Chapter 16 Who Did This to You?
“Kaia, what the heck do you think you’re doing? How could you pick on people like this?”
Kimberly stood up for her bestie in a fit of anger.
The hot coffee splashed all over Kaia’s chest. She let out a sharp gasp of pain.
Coffee soaked right through her shirt and splashed all over her neck. Her skin went bright red in seconds.
A clerk rushed over promptly. “Ma’am, are you all right?”
Luna couldn’t help but flash a quick smile, yet it vanished in a
blink.
Then she put on a look of feigned concern.
“Kaia, are you okay? Kimberly, how could you go and splash coffee on her?”
Kimberly wasn’t having any of it.
“Did you hear how she was talking to you? Luna, you’re just too soft–hearted. She was being so sarcastic, practically scolding
you!”
Kaia, despite her refined upbringing, was seething with anger at
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these two women, her chest feeling tight as if it were being squeezed.
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She politely addressed the clerk, “Could you bring me some tissues and a cup of hot water? Thanks.”
Kimberly got even more riled up by Kaia’s calm demeanor and kept on provoking her.
“Kaia, you just wait! I’m gonna tell Alden exactly what you said today. You’ll see how he’ll put you in your place!”
Luna put on an act of taking Kimberly’s hand.
“Kimberly, knock it off. It’s kinda understandable that Kaia’s ticked off.”
Kaia watched their little show, sneering to herself.
Just then, the clerk returned with the tissues and hot water.
“Planning to tattle on me, huh?” Kaia scoffed.
With that, she swiftly grabbed the cup on the table and splashed the water right at the two of them.
“Here’s some real–deal evidence for you. Go run and tell on me together!”
Kaia watched with satisfaction as the skin on their collarbones
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quickly turned red. Then she grabbed her bag and made a beeline for the door.
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“Ah!” Kimberly let out a shrill scream. “Kaia, you splashed us? Are you out of your mind!”
But Kaia was long gone, leaving Kimberly’s angry roar
unanswered.
Kimberly bore the brunt of the splash. Almost two–thirds of the water hit her, while only a small patch of Luna’s skin was affected.
Luna said, “Kimberly, Kaia’s something else, isn’t she?”
“She’s just a total shrew!” Kimberly fumed, her body trembling with rage.
But the searing pain on her collarbone made her both furious and terrified.
“Luna, will I get a scar here?”
Luna cooed in a soothing voice, “Don’t fret, Kimberly. There won’t be any scars. I’ll go to the hospital with you.”
Anyway, this “evidence” couldn’t have come at a better time.
*****
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Outside the coffee shop, Kaia stood under the blistering sun, desperately trying to flag down a taxi.
It felt like an eternity before she could even spot an empty one.
Her clothes, skirt, and even her bag were marred by splotches of coffee stains.
Frustrated, she pulled out her phone to book a ride, and the pain on her neck only grew more intense under the sun’s relentless rays.
Just then, a short honk of a horn caught her attention.
She looked up to see the window of a sleek black Maybach rolling down.
Lucien noticed her messy look. He narrowed his eyes and asked, “Who did this to you?”
Kaia was taken aback to run into Lucien here. “I…”
Lucien commanded sharply, “Get in the car. I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“Nah, no hospital, Mr. Graves. Just gonna pick up some burn cream at the pharmacy,” Kaia replied.
“Get in the car,” Lucien said, his tone leaving no room for debate.
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Kaia pressed her lips in resignation. “Okay, then. Thanks.”
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Just as Luna and Kimberly stepped out of the coffee shop, Luna caught sight of the familiar license plate.
It was Lucien’s car.
“Hey, Luna! What are you gawking at? Call your driver right now to take us to the hospital!” Kimberly urged.
Luna finally tore her eyes away, not thinking much of it and assuming it was just a coincidence.
“Alright, Kimberly. I’ll make the call right away.”
*****
In the backseat, Lucien stared at her red, inflamed neck. His eyebrows knitted together.
“Does it hurt?”
Kaia was dealing with the pain fine. Until he stared her down. Then it hit differently.
“It’s nothing. Just need some burn cream. A few days tops.”
His face darkened. Was she seeing things?
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“This is how you always handle injuries? Half–assed?” Lucien snapped.
“I’m not-” Kaia mumbled.
Just a burn. No big deal. Got worse ones learning to cook.
Always handled stuff solo anyway.
Kimberly probably got it worse.
“It’s your body. No one else is gonna take care of it for you.”
Kaia felt a lump in her throat at his words.
“Can we stop? I’ll grab a taxi. Get it checked out,” she said, a hint of distress in her voice.
Not like she didn’t care. Just… never had anyone fuss over her
before.
Grandma is the only one who cared. And she’s sick. What else
could I do?
Realizing he’d been too tough on her, Lucien softened his tone. “Don’t be so stubborn, Kaia. Be a good girl. We’ll be at the hospital soon, and the pain will fade away.”
Kaia felt a hesitant hand gently stroking her head.
All of a sudden, she felt even more wretched,
