CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO: THE LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND WAR

Christy’s POV

Kendrick’s car rolled to a smooth stop in front of a quiet gated neighborhood that I had never seen before.

It wasn’t huge or flashy like the mansions we were used to, but it was peaceful, like the kind of place people built a fresh start in.

"This is where you live now?" I asked softly as I looked at him.

He nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Yeah, I bought it a few weeks ago, when I started planning to move out of the Black estate." he said softly.

I turned to look at the house again. The setting sun bathed it in a warm orange hue, the windows glinting softly. It wasn’t the biggest place in the world, but for some reason, it made my chest ache in a good way.

"It’s... beautiful," I whispered.

He smiled and got out of the car, walking around to open my door like the gentleman he always tried to be.

"It’s small, but it’s ours now...Come on," he said, while reaching out for my hand.

Our fingers intertwined, and just that simple contact made me feel grounded again. After all the chaos from earlier, this place felt like a bubble away from the world, a place where I could finally breathe.

When I stepped inside, the scent of new wood and lavender filled my senses. The living room was minimal, barely furnished except for a couch, a small table, and a few unpacked boxes pushed against the wall.

Kendrick scratched the back of his neck.

"I haven’t really had time to decorate. Been too busy trying to get away from all the drama." he said and gave me a sheepish grin.

I chuckled lightly, brushing my hand across the wall.

"It’s fine... I think I like it this way." I said with a smile.

He looked at me for a long time before speaking again, his tone softer. "Christy... I meant what I said at the park. I don’t care what anyone thinks, I’m done letting them dictate how we live."

His voice was steady, but there was pain behind it, pain that came from years of fighting battles he didn’t choose. I moved closer and placed my hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat under my palm.

"We will raise our child here," I said, my voice trembling but certain.

"Somewhere no one can find us, and no one to judge us or remind us of where we came from." I said with a hopeful voice.

"You sound like you have thought about this before." he said as he smiled faintly.

"Maybe I have." I said before looking down shyly.

He pulled me closer, resting his forehead against mine.

"Then it’s settled, We will start over. You, me, and our baby. No Black’s or Lancasters... Just us." he promised.

The emotion in his voice cracked something inside me, and before I knew it, tears spilled down my cheeks.

"I never thought I would get this lucky," I whispered.

He chuckled lightly, brushing away my tears with his thumb.

"You call this lucky?" he asked me with a smile.

I laughed softly through the tears.

"Lucky enough to still have you after everything." I replied.

The quietness between us felt heavy but comforting. For once, there was no noise from the outside world, just our breathing and the promise of something new.

Kendrick kissed my forehead softly, and I closed my eyes, savoring the warmth. But before the moment could stretch any further, my phone started to buzz violently in my pocket.

I frowned and reached for it and saw the screen flashing with Mason’s name.

My heart skipped as I suddenly got a bad feeling.

"Christy?" Kendrick asked, noticing my sudden stiffness.

I answered the call immediately. "Mason?"

"Christy! Thank God you picked up! Mom.. Mom fainted!" His voice came out rushed and panicked.

"What?" My voice cracked.

"She has been rushed to St. Mary’s Hospital, father and Kelvin are there. You need to come right now!" he said frantically.

My phone almost slipped from my hand.

"Oh my God..." I cried as I covered my mouth.

Kendrick’s hand was already on my shoulder. "What happened?"

"She fainted," I whispered, barely able to breathe.

"She fainted because of me."I murmured.

"Christy, hey.. look at me," he said firmly while gripping my arms.

"This is not your fault." he said but I just shook my head.

"But it is!" I choked.

"She begged me to stay away from you, and I... " I choked as tears spilled out of my eyes.

"Stop," he said softly but firmly.

"Don’t do that to yourself." he said softly.

Tears streamed down my face as I shook my head. "If something happens to her.. "

He pulled me into his chest, wrapping his arms around me tightly.

"Nothing is going to happen and she will be fine, let’s go see her, okay?" He said and quickly grabbed his keys.

I nodded weakly against his chest.

Within minutes, we were back in the car. The road stretched endlessly ahead, the city lights blurring as Kendrick sped through. I sat quietly, my fingers gripping the edge of my dress so tightly my knuckles turned white.

Kendrick reached over and placed his hand on mine, his thumb tracing small circles against my skin.

"You didn’t cause this, Christy, you were only fighting for your happiness, Sometimes... people can’t handle that." he comforted me.

I stared out the window, my reflection blurring through the tears.

"I just wish it didn’t hurt so much." I said sadly.

"I know," he whispered, eyes fixed on the road.

"But one day, it won’t." he said with a tone of certainty.

When we arrived at the hospital, the smell of antiseptic and the sound of hurried footsteps hit me instantly. My heart raced as I rushed toward the emergency wing, and Kendrick was right behind me.

"Christy!"

I turned sharply to see Mason running towards me. He looked exhausted, his shirt half-tucked and his face pale.

"Where is she?" I asked breathlessly.

