Chapter 51 A Quarrel

“Someone stole your car!” Paul eximed, returning from a quick errand to find the car gone.

Lucien’s lips twitched. “Stole it? Really?”

“I’m serious! I just went out for a bit, and when I came back, it was gone! Should I call the police?” Paul was baffled. Who dares steal a luxury car in broad daylight, right outside a hotel like this?

Lucien nced out the window. “No one stole it. I took it myself. Take the rest of the day off, Paul,” he added. “And maybey off the soap operas.”

Paul stared at his phone in disbelief after Lucien hung up. He waspletely lost.

Meanwhile, Tobias had barely settled into his car when his phone buzzed with calls from rtives, all demanding to know what had gone wrong at the wedding.

“Mom, Kaia’s out of her mind!” Kimberly said, barely containing her glee. “How dare she call off the engagement in public? And to target Luna of all people! Luna is the Graves family’s golden girl!”

Sally noticed Tobias’ darkening expression but couldn’t resist

piling on. “That’s what worries me. Sure, the Graves family says they won’t hold it against us, but they were humiliated in public. Who can swallow that kind of insult? They might y nice to our faces, but who knows what they’ll do behind our backs?”

Tobias’ temper snapped. He mmed his fist into the steering wheel, startling Sally and Kimberly. “Enough!” he roared. “Haven’t I had enough to deal with?”

Kimberly, stung by the sudden outburst, pouted. “Dad, you’re so unfair! This is Kaia’s mess, and you’re yelling at us? You should be chewing her out, not us!”

“Where’s Kaia now?” Tobias demanded.

“She told Allen she was heading to the hospital,” Sally said.

Tobias’ face fell, a flicker of disappointment crossing his features. “Enough talk. We’re all going to the hospital. My mother’s sick, and none of you have even visited.”

Kimberly’s lips curled in reluctance. “Fine,” she muttered. What’s the point of visiting some olddy? A stroke? She’d be better off dead.

*****

Kaia went straight to the hospital room to check on ire. Although her vital signs were stable, it was clear she wouldn’t be

216

waking up anytime soon.

The doctor had instructed Kaia to prepare liquid meals for ire’s feeding tube and to pick up a batch of albumin to supplement her nutrition.

Since ire couldn’t eat, the albumin would help keep her strength up.

Kaia jotted down the instructions, her mind racing as she nned her next steps.

She’d taken a week off from thew firm. Once ire’s condition stabilized, Kaia intended to bring her home, hire a nurse, care for her.

and

That way, she could see ire every day when she came home from work.

In a single night, Kaia had mapped out a care n for ire.

It was almostughable that Tobias, ire’s own son, had only shown his face once and vanished.

As Kaia prepared to head out to gather ire’s meals, the elevator doors slid open, revealing Tobias, Sally, and Kimberly.

“Kaia, why’d you rush off like that?” Kimberly whined. “Couldn’t wait for us?”

What irked her most was that Lucien had personally dropped Kaia off.

Kaia’s patience was thin. “I told you, you don’t need toe. I’m taking care of Grandma. Can you please just leave her in peace so she doesn’t have to deal with you while she’s sick?”

Tobias scowled. “What’s wrong with that? I’m her son. I have every right to visit her.”

Kaia nced at him. “Funny how you suddenly care about being her son.”

“Kaia, drop the snark and talk to me properly!” Tobias bellowed.

His shout drew the attention of the head nurse, who approached

with a stern look.

“This is a hospital. Keep it down. Didn’t you see the signs?”

Kaia pressed the elevator button for them. “Go downstairs. You can’t see her now. If there’s anything to discuss, wait until she’s better. I’m not arguing with you here.”

She stood firm, blocking their path. Sally tugged at Tobias’ sleeve. “Let it go. If Kaia doesn’t want us there, fine. ire always favored her anyway.”

00.15

The truth was, Sally had no desire to step into that room.

The overwhelming smell of disinfectant made her stomach turn.

All she wanted was for ire to be gone.

Tobias seemed swayed but wasn’t ready to let Kaia off easily. He red at her. “Come with me. We need to talk.”

Kaia shoved them into the elevator, stepped in herself, and said nothing more.

She had too much to do to waste time on their drama.

Inside the elevator, it was just the four of them.

Tobias’ voice was harsh. “Kaia, you made a mess with the Graves family today. Tomorrow, you’re going to apologize.”

Kaia mocked, “And if I don’t?”

“Then don’t expect me to cover your grandmother’s medical bills!” Tobias snapped.

He knew ire’s hospital stay wasn’t cheap and assumed Kaia’s savings wouldn’tst long.

He thought that because he controlled the family finances, he could bend her to his will.

20.15

“I’ll pay for it myself,” Kaia said tly.

Kimberly let out a derisiveugh. “You? Pay for hospital bills? With your pathetic sry? Now that you’ve pissed off Alden, how exactly are you going to afford it? Selling yourself?”

Without hesitation, Kaia’s hand flew,nding a sharp p across Kimberly’s smug face.

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