Chapter 31
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“So this is what it’s come to, Kevin sneered, his eyes raking over the car’s interior with undisguised greed. “All those years of education we gave you went to waste. Sold yourself to some rich old man? You’d better be good on your knees, or he’ll get tired of you and toss you out on the street.
He knew this car. He’d tried to buy one himself, only to be humiliated when the dealership told him it was reserved exclusively for black card holders.
The memory of that embarrassment made his fists clench.
“How old is he? I never knew you had it in you to stomach something like that. Just be careful his wife doesn’t find out, or else…
“Kevin,” Zina’s voice was ice, her gaze sharp enough to cut. “Say one more word, and I’ll throw you out of this car. You can handle this yourself.”
Her sharp tone only confirmed his assumptions. He saw it as a sign of her guilt.
Kevin straightened up and snorted. He didn’t say anything else, but he finally shut his mouth.
An hour later, Zina held the folder containing her new, independent records and looked up at the rising sun.
“What a beautiful day, she thought.
For a moment, she felt a hollow ache in her chest, a pang of loss. But the feeling was quickly replaced by a wave of pure, unadulterated relief. She was free.
She couldn’t tell if she was mourning what she’d lost or celebrating what she’d gained. The uncertainty settled into a quiet calm.
But the peaceful moment was short–lived. Kevin came storming out of the building, muttering curses under his breath. He looked relieved to see she hadn’t left yet.
“I did what you asked. Now what about your promise?”
“Deleted.” Zina pulled out her phone, deleted the recording in front of him, and promised she wouldn’t go to the police again. Only then was she able to get away.
Back in her car, she stared at the documents that proved she was her own person, and her eyes grew misty.
Just then, her phone rang. Zina took a deep breath, pushing her emotions down before answering.
“Hello?”
to
“Ghost Doctor, will you be free to come to Riverbay Manor tomorrow? I’d like you to examine my father. You can name your price, of course.”
Zina recognized Kellan Carter’s voice and pressed her lips together. She’d left in a hurry this morning without her mask or voice changer. This was a problem.
She looked at the screen and ended the call.
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Chapter 31
Meanwhile, Kellan was waiting for a response when the line went dead. He pulled the phone away from his ear and frowned, a dark cloud forming around him.
“Kellan, did the doctor agree?”
Hayden, assuming the call had ended normally, strolled over, ready to tease him. “Did your charming personality scare her
off?”
Kellan took a deep breath, his expression unreadable. “She didn’t answer. She hung up on me.”
“That’s just not… wait, she hung up on you?”
Hayden’s voice cracked. He quickly slapped a hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh, earning a sharp look from a nearby
maid.
Seeing Kellan’s bewildered expression, Hayden had to fight back a grin.
Just then, Kellan’s phone buzzed with a new message.
Hayden took the opportunity to let out a few silent, shaking laughs while Kellan was distracted. When he figured enough time had passed, he schooled his features back into a neutral expression.
Kellan’s voice was flat. “She said she’ll be here tomorrow. And for the record, I saw you laughing”
The wind was thoroughly taken out of Hayden’s sails. He had been bracing for some kind of verbal lashing.
But Kellan simply changed the subject. “Tell the staff to get the manor ready. The Ghost Doctor is coming tomorrow,”
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