"She’s in ward 308, the doctor said she’s stable but still unconscious." he said with an exhausted voice.

I nodded, already walking past him when I heard another familiar voice.

"What the hell is he doing here?"

Kelvin.

He stood a few feet away, his eyes burning holes into Kendrick.

Kendrick sighed. "Not now, Kelvin, I’m not here to fight."

Kelvin started to walk closer.

"You have some nerve showing up here after what you did... " he growled angrily.

"Kelvin!" Mason shouted, stepping between them.

"Now is not the time!" he yelled angrily.

Kelvin’s jaw tightened, but he stopped. I grabbed Kendrick’s hand and pulled him toward the ward before anything else could happen.

When we entered, my heart sank. My mother looked so fragile, lying there with tubes attached and her breathing soft but steady.

"Mom..." I whispered, walking to her bedside. I reached out and gently took her hand, my tears falling freely.

"I’m so sorry," I sobbed quietly.

Kendrick stood at a respectful distance, but when I looked back at him, he stepped closer.

"Aunty," he began softly, though she couldn’t hear him.

"I know I have caused your family more pain than I ever intended. But I’m not here to run away this time." he said with an apologetic tone.

He looked down at her with a mix of guilt and determination.

"I have left the Black family, I’m done with them. All I want is to protect Christy and our child. I swear, I won’t let anyone hurt her again, especially not my mother." he swore with a determined expression.

My heart clenched hearing those words. He wasn’t just saying it to convince her. I knew he meant every word.

But just as I was about to speak, a sharp, cold voice sliced through the room.

"Well, isn’t that touching."

My blood froze.

Kendrick’s head snapped toward the doorway and there she was.

Lauretta Black.

Standing tall, elegant, and furious.

Her heels clicked against the floor as she walked in, her eyes locked on me like I was filth on the ground.

"Of course," she said with a bitter laugh.

"I should have known I would find you here, trying to drag my son further into your family’s pathetic drama." she said while glaring at me.

"Mother," Kendrick started, his tone warning.

"Don’t you ’Mother’ me!" she snapped, her eyes blazing with anger.

"You ran away from your home and your legacy, for this? A Lancaster girl who doesn’t even know who she is?" she said with disdain while pointing her fingers at me.

I flinched, but before I could say anything, Kendrick stepped in front of me.

"Don’t talk to her like that." he warned angrily.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Excuse me?"

"I said don’t talk to her like that," he repeated, his voice low but cold.

Lauretta’s eyes darted between us, her fury growing.

"You really think you can build a future with her after what her family did to us? After the scandal her father caused? You think the world will ever accept you two?" she asked him angrily.

"We don’t care what the world thinks," Kendrick said sharply.

"I’m not living for anyone else anymore." he added with a sharp tone.

Her laughter was short and cruel.

"You sound just like your father, a fool blinded by emotion." She mocked.

Kendrick’s jaw clenched.

"Maybe he wouldn’t have been so broken if he had someone who truly loved him." he replied to her with a sneer.

Color drained from her face and she immediately became pale.

"Watch what you say." she warned angrily.

"I already have, for too long," he said bitterly.

The tension was so thick I could barely breathe. My heart raced, afraid this confrontation would explode into something we couldn’t undo.

Then suddenly, another voice spoke up.

"That’s enough."

We all turned.

It was my father, standing at the doorway. His face was unreadable, his presence alone commanding silence.

He walked into the room slowly, his eyes flicking from Lauretta to Kendrick.

"I’ve heard enough of this nonsense," he said quietly, but the weight in his voice silenced even Lauretta.

Then he turned to Kendrick, his expression dark. "You have something to say to me, boy?"

Kendrick met his gaze, straightening his shoulders.

"Yes, sir. I owe you an apology for everything that happened with Kelvin. For reporting him, It wasn’t meant to ruin him, I swear... It was the only way I could get you to let me see Christy again." he said with an apologetic tone.

My father stared at him for what felt like forever. Then, slowly, he turned to look at me.

"And you, Christy? You’re really sure about this?" he asked me

"Yes," I said softly but firmly.

"I love him, father and I’m not going to give up on him." I said firmly.

For a moment, his expression softened, but then he sighed heavily and rubbed his temples.

"You two are going to destroy each other, you know that?" he said with a sigh.

"Or we will prove everyone wrong," Kendrick replied.

Dad looked between us and then, finally, his tone shifted.

"If she’s sure... then I won’t stand in her way." he said with a serious expression.

My breath caught. "Dad.. "

"But, If you ever hurt her again, Kendrick, I will make sure the Black name disappears from the face of this city," he added firmly.

Kendrick nodded solemnly.

"You have my word, sir." he said.

For the first time in what felt like forever, hope flickered in my chest. Maybe.. just maybe things could finally change.

But that fragile hope shattered in seconds.

Because his mother, Lauretta, suddenly slammed her purse onto the table.

"Over my dead body," she snapped.

And just like that, the war we thought was ending... was only beginning.