Still looking ahead of her, Natalie’s sight blurred as tears filled her eyes. “I feel so bad for Laney. She just gave birth to Garrett’s baby. But he… he…”
Natalie trailed off and broke into tears.
She kept thinking of the naive girl who had taken so much in just for Garrett. Laney’s suffering started with Garrett’s parents constantly maltreating her. Then, after she got pregnant, she suffered under Kailee’s plots and games.
And just when they thought things were changing for the better, Garrett had to go and have an affair with the same Kailee.
As these thoughts flooded Natalie’s mind, it overwhelmed her so much that she couldn’t take it anymore.
As she burst into endless tears, Brandon pulled her into his arms and comforted her.
“Maybe it isn’t what we think it is.”
“But the evidence is right before our eyes, Brandon. What more do you want?” Natalie pulled away from Brandon and shook her head frantically. “I have to tell Laney. Right now! We’re not any better than that bastard if we keep her in the dark for much longer,” she said heatedly and rushed towards the car to execute.
Before she took two steps though, Brandon wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back. “Calm down, Natalie. Calm down!” he said close to her ear.
Natalie freed herself from his hold and turned on him.
“Calm down? How do you want me to do that? How do I stay calm when Garrett was having an affair while Laney was dying? An affair with the one woman that is behind most of Laney’s misfortunes at that? How should I calm down?” Natalie shouted.
The thought of Garrett’s affair disgusted her so much that she felt like throwing up. She wanted to tear that mask off Garrett’s face and expose him. She couldn’t let Laney suffer in ignorance.
Brandon grabbed her and held her in place this time. “Listen, we can’t understand exactly what happened just from what we have. It’s very possible that Kailee made it seem this way. You know how she is.”
When Brandon’s words sunk in, Natalie paused After a short moment, she shook her head in confusion. “But… But what if it’s true? What if we’re not mistaken?”
“Even it is, we can’t tell Laney right now. Think about it. She just gave birth, and is still very weak. How do you think she’s going to take it?”
Brandon placed his hands on Natalie’s shoulders firmly and looked at her tenderly. “If we tell Laney this way, without thinking it through, we’re going to ruin her relationship with Garrett. And if we do that, we’ll be letting Kailee win.”
Natalie took a deep breath and nodded, seemingly calmer now. She looked up at him and asked in a low voice, “So, what do we do?”
Brandon let out a breath of relief. He was scared that he wouldn’t be able to talk some sense into her. “I have already contacted the person who followed Garrett that day, and Garrett’s assistant too. If there’s anyone who can tell us what actually happened that day, they’re the ones,” Brandon said.
“Tell me! What did you do that day?” Garrett spat out angrily through gritted teeth as he dragged Kailee into the hospital’s VIP room, and slammed the door shut with his foot. The loud sound of the door closing resonated throughout the room,
“Start talking! Those pictures? How did you do it?”
Garrett tightened his hold on her hand, his eyes shooting daggers at her as he waited for her to explain.
Garrett’s grip on her shoulder was so tight that it made Kailee wince in pain. Leaning gently against his shoulder, she complained, “Garrett, you’re hurting me.”
Garrett released her hand at once He stepped away from her, face twisting in disgust.
The last thing he wanted was to be close to such a vicious woman. He would rather die than have any physical contact with her.
Garrett’s avoidance was lost in Kailee. Instead of moving away she leisurely pulled out her phone and opened the photo of them intimately lying together. A satisfied smirk appeared on her lips as she studied the photo. “Look at us! This is the evidence of our love.” Enraged, Garrett laughed sarcastically, “Do you even deserve to be in love with me?”
“It’s not for you to decide if I’m worthy or not,”
Kailee retorted. She kept her phone on display, smiling wickedly at Garrett. “Weren’t you the one who forced yourself on me while drunk, Garrett9 I’m just a victim!”
Garrett was consumed with fury. He wanted nothing more than to tear this woman into pieces. “You better tell me the truth now, Kailee,” he threatened.
“If you keep up this charade, I can’t promise I can deal with you calmly!” Kailee couldn’t care less that Garrett was fuming with anger.
She sat leisurely on the couch, unfazed by his threats. Smiling, she said, “I’m telling the truth. That day, you were at a dinner party, drunk. I happened to be on vacation and was checked in at the same hotel. I simply meant to help you back to your room, yet you forced me to spend the night with you.”
Garrett tried his best to recall the events of that day. His brows furrowed in deep thought but his mind was completely blank.
Yes, he was at a social gathering that day and had drunk a few glasses of alcohol. But what happened after that seemed to be erased from his memories.
“And you promised me that you would divorce Laney once you return. I wouldn’t have agreed to have *sex with you otherwise,” Kailee said, shrugging.
Then, she lowered her head all of a sudden, looking dejected. When Kailee continued, her tone was very aggrieved. “The only reason I took the photo was so I had proof. I was afraid you wouldn’t keep your promise.”
“You are lying!” Garrett believed none of her words.
Ever since the class reunion, his resentment of Kailee surfaced. How could he possibly liaison with someone he utterly detested? Alcohol was hardly a reason.
“I’m telling the truth. As a lady, why would I use my own reputation to slander you?” Kailee protested in her own defense. Like she shouldn’t be facing such injustice.
Garrett bought none of it. The thought of Kailee, Lola, and what they put Laney through fueled his hatred. Laney almost died. His anger was now a sharp blade aimed at the woman in front of him.
“Stop pretending like you’re the victim here!” Garrett’s eyes were ice-cold and icicle sharp. Seething with anger, his hatred oozed from his harsh gaze on Kailee. “You were behind all this, weren’t you? Why were you trying to hurt Laney?” Kailee looked down. The next second, tears were flooding down her cheeks.
“I didn’t do anything. All I did is like you. That’s the reason I slept with you that day. I thought what we felt for each other was mutual.”
Nothing she said could sway Garrett. He said coldly, “You know exactly what your intentions were.”
Kailee raised her tearful eyes to meet Garrett’s gaze. A sorrowful expression settled on her tear-stained face. “The Gibson family may not be as powerful as the Harding family but we are still a wealthy and influential clan. Do you really think I desire to be just someone’s mistress?”
Frustration took over him. Garrett pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to relieve the stress. “I have no feelings for you. Delete the photos now, and I’ll pretend this never happened.”
He preferred not to get entangled with a woman like Kailee. He was done with her. “I will delete the photos,” Kailee sobbed. “But I have one request.”
New Book: Beginning with a Daring Encounter
Celsie was tired of being labeled as an introvert, workaholic, and dull virgin by her friends. Determined to prove them wrong, she made a bet that she would do something daring on her 25th birthday. Now that the day had arrived, it was time to fulfill her promise. On her daring to-do list, there was one task: a one-night stand with someone.
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