Chapter 7

Fiona was making her rounds at Rende Hospital the next day when she heard Alice complaining to Laura inside the room. Their conversation caused Fiona to stop walking and lean beside the doorframe.

Alice wept bitterly as she stated, "That bitch caused my child's death because she couldn't accept that I was carrying Kahl's child. I won't forgive her for what she has done!"

Oblivious to Fiona's presence, Laura was distraught by Alice's dishevelled appearance. She took Alice's cold hands, pulled her closer, and hugged her. "Don't worry. I'll talk to Kahl and ask him to leave Fiona. You and Kahl are still young, and you can have more children," she said in a consoling voice.

Alice looked unsatisfied as she asked, "Are we just going to let Fiona go like this? What about my innocent baby?"

Laura's tone became serious. She sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. "I made sure Fiona knew her place. She's out of the house now."

Alice sobbed, her voice croaking as she attempted to say, "It hurts so much, Lauta! Every time I turn to look in the mirror and see my flat stomach, I can't take it!"

"I understand you. You lost your child, while I lost my grandson. However, I can't do anything more than that. Fiona has been a part of our family for over ten years, and my late husband loved her dearly. For Steven's sake, I can't punish her any further. The only option is to kick her out and let Kahl divorce her," Laura comforted her, brushing her hair as she rocked Alice in her arms.

Alice sneered, "This is so unfair, Laura! Fiona's been with the Brown family for years and gets away with everything. Meanwhile, my position in the family means nothing. I'm just Kahl's mistress when I should be his wife instead!"

"Alice, that's not true! You mean everything to us, especially to Kahl. Kahl loves you, and I can see that," Laura replied calmly. " As for Fiona, I'm doing what I can to kick her out of the house. She won't hurt you or Kahl anymore, I promise."

Despite their animosity, Kahl and Laura put up with her for years because of her long-standing relationship with them. The realization that they only pitied her added to Fiona's despair. The Browns never really regarded her as part of their family.

Alice said nothing and simply nodded obediently. Fiona noticed how her lips pressed into a thin line as she balled her hands into a fist. Knowing Laura for ten years, Fiona knew it wasn't wise to retaliate against her.

As Fiona listened to their conversation, her eyes grew colder. When she remembered she had an appointment in a few minutes, she turned away from them. However, just as she was about to walk out, she stopped when she met Kahl's intimidating gaze.

Not expecting to meet him in the hospital, Fiona composed herself before calmly greeting him, "Hi, Kahl. What are you doing here?"

Even though he damn looked like a pinned-up model from a magazine, Kahl stood against the corridor wall with cold air around him. With his coiffed black-tousled hair and aquiline nose, his deep blue eyes narrowed as he stared intently at Fiona.

"Are you here to visit Alice? She's waiting inside if you're here for her," she informed him, wanting to break the palpable tension between them.

Besides, Fiona had nothing to discuss with him, as their relationship had already ended the moment Kahl took his mistress.

***

Kahl heard Fiona clearly. Yet instead of responding, he looked Fiona over closely.

Even though he wasn't sure if Fiona's cheek was really bruised, he felt better when he saw that the swelling had gone down. For a moment, Kahl was at a loss for words. He never expected to feel concerned about Fiona's well-being.

Why would he, anyway? He'd had no interest in her since then. What the fuck made his sentiments about her change now?

Given that Kahl showed no signs of wanting to start the conversation, Fiona walked past him without a word as her gaze fixed steadily ahead. However, when Kahl realized she was leaving him, he stepped forward on his spot and blurted out, "Wait, stop!"

"Don't go yet, Fiona!" Kahl had already grabbed Fiona's arm and dragged her toward the hallway before she could do anything about it.

Annoyed, Fiona glared at him and forcefully freed herself from his clutches. She raised her eyebrows at him and asked, "Kahl, what do you think you're doing?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Kahl hissed, his towering figure making Fiona feel trapped. Gazing down at her, Kahl smirked. "So, you seem to look forward to our divorce?"

What else could explain Fiona's complete lack of reaction when Kahl first broached the subject of divorce? On the contrary, she seemed open to the idea and readily agreed.

Meeting his gaze, she responded with a demeaning smile, "Isn't that what you always wanted? To be free from me?"

Kahl didn't respond, staring at her intensely. When he saw the seriousness and determination in Fiona's eyes, Kahl asked in disbelief, "So, you're damn serious? After all this time, what you really want is to get a divorce from me, huh?"

"Let me get this straight, Kahl," Fiona said with a hint of annoyance. "You were the one who suggested divorce, and now you're acting as if I were the one who made the decision? Don't try to distort the situation, Kahl. I'm not the same girl you used to know!" Fiona crossed her arms and looked at him with frustration and disbelief.

At first, Kahl wasn't sure if the Fiona to whom he'd spoken the day before was real or just a product of his imagination. Now that he could see Fiona was set in her ways, Kahl understood she had already decided.

But didn't Fiona love him?

How could she be so casual about their divorce?

***