CHAPTER 8

Chapter 08:

Kane's POV

I walked through the gallery inspecting the rest of the artworks.

But my mind was only half on the art and the staff members moving around me.

The exhibition was running smoothly, at least as smoothly as it could after that disaster earlier. The restoration team were handling the broken sculpture and the investor had been reassured.

But at this point, I really didn't care about any of that.

I was thinking about Caroline.

She was hiding something.

I had suspected it. And now I've confirmed it. The way she shrank under Carter's words wasn't like her.

The woman I hired had fire in her. She wouldn't back down.

Something was different.

I reached for my phone and checked the message from my agent.

No medical reports. No hospital visits. But she's been to a pharmacy multiple times over the last few weeks. Vitamins and Supplements. Then a major shift in her dietary habits<

I tightened my grip on the phone.

She was treating something. But what?

An illness? No, if she were sick, she'd have gone to the doctor. Caroline wasn't reckless.

Then what….

The thought hit me like a punch in the gut.

Pregnancy??

I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temple.

No, she has no reason to keep that from me. Right?

Then I remembered how pale she looked. The way she tensed at my questions yesterday. And how quickly she dismissed the idea of getting a doctor.

I clenched my jaw.

I didn't like making assumptions and I didn't like jumping to conclusions either. But if Caroline thought she could hide something like this from me….

I put my phone back in my pocket and turned around, scanning the gallery before heading for the exit..

I needed to find her now.

Caroline's POV

I had almost forgotten.

I tried putting all my focus on the exhibition.

I drowned myself in meetings, emails and the never-ending demands from investors until the past was nothing more than a nightmare.

But it never let me forget.

The moment I stepped outside my office, my vision started to blur. The pain in my sides reminded me I was pushing myself too hard.

Maybe I should take a sick break, perhaps for a week.

I stopped my thoughts before it could go further.

No, I can't let Kane suspect anything.

I just have to get home, take something for the pain and take a nap.

The cool evening air didn't even seem to help clear my head as I walked towards the parking lot.

I focused on the sound of my heels, trying to stay upright and move like nothing was wrong.

“Going somewhere?”

I looked up and saw Kane.

He leaned against his car with his arms crossed, looking at me like he had the whole time in the world.

Was he waiting for me?

I felt my stomach twist.

This was bad.

I straightened my posture, hoping he wouldn't notice how unsteady I was.

“Not feeling well now, are we?”

Shit. Too late. He already noticed.

He pushed off his car and headed towards me.

“Why are you here?” I asked, trying my best not to lose my cool.

Then he smirked. “I happened to finish early so I decided to drive you home.”

Like hell he was.

I tightened my grip on my bag. “No, you're not.”

“I wasn't asking.”

The tone of his voice told me he wasn't going to accept ‘no’ for an answer.

And from what I heard, whenever Kane had settled his mind on something, he wouldn't back off till he got it.

But I couldn't let him get too close.

Yeah… I just had to hold my ground, make up an excuse, anything to get him off…

“Get in, Parker.”

Damn you, Kane.

I wanted to fight and tell him I didn't need his concern, his presence. But exhaustion got the better of my pride.

Without another word, I just slid into the passenger seat.

I cursed under my breath. I knew I was going to regret this.

Badly.

Kane POV

Well she didn't argue.

That alone told me something was wrong.

Caroline Parker was stubborn and irritatingly so. I was expecting her to fight even if she looked like she was on the verge of collapsing.

But tonight, she just got into the car without saying anything.

That wasn't like her. Something was definitely wrong.

I took a quick look at her as I pulled into the road.

She had her head turned towards her window, her finger gripping her bag so tight that her knuckles were white.

Her posture was too stiff, it was obvious she was forcing it.

I could tell immediately. She was in pain.

The tension on her shoulders, the way she held her breath every few seconds, as if trying to hide something.

I didn't like it.

My chest tightened knowing she was hurt. I didn't like it either

And I didn't like that she wouldn't tell me what the hell was going on

“You’re quiet,” I said, keeping my tone firm.

She didn't even look at me. “Just tired.”

Liar. I thought to myself.

I tapped my fingers against the wheel. “You’ve been pushing yourself too hard.”

She let out a soft laugh but I couldn't sense any humor in it “Not your problem, Mr. Brown.”

I ignored her cold response.

“Are you going to tell me what's going on?” I asked, keeping my voice calm.

She didn't answer.

“Caroline.”

Still no response.

I exhaled through my nose. “You’re not sick are you?”

Her fingers curled into a fist but she still didn't reply.

“Then what is it?”

She turned her head slightly, just enough to see her reflection in the glass. She had a straight face.

“You don't have to handle everything alone,” I said, softer this time.

She let out a dry laugh. “That’s rich coming from you.”

I frowned. “What's that supposed to mean?”

She finally turned to me. “It means you don't get to show up and act like you care after you left me that morning without a word.”

I clenched my jaw.

That morning. The morning after we met at the gallery event.

I hadn't planned to leave like that. But I had.

“I had a meeting,” I said, knowing how dumb those words sounded.

She scoffed. “Right.”

“I should've stayed.”

She blinked, like she hadn't expected me to admit it.

For a second she opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but then she shook her head and turned away again.

I sighed. “Caroline…”

“We’re here,” she cut in.

I hadn't even realized we'd arrived at her apartment.

I parked the car and she reached for the door, but I gently grabbed her wrists.

“Caroline,” I said, lowering my voice. “You can trust me.”

She hesitated.

She swallowed and her shoulders relaxed just a little.

I took my chance. I lifted my hand to her face and brushed my fingers over her cheeks as I leaned in.

She didn't push away.

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought she'd let me.

But just as our lips were about to meet, her body suddenly felt weak.

“Caroline?”

She swayed a bit, her fingers weakly grasping my sleeve before her knees gave way.

“Caroline!” I yelled, lunging forward, catching her just before she hit the ground.

Her head laid against my chest and her body limp in my arms.

I panicked.

“Caroline! Wake up! Caroline!!”