Chapter 3

Brynna's POV

By the time I rushed to the ICU, Nadine had already been taken into the operating room.

The red light stayed on for four agonizing hours. I sat on the bench, my hands stained with her blood, my phone screen lighting up and going dark repeatedly.

Finally, the doors opened. The doctor took off his mask and shook his head wearily. "I'm sorry. We did everything we could."

"Impossible... she was just talking to me a few hours ago."

"The injuries from the fall were too severe."

I leaned against the wall to stand up, my stomach churning violently. I fell to my knees by a trash can and vomited. A nurse handed me tissues, but I couldn't even lift my hand.

After my father died, Nadine raised me all by herself. And now, she didn't even leave me with a goodbye.

While packing her belongings, her phone slipped out of her coat pocket. In the call log, the very last call was to Elaina.

I stared at the name, my fingers tightening their grip.

What exactly did she say to my mother?

I headed straight to Halloway Tower.

The receptionist tried to stop me. "Ms. Carver, you can't go up there!"

"Move."

I stormed right up to the top floor. The door to the CEO's office was locked, but muffled moans and suggestive laughter leaked through the glass.

"Slow down, Kieran."

"What are you afraid of? The whole floor knows you're mine."

My blood instantly ran ice cold.

I grabbed a heavy chair from the waiting area and hurled it at the glass door.

Crash. The lock gave way, and shattered glass rained across the floor.

Kieran and Elaina jumped up from the sofa, their clothes disheveled. She shrank into his arms like a frightened bird.

"Brynna, are you crazy?!" Kieran yelled, stepping in front of her.

I raised my hand and slapped him as hard as I could.

"My mother is dead," I stared straight into his eyes. "Her last phone call was to Elaina. What did you two say to her?"

He turned his head slowly, a red handprint forming. "Are you done throwing a tantrum?"

I lunged forward and grabbed Elaina by her hair. "What did you say?! Why did she fall off a building?!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" she cried, struggling. "I just answered Nadine's call and told her not to worry so much about your love life!"

"You're lying!"

Employees had already crowded around the office.

"Isn't that Solene's freelance designer? Has she lost her mind?"

"Isn't Elaina his fiancée? Why is she causing a scene?"

I glared at Kieran. "Tell them. Tell them who the real homewrecker is."

He stayed silent for a few seconds. Then, he raised his hand and slapped me back.

"Calm down. I have absolutely nothing to do with her."

Eight years, erased in one sentence. That's the beauty of a secret office romance—he didn't even have to try hard to deny it.

Elaina clung to his arm, crying beautifully. "I'm pregnant, and she comes bursting in, smashing things and hitting people. Kieran, I'm so scared."

"That's enough," he said coldly. "Elaina is carrying my child. Stop making a scene."

Someone in the crowd picked up a piece of broken glass and threw it at me.

"Get out, you homewrecker!"

"Trying to steal someone's fiancé and you have the nerve to act crazy?"

Security rushed in and pinned me to the floor. My knees slammed into the broken glass. The back of my shirt was torn, and heavy hands pushed me down. I struggled desperately but couldn't move.

I looked up at Elaina.

She was hiding in Kieran's arms, tears still on her cheeks, but the smug, victorious look in her eyes was completely unfiltered.

Finally, police sirens wailed outside.

Officer Damon Sheehan stormed in with his squad. "Everyone step back! Let her go!"

The guards released me, and I lay on the floor, bruised and humiliated.

Elaina immediately clutched her stomach. "Officer, she caused a public disturbance and assaulted me! My stomach hurts so badly, please arrest her."

Damon looked at Kieran. "What is your relationship with her?"

Kieran's gaze lingered on me for a second before he turned away. "No relationship."

I stared at him, realizing I didn't have a single tear left to shed.

Just as the police were about to put handcuffs on me, an unfamiliar male voice rang out from the doorway.

"Kieran Alden. Cold-blooded as always."