Chapter 16 Who Did This to You?

“Kaia, what the heck do you think you’re doing? How could you pick on people like this?”

Kimberly stood up for her bestie in a fit of anger.

The hot coffee sshed all over Kaia’s chest. She let out a sharp gasp of pain.

Coffee soaked right through her shirt and sshed all over her neck. Her skin went bright red in seconds.

A clerk rushed over promptly. “Ma’am, are you all right?”

Luna couldn’t help but sh a quick smile, yet it vanished in a

blink.

Then she put on a look of feigned concern.

“Kaia, are you okay? Kimberly, how could you go and ssh coffee on her?b” /b

Kimberly wasn’t having any of it.

“Did you hear how she was talking to you? Luna, you’re just too soft–hearted. She was being so sarcastic, practically scolding

you!”

Kaia, despite her refined upbringingb, /bwas seething with anger at

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Chapter 16 Who Did This to You?

these two women, her chest feeling tight as if it were being squeezed.

17 min left

She politely addressed the clerk, “Could you bring me some tissues and a cup of hot water? Thanks.”

Kimberly got even more riled up by Kaia’s calm demeanor and kept on provoking her.

“Kaia, you just wait! I’m gonna tell Alden exactly what you said today. You’ll see how he’ll put you in your ce!”

Luna put on an act of taking Kimberly’s hand.

“Kimberly, knock it off. It’s kinda understandable that Kaia’s ticked off.”

Kaia watched their little show, sneering to herself.

Just then, the clerk returned with the tissues and hot water.

“nning to tattle on me, huh?” Kaia scoffed.

With that, she swiftly grabbed the cup on the table and sshed the water right at the two of them.

“Here’s some real–deal evidence for you. Go run and tell on me together!”

Kaia watched with satisfaction as the skin on their corbones

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Chapter 16 Who Did This to You?

quickly turned red. Then she grabbed her bag and made a beeline for the door.

17 min left

“Ah!” Kimberly let out a shrill scream. “Kaia, you sshed us? Are you out of your mind!”

But Kaia was long gone, leaving Kimberly’s angry roar

unanswered.

Kimberly bore the brunt of the ssh. Almost two–thirds of the water hit her, while only a small patch of Luna’s skin was affected.

Luna said, “Kimberly, Kaia’s something else, isn’t she?”

“She’s just a total shrew!” Kimberly fumed, her body trembling with rage.

But the searing pain on her corbone made her both furious and terrified.

“Luna, will I get a scar here?”

Luna cooed in a soothing voice, “Don’t fret, Kimberly. There won’t be any scars. I’ll go to the hospital with you.”

Anyway, this “evidence” couldn’t havee at a better time.

*****

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Chapter 16 Who Did This to You?

b17 /bmin left

Outside the coffee shop, Kaia stood under the blistering sun, desperately trying to g down a taxi.

It felt like an eternity before she could even spot an empty one.

Her clothes, skirt, and even her bag were marred by splotches of coffee stains.

Frustrated, she pulled out her phone to book a ride, and the pain on her neck only grew more intense under the sun’s relentless rays.

Just then, a short honk of a horn caught her attention.

She looked up to see the window of a sleek ck Maybach rolling down.

Lucien noticed her messy look. He narrowed his eyes and asked, “Who did this to you?”

Kaia was taken aback to run into Lucien here. “I…”

Lucienmanded sharply, “Get in the car. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

“Nah, no hospital, Mr. Graves. Just gonna pick up some burn cream at the pharmacy,” Kaia replied.

“Get in the car,” Lucien said, his tone leaving no room for debate.

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Chapter 16 Who Did This to You?

Kaia pressed her lips in resignation. “Okay, then. Thanks.”

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Just as Luna and Kimberly stepped out of the coffee shop, Luna caught sight of the familiar license te.

It was Lucien’s car.

“Hey, Luna! What are you gawking at? Call your driver right now to take us to the hospital!” Kimberly urged.

Luna finally tore her eyes away, not thinking much of it and assuming it was just a coincidence.

“Alright, Kimberly. I’ll make the call right away.”

*****

In the backseat, Lucien stared at her red, inmed neck. His eyebrows knitted together.

“Does it hurt?b” /b

Kaia was dealing with the pain fine. Until he stared her down. Then it hit differently.

“It’s nothing. Just need some burn cream. A few days tops.”

His face darkened. Was she seeing things?

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Chapter 16 Who Did This to You?

17 min left

“This is how you always handle injuries? Half–assed?” Lucien snapped.

“I’m not-” Kaia mumbled.

iJust /iia /iiburn/i. iNo /iibig /ideal. iGot /iworse ones learning ito /iicook/ii. /i

Always handled stuff isolo /ianywayi. /i

iKimberly /iprobably igot /iiit /iworse.

“It’s your body. No one else is gonna take care of it for you.”

Kaia felt a lump in her throat at his words.

“Can we stop? I’ll grab a taxi. Get it checked out,” she said, a hint of distress in her voice.

Not like she didn’t care. Just… never had anyone fuss over her

before.

Grandma is the only ione /iiwho /iicared/i. iAnd /ishe’s isick/i. What else

icould /iiI do/ii? /i

Realizing he’d been too tough on her, Lucien softened his tone. “Don’t be so stubborn, Kaia. Be a good girl. We’ll be at the hospital soon, and the pain will fade away.”

Kaia felt a hesitant hand gently stroking her head.

All of a sudden, she felt even more wretched,

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Wedding My Ex’s Uncle