What the hell are you doing here, you wench!" Ivy barked, Kaia walked right past her, like she didn't exist
"I pay the rent, I don't think I need to explain anything to you" Kaia said as she approached the stairs
"You ugly duckling!" Edith roared
"I'm here for my sister," Kaia said firmly, looking her in the eye, Edith's smug expression faltered for a second before she regained herself
"Who do you think you are??"
"Someone that you can't live without" Kaia fired, Edith opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
"How dare you talk to my mom like that, you fuckin debtor!" Ivy raged like a bull. Kaia didn't waver, she seemed to have confidence, maybe because she had gone through alot…, maybe she because she didn't know what was going on in her life anymore.
"Get out!" Edith had reached her peak….Kaia hadn't behaved this way with her before.
"Didn't you hear my mom??, get yourself out of here!" Ivy scoffed, pushing Kaia to the ground. Edith saw this as an opportunity, grabbing Kaia and slapping her across the face multiple times. Kaia didn't scream or cry, she just endured in silence.
Ivy saw this silence as a weakness, she grabbed Kaia's hair, dragging her to her feet
"Let's see if you'll talk to my mother like that again" an evil grin crept on her face as she pushed Kaia out.
"Don't come here...."she paused as she saw a shadow lurking over Kaia, she looked up, and there he was, this perfect male figure with the silkiest dark hair and perfect set of hazel eyes.
She seemed oblivious to the fact that those eyes were staring daggers at her. She watched in awe as Zayne pulled Kaia up, and walked past her into the apartment, a few of his men walked in, all with boxes in their hands. Ivy followed them closely, not uttering a word because the look on his face was enough to kill
"Hi Mrs Lorcan" his countenance had shifted from rage to sarcasm. Edith looked up, a smile lit her face
"Mr Blackwood" she greeted, her breath was shaky, and her eyes seemed restless, looking all over the place. She eyed Kaia for a while before looking at Zayne "Well…what brings you to our humble abode?, Mr Blackwood"
"Well, I thought it'd be nice to spoil my mother in law with a few gifts " his gaze lingered on Kaia as he spoke, he clenched his fists and looked forward
"Mother in law??" Edith faked a smile
"Mom….is he here to propose an arranged marriage?" Ivy whispered, loud enough to be heard even from outside. Kaia smirked at the trembling Edith, so she did have someone she respected.
Zayne gestured at his men to open the boxes, inside them were diamond Jewelries, Birkins, luxury shoes and dresses. Kaia looked at the man beside her, wondering where all these came from.
"Oh Mr Blackwood !!, you didn't have to!" Her grin reached her ears as she reached out for a necklace.
"Who is your eldest daughter?" Zayne queried, the sarcasm in his voice had transformed to rage. Butterflies filled Edith's stomach as she pointed to Ivy.
"Oh" Zayne scoffed.
"Oh my gosh mom, is this the mother of pearl necklace??" Ivy shrieked, grabbing the box. Edith's gaze shifted to the box in Ivy's hand.
"There's only two of these in the world" Edith grinned "You don't have to spoil us like this Mr Zayne"
"Sister Kaia!!" Eira called out, running into her sister's arms, she took a quick glance at Zayne, and back at her sister She seemed to notice the red marks on her cheeks
"What happened sister Kaia, did you get into a fight?" She asked, Zayne glanced at Kaia, a blaze of indignation burned furiously in his eyes
"Mra Lorcan….what's that on my wife's face??" He asked, his gruffy voice echoed against the room as he took two steps towards Edith. Ivy's eyes widened
"Wife??" She muttered "What are you saying Mr Lorcan?" she asked, her voice calm and brittle.
"You hit her??" he thundered
"Mr Lorcan….this is your wife??" Edith faked a smile
"It can't be possible…, what'd you do to bribe him?, did you sleep with him?" Ivy scoffed, Zayne lunged forward, grabbing her throat
"You don't speak ill of my wife and go scot free" his grip tightened as she tried pulling his hand, gasping for air
"Mr Blackwood, please spare my daughter" tears welled up in Edith's eyes as she knelt in front of Zayne, still clutching the diamond necklace in her hands.
"You wanna know what I do to people who dares hurt my wife??" Zayne's eyes went bloodshot, scaring the wits out of everyone. Ivy's face had gone red, and she looked like she was going to pass out.
"Sister Kaia say something, what if he kills her?" Eira asked, grabbing her sister's hand.
"Zayne I'm okay…it's fine " Kaia stepped forward. Edith looked at her, so she really was his wife
"Princess…go outside with Eira" he commanded. The trio in the room were in shock.
"He calls you princess?" Eira whispered, Kaia's face turned velvet
*Cut it out" she snapped
"You're gonna pay my wife every penny she's spent on you…understood??" Zayne thundered, throwing Ivy to the ground. Edith nodded and rushed towards her daughter.
"I give you the grace of 48 hours…and if you run away, I'll find you" his tone carried this audacious aura, making everything he said seem like a warning.
"Eira get your things I'm moving you out" he said grabbing Kaia.
"Take Kaia's sister to the new apartment" he ordered. His men followed behind him, with all the boxes they had brought in
Zayne's grip on Kaia's arm softened as they left the suffocating tension of the Lorcan household. The clamor behind them melted into the warm hum of his idling car. The air outside was crisp and carried the faint scent of rain, but Kaia's thoughts were anything but clear. She glanced at the man beside her, his commanding presence even more intimidating outside the walls of the house.
"Zayne…" she began, her voice faltering for a moment before she gathered herself. "You didn't have to do all that. They'll never change. You know that, right?
Zayne's hazel eyes flicked toward her, a storm brewing just beneath their surface. "And let them lay a hand on you again? Never." There was a resolute finality in his tone, as if every word he spoke carried the weight of an irreversible decision.
Kaia sank into the plush leather seat of the car, the pressure of the day finally settling into her bones. Zayne slid into the driver's seat, but before starting the car, he turned to her, his hand brushing her cheek where Edith's slap had left a faint red mark.
"I should've gotten there earlier," he muttered, his voice low, almost accusing himself.
"It's not your fault," she replied, surprising herself with the sharpness of her voice. "I've been dealing with Edith and Ivy long before you were ever in the picture. You don't have to rescue me. I can handle myself."
"Is that what you were doing in there? Handling it?" Zayne raised an eyebrow, his jaw tightening. "Because what I saw was you taking blows for no reason. Kaia, silence isn't strength if it breaks you."
Her chest tightened at his words, but she didn't allow herself to crumble. She was too used to stitching herself back together. Instead, she crossed her arms and fixed him with a glare. "I don't need your lectures or…or your pity. I came for Eira and got what I needed. That's all."
"You think this is pity?" His voice had a dangerous edge again, and Kaia realized, as their gazes locked, that this man was just as stubborn as her, maybe more. "This isn't pity, Kaia. You're my wife." He seemed to pause on the word, testing her reaction. "And that means something. Whether you like it or not, I'm not going to stand by and watch them treat you like a punching bag."
Kaia bit the inside of her cheek. "Wife," she echoed, the word hanging awkwardly in the thick silence of the car. "We both know that's a title on paper."
Zayne didn't respond immediately, his lips pressed into a thin line as he started the car. But just as the engine purred to life and the night began to envelop them, he spoke, his voice softer this time but no less commanding. "Paper or not, it's real enough for me. And it's going to be real for anyone who thinks they can mess with my wife."
Kaia looked out of the window, her thoughts swirling like the dark clouds above. She didn't know whether to feel safe or trapped as Zayne drove her toward an unknown future, but one thing was certain, her life was no longer hers alone.