09: Fourteen Days

ALEXA

Killian was silently fuming in the car beside me. He'd been suppressing his rage since we left the boutique several hours ago. I hoped he choked on it or suffered a heart attack from holding it all in. Wait, maybe a brain aneurysm might be better.

"This is your last warning, Alexa. My patience is already wearing thin. Don't throw another stunt at the gala," he finally said, and I adjusted my red dress with a sweet smile.

I had made sure to wear a dress with the highest slit paired with a plunging neckline. Perfect for this event.

"Or what?" I taunted him. If he was going to hit me like Vincent used to, it wouldn't matter. I was pretty much used to that. But this time. I wasn't planning to just stay still and do nothing.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, and Roman shook his head, exasperated.

"You'll regret making a spectacle of yourself, Tesora. And when you do, I won't be nearly as charming as I was today," Killian said, and I faked a shudder.

"You're terrifying," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"We're here, boss," Roman said to Killian and muttered something into his in-ear communicator.

The venue of the event sparkled under the lights of the golden chandeliers. I should be used to settings like this, but Killian never let me attend events like this. He'd stripped me of my modelling career and made sure I was reduced to a pathetic housewife.

I could feel several eyes watching me, but I didn't mind. I was dressed for attention after all.

While Killian charmed donors and CEOs in the grand hall, I slipped away from his sight. Still, I had a feeling that his men were everywhere, watching me.

I was simply minding my own business when I heard an unfamiliar voice behind me.

"Seraphina?"

I whirled around just to see a pair of blue eyes watching me. An elderly woman stood there, clad in an elegant black dress with her hair in a high bun.

I blinked, pain spearing through my head when I saw her face. She looked awfully familiar.

"It is you indeed," she spat, and I frowned, confused. Before I could say anything, she poured her glass of champagne on my face.

The cold liquid drenched me, running down my cheek and neck. Gasps echoed around us, but all I could hear was the roar in my ears and the heat of humiliation burning through me.

I stumbled backwards, bewildered.

"How dare you show your face here? Does Killian know you're here? Of course not, you should be rotting in jail for what you did to my son," she said, taking out her phone from her purse.

Her son? As in Killian?

Shit.

My vision blurred, my ears ringing.

I brought a trembling hand to my head, my knees buckling. And the instant I lost my balance, a strong arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me in. Killian. I could tell by the smell of the expensive cologne wafting from him.

"Mother, please," I heard him say. His voice was low and strained.

"You knew that this thing was here? What is wrong with you? We should get her arrested already," I heard the woman say.

Overwhelmed by everything that was going on, I stumbled away from Killian and headed towards the restroom, my pulse pounding wildly against my ears.

By the time I got to my destination, I could barely breathe. With shaky hands, I splashed water on my face and braced my hands on the sink, my vision swimming.

If that woman was indeed Vincent's mother, she knew about my past and what I'd done. I gulped. My mother-in-law hated me. And worse, she didn't know I was married to her son.

I wished there was a way I could somehow remember everything I'd forgotten.

I raised my head when I heard the door to the restroom creaking open. A frown creased my brows when I saw the newcomer's physique from the corner of my eyes. It was a man, probably one of Killian's men. Groaning with annoyance, I straightened.

"Men aren't allowed in—" The rest of the words died in my throat when he lowered his hood. Terror sank into my gut like a stone, and I took a trembling step backwards.

"What? You look like you've seen a ghost," he drawled, and blood drained from my face.

"Vincent," I croaked, bile threatening to push up my throat.

He was real and alive.

And he was standing right there in front of me. Memories of the way his fists crashed into my body replayed themselves in my head, and suddenly I couldn't breathe.

He smirked, taking a step towards me.

"It's been barely up to a week since I died, but what? You're already married? I didn't know you were such a whore," he said, and I shuffled backwards, my vision fading around the edges.

"D...don't come closer..." I choked out, tears pricking my eyes.

"I should teach you a lesson," he drawled, and I flinched.

He slammed a hand on the wall, and I crumbled to a crouch position, struggling to breathe. He laughed, his brown eyes sparkling with amusement.

Then he crouched in front of me and cupped my face. He leaned in to press a kiss to my temple.

"You have fourteen days," he said casually, and I clutched at my chest where my heart was threatening to explode.

"Kill that bastard who married you and steal the ledger," he said, and my eyes widened.

"W-what ledger?"

He leaned in and raised a hand as if to hit me. I squeezed my eyes shut, flinching. He gently patted me on the face and leaned over to press a kiss on the side of my neck.

Vincent straightened. "Fourteen days. It's all I'm giving you. I don't have to tell you what happens when you don't do what I've told you. Trust me, you're better off not knowing."

And just like that, he walked away. I slumped against the wall instantly, gasping for breath and shaking so hard it felt like I was convulsing. Right before I sank into oblivion, I heard the door being jerked open, and I saw him rush in. Killian.

He knelt in front of me, pulling me to himself, and everything faded to black.