3
The spiciness burned her throat, forcing Jada to grab at her neck as she coughed violently.
Her body shook with each fit, and tears pricked at the corners of her eyes from the sudden, uncontrollable irritation.
“You drove me to this, Jada.”
Kenton released her, his brows drawing together as he watched her doubled over, coughing without pause.
He almost stepped forward to help ease her breathing when, from the side, Daisybelle suddenly sucked in a sharp breath.
“What’s wrong?”
Hearing her, Kenton rushed over, quickly steadying her by the arm.
“My foot… I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been standing too long, but all of a sudden, it hurts so badly.”
As she spoke, Daisybelle leaned into him, her strength giving way until she nearly collapsed against his chest.
“Then sit down at once. I’ll rub it for you.”
He guided her into a chair and knelt down in front of her, completely forgetting Jada, who was still trying to recover from being forced to drink.
Watching him crouch and carefully lift Daisybelle’s foot onto his knee, Jada felt a dull and stabbing ache in her chest.
Her mind drifted back to a summer long ago—back when Kenton was not yet the rising star of the business world.
To make ends meet, she had worn a heavy mascot costume on the street, handing out flyers in the sweltering heat.
Perhaps because the costume was too big, perhaps because it was too hot, she had tripped over the hem and fallen, twisting her ankle badly.
Back then, Kenton had crouched in exactly this way. He gently rested her injured foot on his knee, his hands carefully massaging the swelling with a tenderness that made his eyes turn red.
“Jada… I’ll never let you get hurt again next time.”
That had been his promise to her.
But who could have thought that, in the end, the one to wound her deepest would be Kenton himself?
Unable to bear the intimacy before her eyes, Jada pressed a hand to her still-burning stomach and turned away, heading upstairs.
She changed out of her rain-soaked clothes and took a long, thorough shower.
When she stepped out, every ounce of strength seemed drained from her body. She collapsed onto the bed, and before she knew it, sleep claimed her.
She didn’t know how long she had slept before the sound of the bedroom door creaking open startled her awake.
In the dark, Kenton groped his way to the bed and slipped beneath the covers. He pulled her into his arms from behind. When she didn’t move, he let out a long sigh.
“Jada, I know you’re not asleep.”
He paused, then continued softly, “Daisybelle came sincerely today to apologize, but Jodie didn’t show up at all. That’s just too much.”
He sighed again. “Lately, you’ve spoiled Jodie so much she’s growing more and more unruly. After this, you really need to have a serious talk with her.”
Jada’s hands curled into tight fists.
‘Kenton! What right do you have to criticize my sister?!’
Before she could think further, thunder cracked outside, drowning out his voice. In his arms, Jada flinched violently.
She had always been afraid of thunderstorms. After all, it was on such a stormy night that her parents had left her forever.
Feeling her fear, Kenton opened his mouth as if to comfort her. But just then, his phone rang.
He answered, and Daisybelle’s choked and trembling voice drifted from the other end.
“Kenton… it’s thundering. I’m scared…”
“It’s alright, don’t be afraid. I’ll come right away.”
The moment the words left his mouth, he sprang out of bed, threw on a coat, and rushed out, not sparing a glance for Jada who was still shivering beneath the blankets.
The heavy slam of the bedroom door echoed like a weight in her chest, sinking her heart into a frozen abyss.
Apparently, that was it. In his heart, between her and Daisybelle, he had already made his choice.
The thunder rumbled on outside as Jada curled into herself, clutching at her chest.
She had thought she could no longer feel pain. But how could someone who had once loved so deeply not hurt?
At last, the tears she had held back spilled over, breaking free in an unstoppable flood.
She didn’t know how much time passed. When the storm outside finally quieted, and the thunder and lightning began to fade, the bedroom door opened once more.
But to her surprise, it was not Kenton who entered.
It was Dapper—Daisybelle’s younger brother!
