Chapter 175
Chapter 175
“Can you please call ivy and my dad again? They’re supposed to be here,” Cole said, fidgeting with the bedsheet.
Kim heard the sadness in his voice and kissed him lightly. “Alright.”
She picked his phone and dialed Ivy. There was no point dialing his father. Patrick had already said he wasn’t around, and he’d sounded like he wasn’t coming back anytime soon.
Ivy, on the other hand, hadn’t answered at all.
As the phone rang in Kim’s ear, she forced a smile. “No answer still,” she said after a moment.
Cole shook his head. “That’s just crazy.
I think
both of
them would be here when I’m leaving.”
“I’m sure there’s an explanation for it.”
He sighed. “I hope.”
She rubbed his back gently, and he gave her a faint smile. She smiled back, assessing his face. Despite being a little sunken from the illness, he was still so beautiful.
“What?” he asked, smiling.
Her heart pounded, but she didn’t look away.
“Nothing,” she said softly. “Just admiring your face. It’s pretty.”
He flushed and chuckled. “Thank you.”
He was the first man she had ever been soft with. The first one she didn’t want to manipulate. The first one she regretted using for his money.
For some weird unexplainable reasons, she wanted to stay. To be with him. She had no name for the emotion, but she liked it.
Just as she was about to kiss him again, the door opened and a guard walked in. She straightened up, tucking her hair behind her ears.
“We’re all set, sir,” the guard said. “Geoffrey is on his way up.”
“Alright then. I’ll wait for him,” Cole said, still slightly flushed.
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Kim moved to the bedside table and started arranging Cole’s things. Guilt swirled inside her as she thought of Rosie, but she pushed it away.
She was the stupid one for helping Rosie, and now Ivy was mad at her too.
The door opened and a young man entered. He looked just like Cole, except his hair was brown.
“Geo,” Cole said, standing up from the bed.
“My brother,” Geo said warmly, hugging Cole.
Kim watched as the two embraced. This was Geo? she thought, looking away, shame twisting inside her.
When they eventually pulled apart, Cole turned to her. “This is Kim. Kim, this is my Geoffery, my brother.”
“Hello,” Geo said, extending a hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Kim took it. “Same here.”
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Chapter 175
Geo smiled, and turned back to Cole. “It’s time to go. Have you called lvy?”
“She hasn’t been picking up,” Cole said, his voice tinged with disappointment.
“Don’t worry,” Geo said, patting his shoulder. “I’m sure she’ll call back. She’s probably just busy.”
“I guess. Cole shrugged. “Shall we?”
Geo and the guard helped Cole into his shoes, while Kim gathered his belongings. They left the hospital room and waited by the entrance for the cat.
“You’re coming with me, right?” Cole asked when the car arrived.
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. As much as she wanted to go home with Cole, she was terrified of ivy and ashamed of herself.
The way Ivy had kicked her out of the room still haunted her, and she wasn’t sure she could survive another humiliation.
Not that she didn’t deserve it.
As if reading her mind, Cole added, “I already told you not to worry about Ivy. When she sees you in the house, I’ll explain everything.”
Kim hesitated. Ivy was different now, and Kim knew she stood no chance against her anger.
“I don’t even think she’s coming home,” Cole added.
Who was she kidding? This was already a disaster. Ivy would never accept her–not after everything.
But she couldn’t bring herself to say that out loud. Not to Cole. Not with his beautiful face looking at her like that.
“You know what?” she said, stepping closer to the car. “Go home and call me when the coast is clear.”
Cole frowned, about to protest. “But you-”
She cut him off with a kiss. He held her waist, pulling her in for a deeper one.
When their lips parted, she chuckled. “Let me know how it goes.”
He nodded, biting his lip.
She stepped aside and watched as the car drove off. Standing alone in front of the hospital, dread washed over her.
She clutched her jacket tighter and made her way to Rowway Hotel. She knew she shouldn’t still be staying there, but she had nowhere else to go. Besides, the staff had been really kind to her.
When she entered the room, she collapsed into the bed. The loneliness hit harder than she had expected as she stared at the plain ceiling.
What now?
One thing was certain: she liked Cole and wanted to be with him. But to do that, she had to find a way to make Ivy accept her.
She racked her brain, trying to come up with a solution.
Then it hit.
She picked up her phone and dialed a friend.
“Hey, Beatrice Ave. How are you?”
“Kimberly Walker,” Beatrice said, her voice sweet. Beatrice was a blogger and an influencer. “How are you doing?”
Chapter 175
“Great,” Kim replied. “I need a favor.”
“What’s that, sweet?”
Kim played with a chunk of her hair. “I need you and some girls to… maybe… patronize Ivy Stone.”
“Ivy Stone? Isn’t that your ex’s wife?” Kim heard the derision in Beatrice’s voice.
“Yes, but that’s not the point,” Kim snapped. “Can you help or not?”
Beatrice paused. “I’ll get back to you.”
But Kim got the message loud and clear.
“Whatever,” she muttered, ending the call. “Fuck!” she grunted, punching the air.
She had to find another way. Definitely.
She was about to search for another contact when a sharp knock at the door startled her. Thinking it was room service, Kim opened it and found Rosie outside.
“Rosie,” she gasped, stepping back.
Rosie strutted in, dressed in black from head to toe. “Hey Kimmy. How are you?”
Fear gripped Kim and she swallowed. Rosie knew she was here! The thought unsettled her.
“What do you want?” she managed to ask.
Rosie turned to her with a smirk. “One would think you’d miss your friend.” She walked over to the bed and sat down. “How come you weren’t arrested? Who helped you?”
Kim froze. Rosie had no idea she was the one who called the police. Was that good… or bad?
Rosie folded her arms, her mouth twisted in annoyance. “Oh my, say something. I don’t have all day.”
Kim’s hands curled into fists. “How did you…?”
“Well, I got out, obviously,” Rosie said, crossing her legs. “I’m not giving you all the details, but I had help. And now it’s time to deal with all the Stones.”
Kim’s anxiety spiked, leaving her speechless.
“And I need your help.”
There was no way she would help Rosie–not after what she did to Cole. That thought alone pushed her to speak.
“I’m not helping you, Rosie.”
Rosie didn’t even flinch. “Why? Because of that dude? Come on. He’s Ivy’s brother. He’s just as bad as she is.”
“No, he’s not!” Kim blurted out.
Rosie tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Oh, Kimmy’s in love. And here I was, trying to help you get Silas back.”
Kim’s mind drifted to Silas, and she was surprised she hadn’t even thought of him lately.
Rosie mistook her silence for defeat and stood up. “See, I know you too well. You don’t care about anyone but yourself. And you know Silas is the only one who can satisfy those insatiable, selfish, needs of yours.”
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Kim wanted to argue, but she couldn’t find the words.
“I’m on the run, so I’m being very careful,” Rosie continued. “Things are different now, Kim. All the Stones are going to face my wrath for what they did to me. And you’re going to help me.”
Kim’s eyes widened. “But Rosie-”
“No argument.” Rosie snapped, then chuckled darkly. “I’m leaving no stone unturned. Get it?”
Bút Kim was too rattled to understand. “Rosie-
Rosie raised her hand. “No argument!,” she repeated, her voice sharp and it made Kim flinch. “I’ll reach out when I need you. Don’t worry, I know how to find you.”
With that, Rosie walked out, leaving Kim and her pounding heart behind.
