Chapter 11
Genevieve had barely managed three hours of sleep before Xavier barged into her room, shaking her awake as if he’d lost his mind. His voice trembled with barely contained panic.
“Genevieve, where’s Loretta? Where did she go?”
All the pent–up anger she’d been holding in for days–mixed with the irritation of being woken up so abruptly–finally boiled over. She threw back the covers, got out of bed, and slapped him hard across the face.”
“Don’t you have your precious Fidelia now? Why are you so concerned about Loretta?”
The sting of her slap seemed to snap Xavier back to reality for a moment. He stared at his furious sister, a twisted expression caught between a bitter smile and the verge of tears.}
“I–I can explain. Just tell me where she is first, please?“}
Genevieve actually let out a disbelieving laugh at that.}
She glared at him coldly, all the words she’d bottled up finally spilling out.”
“Explain? Explain what? How you used Loretta as a stand–in for three years? Xavier, do you have to be this disgusting to her? To me?“M
“What does it matter to you where she went? She’s finally letting go of the past, ready to start over. Don’t you know that a decent ex should disappear like he’s six feet under?“}
“Go find Fidelia. Wasn’t she the one you were ready to throw away your own family for? Marry her, and then just get out of the Kingsley family. I, Genevieve, don’t have a brother like you!”
Her anger reached its breaking point, and her voice trembled with tears by the end.”
She shoved him out the door, slamming it shut behind him with a resounding thud.
Xavier stared at the closed door, feeling whatever hope he’d had left shatter completely with that final sound.”
Did Loretta know? Did she finally realize he’d only ever seen her as a substitute?!
As the truth hit him, his face went deathly pale. He felt utterly drained, stumbling back a few steps as guilt and regret–buried deep for so long–erupted inside him like a volcano, threatening to drown him.
Meanwhile, carrying a thermos of soup, Fidelia entered the hospital room only to find it empty. She paused, confused. She’d only gone out for a meal–how could he have vanished so quickly?
A nurse nearby, busy tidying up medical equipment, muttered to herself. “What’s the rush? He even yanked out his own IV.”
Fidelia’s heart sank, remembering how strangely Xavier had acted that morning. She hurriedly pulled out her phone and tried to reach
him.
No reply to her messages! Calls went straight to voicemail.}
Half an hour passed with no word, and Fidelia’s patience wore thin. She dialed Farris instead.”
“Where’s Xavier? Did he reach out to you?“}
‘Loretta broke up with him. Xavier’s at home right now, and-“}]
The second she heard the words, Fidelia’s irritation melted away. Her eyes lit up, and she hung up, grabbing her purse and practically skipping out the door.%
She hailed a cab straight to Kingsley Mansion, not bothering to let anyone know she was coming. After all, if Loretta had been considerate enough to break up first, that meant Xavier was all hers now.”
The thought of finally having him at her beck and call, along with all the perks and connections that came with the Kingsley name, filled her with giddy satisfaction.X
When the cab pulled up to the mansion, the butler spotted her and started to announce her arrival, but Fidelia waved him off and strolled right in.2
In the foyer, she immediately spotted Xavier sitting on the steps, head bowed, texting furiously. She put on a warm, gentle smile and called his name.%
Xavier didn’t even glance up, as if he hadn’t heard her at all.
Instead, a door upstairs swung open.
Genevieve, stil in her pajamas, stepped out and glared down at Fidelia, her eyes icy cold.!!
The Kingsley family doesn’t just let anyone waltz in, you know,” she said. “Butler, show her out. Now.“%
Chapter 12
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