Agreement Behind Her Marriage

Danica continued to tremble with fear, sadness, and heartache, overwhelmed by everything that had unfolded that day, until Kael arrived, accompanied by Faye.

Her tears flowed even more freely because it appeared as if they were confirming what Lily had told her. She had believed the man was still in Hong Kong.

The woman radiated unwavering confidence as if she were prepared for battle at any moment. They all entered Lily’s house to inspect the contents of the USB drive provided by Brian.

Sitting on the bench, tears welled in her eyes, and she couldn’t bring herself to look at Kael. In reality, she sensed something unusual in his demeanor. It was as if he was weary at that moment.

Kael approached her while they were outside.

“Are you okay, Dan?”

She shook her head as she wiped away her tears.

“Is there something bothering you?” Kael asked.

She stood up; her need for the truth pressing. “All I want is the truth, Kael. Did you have a relationship with Attorney Faye?”

The man hesitated, cleared his throat, and then nodded. “But I don’t have a relationship with her now, Danica.”

“But do you still see each other?”

“No!” he immediately refuted. “Dan, I don’t casually see Faye!”

“Lily said she saw you two hugging in your office.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Kael winced, seemingly concerned about what had transpired, when Faye surprised her sister in his office.

“On your mom’s birthday, I saw Attorney Faye coming out of the restroom where you had also gone. D-did something happen there?” When Faye Burnham arrived that day, Kael appeared uneasy. Was it because she was with him? Did he not want Faye to know that she could potentially be his ‘love interest’?

Kael turned pale, which validated her suspicions-they did something!

She felt like laughing because it seemed to her that Kael had used her to protect the image they had.

“Dan, Faye is already a thing of the past. I had no relationship with her when you came into my life,” he explained.

Tears welled up in Danica’s eyes, and it seemed as though her heart no longer wanted to pose questions. His responses pained her.

She was poised for her next question, seeking an honest answer. “Then tell me, w-was Faye the one with you in Hong Kong?”

Kael locked eyes with her. When he couldn’t bear the sorrow in her gaze, he lowered his head, clenched his teeth, and whispered, “Yes.”

How could she believe him? Everything that had transpired, all his responses to her, suggested that he had used her as a smokescreen for whatever was happening in his relationship with Faye.

“Damn it!” Kael cursed.

Her emotions were swelling for a multitude of reasons: Brian’s death, the events of the day where he still felt fear because the sight of that person aiming a gun at them was still fresh in her mind, and Kael’s deception.

“You’re the most dishonest and despicable person I’ve ever encountered!” she exclaimed.

His expression turned sour, clearly showing his disapproval of her words.

“The other night, you told me outright, after we had been intimate multiple times, that you were going to Hong Kong-just to meet with Faye? After being with me? You conversed with your ex, and then it was as if nothing had happened; you took me to your bed, and the next day, it was Faye again. Who could be more shameless than you, Kael?”

She was aware her words were quite harsh, but what did he expect her to say, ‘Thank you for hurting me?’

Her emotions were bleeding, and it was his fault! She never imagined he would commit such an extreme act of deception.

“Danica, please trust me. I know it sounds unbelievable. But nothing happened between Faye and me.”

“Yeah! You cheated right in front of my face, Kael!”

“But we don’t have a relationship!”

“Kael, there’s no need for two people to be in a relationship just to deceive someone. The simple fact that you have feelings for her, or maybe even for me, and you’re involved with both of us, makes it as clear as day that you deceived me! You made me believe for a short amount of time, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you made Faye feel the same way!

“I know Brian was a bit weird, but during our one-year relationship, he never betrayed or cheated on me! Perhaps he bullied Lily or touched Carmela, but those were outside our relationship period! Before he passed away, he told me that was the last time he would see me after he asked for forgiveness!” Danica sobbed after saying those words.

“Are you comparing me to a r*pist?” Kael asked, bewildered.

“Yes! Because Brian never laid a finger on me, even when our relationship was clear-we were a couple! What am I to you, Kael? Just a casual fling?”

“You know you hold a more significant place in my life!” he exclaimed with anger.

“So what? Just a notch above a casual fling? Brian never laid a hand on me because of his profound love for me! He respected me in that regard and never had the audacity to do the things you did to me! I gave myself to you, and I feel like a fool for trusting you. You’re a damn jerk!”

She had no one to blame at that moment but herself.

“What’s going on here?” Orion’s firm voice reached her, clearly indicating that he had heard her recent words.

She needed him, so she approached and clung to his waist. She needed an ally at that moment. Her emotions were causing her overwhelming pain.

Kael knew nothing about Orion’s relationship with her; all he knew was that Orion was Drew’s bodyguard.

“Let go of Danica!” Kael snapped. “We’re in the middle of a conversation!”

“No! Orion, please ask him to leave.”

Orion’s eyes narrowed. “What did he do?”

“He cheated on me,” she confessed, sounding almost like a child reporting a misdeed.

Her brother’s jaw tightened at that revelation. “Leave. Now!”

“Ha! Who are you to tell me what to do?! It’s you who should leave because you have no business being in my conversation with Danica!”

Danica refused. “I don’t want to talk to you, Kael!”

It was evident that he had grown frustrated, as well as she could discern the jealousy in Kael’s eyes. “Why? Is it Orion now? After Brian, then me, and now you’re going to flirt with Orion too?”

“Ahhhh!” Her brother swiftly released her, and she let out a scream as he punched Kael in the jaw.

Kael tumbled onto the grass. He angrily got up to retaliate and lunged at Orion. However, because of her brother’s proficiency in physical combat, he swiftly pivoted and delivered another punch to Kael’s cheek.

Blood was oozing from Kael’s lips. Nearby police officers intervened and separated the two men. Lily and Drew also went outside, hearing the commotion, bewildered by what they had just witnessed.

“Brother O, please stop!” Danica pleaded.

“You have no right to disrespect my younger sister! Never speak to my sister in that manner again! Trust me, you might end up like Brian!” Orion bellowed as his disgust at Kael’s previous comment was evident.

“O-Orion is your brother?” Kael asked, seemingly taken aback.

“Yeah, news flash!” Drew chimed in, casting a sidelong glance at her.

“He’s my biological brother! And Lily is my sister! You didn’t know because you were too busy rowing down two rivers! Get out of here, Kael! I don’t want to see your face anymore!”