Cain opened the car door for Kimmy and she climbed inside. He was expressionless and Kimmy could not read him at all. She heaved a sigh and waited for him to get inside.
"Where should I drop you?" Cain asked as soon as he was inside. He started the engine and stepped on the gas pedal to drive his car out of the palace's premises.
"Can I treat you to a cup of coffee? You can choose the place," Kimmy suggested and Cain did not respond but he stopped his car next to the first cafe he spotted.
Kimmy could feel the tension between them as they walked into the cafe. She was not sure if Cain felt it too. She was feeling nervous though she tried to hide it. Cain was the stoic type and she found it difficult to calm herself. It would be better if Cain showed his hatred for her rather than acting stoically in front of her.
He placed their orders not bothering to ask her what she wanted. But what surprised her was that Cain had ordered the drink and dessert that she loved. Cappuccino and blueberry cheesecake.
"Start talking. It's already quite late. What do you want to talk about?" Cain asked.
Kimmy's face crumpled because it was not that late. She sighed and looked straight into his eyes and said, "I want to apologize for what happened earlier. I know it's too late to say this but believe it or not, I am really sorry about what happened. I want to apologize to Uncle Daniel as well and I plan to visit him tomorrow if it's okay with him and you."
Cain smirked and said, "Years have already passed. Dad has probably moved on and your apologies won't bring him back to normal, so I don't think…"
"Wait, what? What do you mean? What happened to Uncle Daniel?"
Cain's eyebrows arched as he replied, "Dad had a stroke when he found out that you had run away. He lives but half of his body is not as functional as before. You did not know about it?"
"No! I didn't contact anyone except Cedric but I only left him messages over voicemail most of the time. I started talking to him just seven months ago. Well, I was always in a hurry and just told him that I'm fine before hanging up as I didn't want him to trace my whereabouts."
"Is our family so disgusting that you have to take such extreme measures, huh?" Cain growled, frowning.
"No! Of course not! It's not about your family but mine! I wanted to escape them because I felt suffocated. You don't know how messed up our family is. My parents are always quarreling, my mother keeps asking me to do things she wants and my father doesn't care about anything except his mistresses!" Kimmy voiced her resentment with her family.
Trying to control the tears falling from her eyes, she quickly drank a glass of water and blinked her eyes several times.
Cain had not seen it coming and was rendered speechless for some time.
Kimmy took a deep breath and added, "I know that whatever I say now can't turn back the misery I have caused your family. I know it was immature of me at the time to run away and whatever my reasons, they are now nothing but excuses for my conduct.
And yet I sincerely apologize and I'm willing to make it up to your family for whatever damage I caused. I will do anything so you and Uncle Daniel will forgive me."
The waiter arrived with their orders.
"Eat the cake and drink your coffee," Cain ordered Kimmy. They ate in silence till Cain finally spoke, "Dad will be glad to see you. Meet with him first then we will talk about 'your willingness to do anything to make it up'."
Cain looked intently at Kimmy and said, "Think carefully before you speak and think carefully before you take any actions, Kimberly Hansen. If you say you will do anything, don't expect me to just ask simple things of you. You ask yourself what you are willing to bargain to make up for the embarrassment you caused my family.
Cedric said that I should not hold you responsible for what happened to my father, but I suggest you see him yourself and then ask yourself the same thing… If you are not really responsible for it."
Kimmy gulped. This was what she wanted of the groom she left behind. This was what she expected but she suddenly felt fear when she felt he was devouring her with his dark stare.
They finished their coffee and Kimmy said, "Let's part ways here. I can take a cab to go back to my apartment.
Cain's face darkened as he said, "No! Everyone knows you are with me and that I'm driving you home, so I must see you safely back to your place."
"Really, it's not necessary," Kimmy said.
"No more discussions, Kimberly, or I would not hesitate to carry you back inside my car."
Kimmy's eyes widened as she unknowingly voiced out, "You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me!" Cain answered with a straight face, making Kimmy gulp.
In the end, she let him drive her to her apartment. She did not argue when Cain climbed out of his car to walk her inside the building and up to her door. Kimmy shrugged because she felt Cain was acting like her bodyguard.
"This is my door, okay, you can go back now," she mumbled with a crumpled face.
"Go inside first and then I will leave," Cain answered.
Kimmy rolled her eyes and pressed her thumb on the scanner and opened the door. She was about to go inside when she felt a strong hand take a hold of her wrist. She turned and her throat went dry seeing Cain's face so close to her.
"That's it? You don't even know how to say thank you for dropping you safely back to your apartment?"
"Thank you for the ride," she whispered awkwardly before she turned around quickly, went inside her apartment, and closed the door. She rested her back on the door as she held her chest feeling her heart beat wildly.
"What was that?" Kimmy whispered in bewilderment.
Meanwhile, Cain stared at the door with a blank expression as it was shut on his face. "You shouldn't have come back…" he whispered with a clenched jaw before he turned to walk away from Kimmy's door.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m