Chapter 17%
The silence in the room shattered as Kier’s fist connected with Riley’s face.”
The kiss had just ended. Erika had barely pulled away, eyes wide, breath caught, when Kier stormed in without warning. His voice thundered, fists clenched with rage.
“What the hell are you doing with my wife?!“}
Riley reeled backward from the blow, but stood firm.
A staff member stumbled in behind Kier, face pale. “I–I’m so sorry, Mr. Alonzo. We tried to stop him. Security was called–he forced his way in.”
Riley wiped the blood from his lip, jaw tightening. “It’s fine. I’ll deal with him.”}
He returned the punch, hard and fast. Kier staggered.
“Don’t act like you have the right to barge in here,” Riley growled.
“I have every right!” Kier shouted, advancing again. “She’s my wife! What are you? A rebound?“}
“No,” Erika said firmly, stepping forward. “No, Kier. You don’t get to say that anymore. We’re divorced. I handed back my ring, and didn’t you marry my adopted sister already? So why are you here?“>
Kier looked stricken. “No, please, believe me. I didn’t marry her. It was just for fun. Nothing serious.“}
The words hung in the air like a slap.
Just for fun.
Erika felt something inside her twist. Fun? The sleepless nights she endured crying while he was in Paris with Camille–that was fun? The pictures she saw of them laughing, wearing white, in what looked suspiciously like a ceremony, with Arthur and even David there, pretending as if she never existed–that was nothing serious?}
Tears burned behind her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall.
“It wasn’t a joke to me, Kier,” she said, voice low. “Do you know what it’s like to be betrayed by everyone you trusted at once? You were my husband. Camille was my sister. David–your father–in–law, my own father–stood beside you both like I was nothing. And my own son? He chose not to say a word.“}
Kier opened his mouth, but she held up her hand.
“You called it fun. But it destroyed me. I had to rebuild myself in a city where no one knew me. Alone. While you played house with Camille in my dream city.“}
“I never meant-“}
“No,” Erika said, stepping back. “You meant it. You just didn’t think I’d ever stop waiting.”
But Kier didn’t listen. His fury was louder than reason.
The fight escalated–grunts, fists, chaos. Furniture scraped against the floor. Staff members shouted from outside. Erika stepped between them, hands raised.
*Stop it! Please–both of you-!“}
And then, it happened.
One shove. One wrong step.
Frika stumbled backward,
Her hip clipped the edge of the table, her head hitting the sharp corner on the way down.
She collapsed with a dull thud.
Silence fell.
Riley and Kier froze, horror washing over them at once.}}
“Enka?” Riley knelt instantly, cradling her head. Blood pooled slowly beneath her hair. “No. No, no, no–Erika!“}
Kier fell to his knees beside her. “Oh God… Erika!“}
Riley shoved him hard. “Get away from her! This is your fault!“}
“She wouldn’t even be here if you didn’t-!”
“If anything happens to her,” Riley hissed, voice shaking, “I swear I’ll kill you.”
Staff rushed in. A stretcher was called. Sirens came fast, and in minutes, Erika was on her way to the hospital–unconscious, bruised, pale B
The story spread like wildfire. The media got wind of it almost instantly: A fight at Atelier d’Horizon. Two men. One woman. Blood. Rumors. Headlines exploded before the truth could breathe.!!
Inside the hospital, Riley paced. Hands bloodied. Jaw swollen. Heart in pieces.
He couldn’t sit still. Couldn’t look away from the door. Couldn’t stop hearing the sound of her body hitting the floor.
Kier, in contrast, had calmed. Guilt haunted his face, yes–but something else too. A dark, familiar sense of possession. He had found her.
And now he wasn’t letting go.%
Til handle everything,” Kier said, stepping into the doctor’s space. “I’m her husband.”
12:39 PM
“I’ll handle everything,” Kier said, stepping into the doctor’s space. “I’m her husband.“}
“She’s divorced,” Riley cut in sharply. “She made that clear.”
Kier pulled out his phone, showing scanned marriage certificates and past medical authorizations. “Legally, I’m still next of kin on file. Until it updates, I make the decisions.“}
The hospital staff, overwhelmed by the drama, leaned toward caution. And familiarity.”
So Kier got access. Riley, despite his protests, was asked to step aside.}
Hours passed.
Kier sat by Erika’s bedside, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest. Her forehead was bandaged, her head tilted gently to the side. Machines beeped softly in the background.
Her bruises made his heart ache. He hated seeing her like this–weak, hurt. And though part of him regretted the fight, a larger part felt triumphant.”
She was found.”
She was his again.”
He even called Arthur that night. “She’s here,” he said quietly.”
Arthur’s voice cracked. “Mom… Is she okay?“}
“She will be,” Kier replied. “But you need to apologize when you see her. We all do.”
Later that night, Riley stood outside the hospital room, jaw clenched, unable to sleep. He had wanted to be the one beside her. He had been there every day for the last months–building her back up, brick by brick.
And now he wasn’t allowed to even touch the door.
But inside… Kier stayed.”
He stroked Erika’s fingers gently, whispered old memories under his breath, hoping she could hear them.}
“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “For everything. But maybe this is fate, right? Maybe this is how we start again.“} Then she stirred.}
Eyes fluttered.
Slowly, painfully, Erika opened her eyes.>
Kier leaned forward, smiling through tears. “Erika… you’re awake.“}
She blinked at him. Disoriented. Weak.}
Then her lips parted, voice rasped.
“Where’s… Riley?”
Kier froze.
The air drained from the room.
12:39 PM d
