on her wrist, murmuring an indifferent “Mm.” This compliance was uncharacteristic; Noah was usually commanding and assertive around her, yet now he seemed subdued and easy to sway
Kyla’s fingers whitened as she twisted a towel dry, then gently dabbed at Noah’s face.
The cold water might have begun to wake him, as Noah’s senses gradually sharpened.
Upon opening his eyes and seeing Kyla, he frowned, and his demeanor instantly chilled.
He brushed her hand away and said bluntly, “Get out.”
Kyla’s small spark of hope crumbled with those few words.
“Noah, let me look after you…” Kyla’s voice faltered, her eyes welling up as she spoke.
“I said, get out.” Noah’s voice grew even colder.
A sting of pain shot through Kyla’s heart, prompting her to exit the room.
She collapsed onto the sofa in the living room, her thoughts simmering with resentment.
Rising abruptly, Kyla began to pace, her frustration mounting. She slipped out to the garden, glanced around to ensure privacy, and then pulled out her cellphone to make a call.
“Why didn’t Sadie die in the car crash you staged?” Kyla demanded, her voice laced with restrained fury.
From the other end came a leisurely, mocking reply. “What’s the matter, my lady? Why so upset? That mishap certainly caused enough drama.”
Drawing in a deep breath to calm her rage, Kyla said, “Set up another accident. Make sure Sadie doesn’t survive this time.”
A chuckle resonated from the other end, amused and taunting. “I can’t.” Kyla’s temper flared, and she raised her voice. “And why not? How dare you refuse-“
She was abruptly cut off by the hacker.
“Have you forgotten the deal we made?” the hacker said, his voice calm, almost amused. “You still owe me for that favor, and now you want me to stage another accident?”
Kyla froze, her fingers tightening around her phone.
The memory hit her like a slap. She had made a deal with him, hiring him to engineer a car accident. His price? A night with her. At the time, she hadn’t flinched-so desperate was she to erase someone from the picture.
A flicker of shame bubbled up, but she shoved it down.
They’d been intimate more than once; there was no reason to act coy now.
Besides, anger burned hotter in her chest, and she needed an outlet-something raw and reckless to match the storm inside her.
Pulling up her phone, she searched for the nearest luxury hotel to Myrtlewood Estate. Once she found one, she shot the hacker a message with the location. “Go there. I’ll book a room.”
On the other end of the line, she heard the faint hiss of a cigarette being stubbed out, followed by a low chuckle. “So eager? You’ve always been wild.”
Kyla’s lips curled into a bitter smile. Her voice was sharp, teetering between frustration and challenge. “Are you coming or not? If not, forget it!”
There was a beat of silence before the hacker’s amused voice returned. “Oh, I’m coming. But it’s been too long since our last time. I’m extremely horny now. You’d better be ready.”
The sound of his heavy breathing over the line sent a shiver down Kyla’s spine, her legs suddenly weak beneath her.
She ended the call abruptly, her fingers trembling as she rushed to book the room.
Impatience gnawed at her. She couldn’t even wait for the hotel staff to hand over the key. Instead, she slipped into the public restroom, taking a hurried shower, as if washing away the residue of the night’s frustrations.
When she finally stepped into the room, the hacker was already there. The faint scent of tobacco mingled with his distinct, musky cologne, filling the air and making her head spin. He stood by the window, his gaze flickering to her wet hair, and a hungry gleam lit up his eyes. Without a word, he crossed the room and pulled her into his arms.
“Kyla, you’re becoming more irresistible every time I see you.”
She let out a soft laugh, playfully pushing the hacker back, though her touch lacked any real resistance.
They tumbled into a night of reckless abandon.
By the time dawn crept over the horizon, the hotel room was a chaotic mess of tangled sheets and discarded clothes.
Kyla groaned as she pushed herself up from the bed, her body aching, especially around her waist. Bruises mottled her skin, stark against the early morning light. She winced as she dressed, her movements stiff and deliberate.
While she was buttoning her blouse, her voice cut through the thick, stale air. “I’ve repaid the favor from last time. Now, make sure you arrange another ‘accident’ for Sadie. This time, I want her dead.”
The hacker, still lounging lazily against the headboard, lit a cigarette. He took a long drag before releasing a plume of smoke into the room, his lips curling into a smirk. “With all the effort you put in last night, I promise,” he drawled.
Kyla knew exactly what he meant by “effort.”
She shot him a look, equal parts annoyance and teasing. “As long as you play your part, once I become Noah’s wife, you’ll be well compensated.”
The hacker chuckled darkly, his laughter low and taunting. “Noah’s reputation might be squeaky clean, but who would’ve thought his beloved would turn him into a cuckold?”
Kyla rolled her eyes, ignoring his crude amusement. She had no time for his jabs. Her focus was razor-sharp now-Sadie had to be eliminated, and Noah would be hers.
She finished dressing, grabbed her bag, and walked out without a backward glance.
The hacker’s grin faded as he watched the door click shut behind her. His eyes hardened, the amusement replaced by a cold, calculating glint. “Noah, your reckoning is coming,” he muttered, flicking ash onto the floor.
When Kyla returned to Myrtlewood Estate, the first light of morning stretched across the sky. Rosa hadn’t arrived yet, and the house was cloaked in silence.
Kyla slipped into an empty guest room, scrubbing herself clean of any lingering traces of the night. She dressed carefully in long sleeves and pants, making sure every bruise and mark was hidden from sight.
As Kyla emerged from the room, she caught sight of Noah lingering by the master bedroom door, his knocks soft and hesitant.
“Sadie, I get that you’re upset with me, but neglecting your health just to make a point is reckless! Do you really think skipping breakfast will make me feel sorry for you?”
There was an undertone of urgency in his voice, his brow slightly furrowed.
His words carried a note of reprimand yet were underscored by genuine concern.
Kyla clenched her fists, her nails pressing into her palms.
In her mind, if Sadie succumbed to her illness, all the better-she wouldn’t have to get her hands dirty at all.
At that moment, the master bedroom door creaked open.
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.
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