Lies, Love, And Letting Go

Caroline staggered along the corridor, her heels scraping against the floor as the world tilted around her. At the corner, she slammed straight into a man in a sharply tailored suit, the impact jolting through her weakened body. Her throat constricted painfully, and when she tried to speak, only a ragged whisper slipped out. "Help… Help me…" The man looked down at her, his expression cool but intrigued, his gaze sharpening as he took in her flushed cheeks and unfocused eyes. "Help you?" he drawled, his tone edged with amusement. "This doesn't look like the right place for that." Caroline's heart sank as she realized the misunderstanding. She tried to steady herself, but her legs gave out, and she crumpled into his arms, breath trembling. "Help me… find Vincent Cooper…" she mumbled against his chest. The instant the name left her lips, something dangerous flickered in the man's dark eyes—rivalry. A slow, deliberate smile curved his mouth. Before she could explain further, he swept her up effortlessly, the crisp fabric of his suit brushing against her overheated skin. "Then let's go somewhere," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I'll make sure that favor gets handled. I'm Kendal Seymour, by the way." Kendal Seymour? Her hazy mind lurched at the name. Of all people, she hadn't expected to run into him now. But the heat rippling through her veins clawed at what little reason she had left. She instinctively tried to push back, her voice shaky. "Mr. Seymour, are you taking advantage of me right now?" A faint smile curved Kendal's lips. "I'm merely trying to help you," he replied, his stride unhurried as he carried her out. "Tell me something—what exactly is your relationship with Vincent? That man never lets a woman close, yet here you are, running to him for help." The drug's grip on Caroline's body was relentless, blurring her thoughts until everything dissolved into a feverish haze. She forgot that Kendal and Vincent were sworn enemies, her defenses stripped away by the heat burning through her. Her lips parted, and the truth slipped out in a broken whisper. "He's… He's my… husband…" Only two weeks earlier, Vincent had secured a project Kendal had spent months fighting for. Dropping her relationship with Vincent now was like pouring fuel on a simmering fire. As expected, Kendal's elegant features hardened into a mocking grin. The flicker of concern in his eyes vanished, replaced by sharp amusement. He abandoned any thoughts of taking her to the hospital. "So, he's tied down," he said slowly, pausing mid-stride to look at the flushed woman in his arms. Caroline clawed for the last thread of strength left in her. "You'd better… let me go… or Vincent won't spare you…" Her voice trembled as the world tilted and her head slumped against his chest. A low, humorless chuckle slipped from Kendal's throat. "Is that so? I'd actually love to see whether he's got the power to back that up." Without another word, he pivoted and carried her straight into the men's restroom, setting her down on the sink. The icy marble bit into her thighs, a jolt racing up her spine. A shudder rippled through her, and before she could even try to slide off, Kendal closed the distance. One arm locked firmly around her waist to steady her trembling body, while his other hand tilted her chin upward, leaving her no room to look away. In that position, she seemed unbearably fragile—like a rose still glistening with dew, soft and dangerously enticing. Something in Kendal's chest shifted. What had begun as a petty move to humiliate Vincent now twisted into something far more primal, a hot rush of want curling low in his gut. With eyes darkened by desire, he looked at Caroline and lowered his head to kiss her. Caroline's thoughts were a tangle of heat and confusion. The world had blurred into shadows and breath, and all she could feel was the pull of his nearness, the intoxicating urge to lean in. But just as his mouth hovered a breath away, a low, frigid voice sliced through the charged air. "Let her go." Kendal's head snapped up, his expression hardening the moment he met Vincent's sharp, unyielding gaze. The two men squared off, their silence carrying the weight of a brewing storm. "Mr. Cooper," Kendal drawled, forcing a mocking smile, "cutting in like this is a bit rude, don't you think..." He didn't get to finish. Vincent's fist collided with his jaw in a single, brutal arc, sending him stumbling back with a strangled curse. Without Kendal's grip, Caroline's body tilted forward, her balance slipping. Vincent moved fast, his arm snaking around her waist to steady her before she could crash to the floor. Caroline's cheeks burned crimson, her breath shallow as her trembling fingers tugged restlessly at the fabric clinging to her overheated skin. Vincent's gaze darkened like a gathering storm. He slipped off his jacket, draping it gently over her shoulders before moving to take her away. "Wait a minute." Kendal steadied himself against the wall, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. "You think you can just walk out of here with her?" "You've already crossed a line," Vincent replied coolly, his presence radiating sharp, unshakable authority. "Maybe I should make you pay for laying a hand on my wife." Kendal gave a low chuckle, wiping the blood from the corner of his lip with deliberate ease. His gaze lingered on Caroline's flushed face, slow and taunting. "Your wife? I doubt she'll stay that way for long." Vincent's aura grew icier, the air between them thick with menace, but before the standoff could ignite, Caroline let out a soft, desperate moan. Vincent didn't hesitate another second. He scooped her into his arms and strode toward the exit. Kendal stood frozen where he was, watching their retreating figures with a storm of conflicted emotions flickering behind his eyes.