Chapter 2 Pay Me First
Kaia dropped her words, spun around, and left, leaving everyone in the room sharing awkward looks.
+2 Bonus
Someone forced a laugh. “Heh, Kaia sure knows how to crack a joke,”
“Don’t be mad, Mr. Graves. Just sweet–talk her later. She’ll cool
off,” another chimed in.
But someone else scoffed, “Sweet–talk? Please. Don’t spoil these women, Mr. Graves. They’ll walk all over you.”
“Shut up.” Alden snapped, his voice like ice. He was utterly annoyed by all the chatter.
Luna watched him, unease crept on her.
Since when has Alden started defending Kaia?
Has she stolen his heart during the years I’m away?
“Alden, if you’re worried about making Kaia mad, I’ll go and apologize to her, okay?” she said softly, biting her lip.
Then, she playfully poked his waist with her index finger, her voice full of charm.
“Don’t be angry. Look, you’ve scared them all,” she murmured.
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B
+2 Bonus
She used to poke Alden’s waist under the table when they were kids, and it always melted his heart.
Sure enough, his icy look softened a bit.
“I’m not mad,” he said gently. “Luna, I’d never get mad at you over someone else.”
Luna lowered her eyes sweetly, her cheeks turning pink.
“Me too, Alden.”
The room burst into teasing laughter, and just like that, the tension Kaia left behind disappeared.
***
Kaia headed straight for the house she once shared with Alden.
This place was a wedding present from Alden’s grandfather,
Allen Graves.
The maid, Serena Bills, blinked in surprise.
“You’re back,” she exclaimed. “I thought you’d be getting your marriage license today. Where’s Mr. Graves?”
Kaia didn’t answer. She stormed past and went straight upstairs.
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One suitcase was enough–she’d never brought much here
anyway.
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As she passed by Alden’s study, her eyes landed on the tablet lying on his desk.
Once, when she’d wanted to watch some shows on it, he’d exploded with anger for no reason.
She’d assumed he just disliked people touching his stuff.
But today, she’d clearly seen Luna laughing with his phone in her hand.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Kaia stepped into the study.
With her slender fingers, she pressed the power button on the tablet.
The screen lit up. Password required.
Taking a deep breath, she decided to give it a try.
The first password she entered was Alden’s birthday.
As expected, it was incorrect.
She didn’t give up. Next, she tried her own birthday.
But alas, it was still wrong.
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+2 Bonus
One more try. Her mind scrambled for clues… until it landed on one–Luna’s birthday.
September 23rd.
With fingers slightly shaking, she typed in “0923“.
As she’d dreaded all along, the screen flashed–unlocked.
Instantly, a bitter, acrid taste welled up in her throat.
To her dismay, there were no apps on the tablet.
Guided by an unsettling hunch, Kaia opened the photo album.
Then, her heart stopped cold.
3,344 photos. Each single one screamed Luna and Alden’s shared moments.
Luna’s beaming selfies. Dozens of shots with Alden–smiling, laughing, always close.
And Kaia? He’d dodge every time she raised a camera.
They only had one photo.
Their wedding portrait. Hanging in the bedroom like some sick joke.
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She remembered his excuse-
“I’m not into pictures,” he’d said.
But here, in these photos, he was grinning from ear to ear, happier than Kaia’d ever seen him.
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Kaia shut the tablet, as if erasing the painful evidence from her sight.
She tiptoed out of the study, trying to act as if she’d never been there in the first place.
Downstairs, Serena noticed the future mistress lugging a suitcase down the stairs.
Her curiosity piqued, she couldn’t help but ask, “Going on another business trip? You just got back, though.”
It made sense–Kaia was a lawyer. Workaholic. Always on a plane.
Serena figured it was just more of the same.
Kaia paused, just for a second.
“Hm,” she murmured. Then she walked out, face blank.
***
/9
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+2 Bonus
The next day, Alden finally came back to their wedding house.
No text from her in 24 hours.
Bold move, Kaia.
Turning to Serena, he asked, “Did Kaia come back yesterday?”
Serena shook her head. “Seems like she left on a business trip, Mr. Graves. Didn’t say when she’d be back.”
Alden’s brows pinched slightly.
Business trip, really? Or just avoiding me?
Still, he didn’t dwell on it.
He figured she’d come crawling back soon after throwing a little
tantrum.
After all, they were already engaged. The wedding photos were
done.
And the marriage license? Just paperwork.
As for what she’d said about not getting the license yesterday, he didn’t take it seriously.
How could she back out of the marriage?
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“Alright, got it,” Alden said flatly, heading upstairs.
+2 Bonus
The master bedroom, meant to be filled with newlywed warmth, felt cold and hollow.
Since he and Kaia usually stayed in separate guest rooms, he didn’t even notice the framed photo on the white wall was gone.
He had just sat down when his phone rang.
It was his grandfather, Allen.
“Hey, Alden,” Allen’s voice came through the phone, “did you and Kaia get the marriage license? Haven’t seen anything in the group chat.”
Alden paused.
“Something came up that day,” he said, keeping it vague. “We didn’t get it done. Totally slipped my mind to tell you. We’ll do it after your birthday bash.”
“Make sure you do,” Allen said. “I’ll sleep better once it’s done.”
Then, he added, “I heard Luna’s back.”
Alden’s jaw tightened, memories flooding back.
Five years ago, Luna had flown overseas after Allen tried to set
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her up with someone she didn’t want.
She’d vanished overnight–no goodbye, no explanation.
+2 Bonus
He never found out exactly what went down between her and
Allen.
All he knew was, Allen canceled the engagement, and Luna disappeared.
That year, things had been super tense between Alden and his family.
It only started to get better after he got engaged to Kaia.
“Yeah,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Looks like it.”
Allen seemed satisfied with that.
“Well, I’ll have your dad call her. It’s not right. She’s back in town and hasn’t even come home.”
Then his tone sharpened.
“Alden, no matter who’s back, you and Kaia have to get that license ASAP. You got me?”
Alden’s eyes darkened.
“Sure, Grandpa.”
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After ending the call, Alden rubbed his temples, a sigh threatening to escape his lips.
Tomorrow was his grandfather’s birthday party.
B
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Alden stared at the dead chat with Kaia. Nothing since the day
he’d stood her up.
