Chapter 12%
Since Erika left, Kier’s life had taken a sharp downward spiral.
He searched endlessly, aimlessly. Hired investigators, bribed airport staff, paid off people to look through surveillance footage. He blew through his savings without thinking. Every night ended with a drink in his hand, and every morning began with a headache and a sinking feeling that he was losing something he might never find again.”
But still–nothing. No sign. No lead. Erika had vanished as if she never existed.”
Meanwhile, Camille lingered like a shadow, always nearby, always trying to pick up the pieces he didn’t ask her to touch.
“Let’s start over,” she said one afternoon, placing her hand gently on his. “Let’s not waste more time grieving someone who didn’t choose
us.”
He didn’t reply.
David, Camille’s father–and Erika’s too–was less subtle.
“This is a blessing in disguise,” David said as he stirred his coffee, voice gruff. “You should be grateful she’s gone.“>
Kier stared at him, disbelief flickering in his eyes. “She’s your daughter. Why are you always like this to her?“>
David chuckled dryly. “Why not?“}
Kier’s brows furrowed.
David leaned back in his chair, his gaze cold and distant. “She’s the reason her mother died.”
Silence fell between them like a slap.
“What?” Kier whispered.”
David exhaled. “It was a rainy night. Erika was five. Her mother took her out for her dance recital, even though the weather was awful. The car skidded near a bridge. The engine stalled. Her mother unbuckled herself, climbed to Erika’s side… pulled her out before the car slipped into the river. She didn’t make it out.”
Kier’s breath caught in his throat.}
“She was my everything,” David said, his voice hollow. “And I lost her. Because of Erika. After that… I couldn’t look at Erika the same way. All I saw was what she cost me.“>
Kier stared at him, stunned. “She was just a child.“}
David’s jaw tensed. “Doesn’t matter. Some scars don’t fade.“}
Before Kier could respond, Camille entered the room in a silk robe, slipping her arm around his. “Forget her,” she whispered. “Let me fulfill what Erika never could. I’ll give you peace. Joy. The love you’ve always wanted.”
Kier didn’t move. Didn’t speak.}
He just sat there–motionless, expression unreadable–as Camille leaned into his side.
The day passed in a haze. He tried not to think of Erika. Tried to convince himself that Camille was the one he should’ve chosen all along. So for the next few days, he smiled when Camille joked, nodded when she kissed his cheek, and even went with her to meetings and social events.
But at night, he would lie awake in the dark, staring at the ceiling, heart aching in quiet betrayal. And every morning, it got worse.
One morning, he rose with a rare hunger and made his way to the kitchen. But it was empty.”
No coffee waiting.
No breakfast on the table.
David, seated nearby and clearly irritated, slammed his mug. “Camille! Where’s the food?”
Camille appeared moments later, yawning. “I told the maid to make something. She’s late.“}}
“We hired two!” David barked. “Why is this house falling apart?!“}
Kier said nothing. He wandered back upstairs, frustrated. He opened his closet and began looking for a shirt. The one Erika always had pressed and folded.
He pulled it out–and froze.
It was scorched.
A massive iron burn stained the front, ruining the fabric completely.
Kier snapped.
He stormed downstairs, shirt in hand. “Who did this?!“%
One of the new maids came forward nervously. “1-1 tried pressing it, sir. The iron overheated. I didn’t know-”
Kier tossed the shirt aside and rubbed his temples.
For years, everything in this house worked like clockwork. Everything was clean, folded, prepared. Erika had done it all, without complaint. No yelling. No chaos. Just quiet, constant effort.
He never thanked her
Never even noticed.
And when she asked for the one thing–Paris–he brushed her off, humiliated her.
Paris.
12:38 PM
He froze.”
Why hadn’t he thought of that before?>
That was her dream.
The one place she always wanted to go.
C
She had talked about it endlessly. Wrote notes, watched videos, saved ideas. She had wanted a honeymoon there. He said no. She asked again. He said no again.
And now?
She had given up asking–and just gone.”
He stood up abruptly, his heart pounding.
Then, he booked a flight to go there.}
