After leaving the Empire Club, Kayden headed straight to Georgia’s residence.
He needed answers. He needed to know what had happened-why Georgia treated him the way she did. Reaching the door, he knocked firmly.
From inside, Scarlett’s voice called out, “Who is it?”
“Mom, it’s me!” Kayden replied.
Before Scarlett could respond, Georgia’s voice rang out, trembling yet resolute. “Mom, don’t let him in. Tell him to leave.”
Her tone carried the weight of suppressed tears, but her words were unyielding.
Scarlett walked to the door, opened it with a frustrated creak, and glared at Kayden, her face full of anger. “You heard her, didn’t you?” she said sharply.
Kayden nodded slightly, his voice steady but confused. “I heard her. I just want to know what happened. Why is Georgia treating me like this?”
Scarlett scoffed, crossing her arms. “Kayden, Kayden… Do you even have the nerve to ask me that? I welcomed you into this family. I treated you like my own son. As long as Georgia was happy and you treated her well, I had no complaints. But you? Is this how you repay me?”
She shook her head in disappointment. “Kayden, you’ve let everyone down.”
Kayden felt a jolt in his chest. Her words stung, but he still couldn’t grasp their meaning. “Mom, what happened? Did Luther say something to Georgia?”
Scarlett let out a heavy sigh. “Don’t you dare accuse someone else blindly. I don’t know if Luther said anything.”
Before Kayden could respond, Harvey’s furious voice erupted from inside the house.
“You bastard! You good-for-nothing bastard!”
Harvey stormed into view, pointing an accusing finger at Kayden, his face red with fury. His demeanor made it seem as though he might strike Kayden at any moment.
The rage boiled over as Harvey shouted, “You touched my wife this morning, and now you’ve made my daughter cry! What kind of man are you? I used to pity you, even stood up for you when others looked down on you. But now? Now, I see you for what you are. You’ve changed. You’ve become someone I can’t even recognize. You’ve disappointed me more than I can say!”
Harvey stomped his foot, his anger nearly tangible. “Don’t let me see your face again, or I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop myself from hitting you!”
“Enough, Harvey. Go back inside,” Scarlett said, her tone firm.
Harvey let out a frustrated grunt, muttering curses under his breath as he turned to leave.
Scarlett looked back at Kayden, her expression hard. “I’m done talking to you. Georgia doesn’t want to see you. Leave.”
With that, she slammed the door shut, leaving Kayden standing outside, stunned and speechless.
He still had questions, still had things he wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come. Scarlett was unwavering-no matter how much she once accepted Kayden, she would always stand by her daughter’s side.
Inside the house, Georgia sat on the small living room sofa, her eyes vacant and her expression sorrowful.
“Georgia, what happened? What did Kayden do to you?” Scarlett asked, her voice filled with concern. She had no idea what had transpired, only that her daughter was deeply hurt.
At her mother’s gentle question, Georgia’s tears spilled over.
No matter how strong and proud she appeared to the outside world-an unshakable, confident CEO-at home, she was just a daughter. She hadn’t cried like this since high school. But now, she couldn’t hold back.
Without hesitation, she threw herself into Scarlett’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Scarlett held her, gently patting her back. “It’s okay, Georgia. Whatever it is, your father and I are here for you. Did that scoundrel Kayden hurt you? Tell us what he did. We’ll make sure he pays for it.”
Harvey, standing nearby, added, “That’s right, sweetheart. Whatever he did to you, just say the word, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right-even if it costs me my life.”
Georgia cried in her mother’s arms for several minutes before her sobs began to quiet. Eventually, her tears turned into soft sniffles, and she slowly pulled herself together.
She wiped her face and said in a trembling voice, “Mom, Dad, I’m fine. Please don’t worry about me. You should get some rest. I’m going to bed now.”
With that, she stood and walked toward her room.
At the door, she paused and turned back to them. Her voice was low but firm. “If Kayden comes here again, don’t let him in. I don’t want to see him-ever again.”
Then, without another word, she disappeared into her room, shutting the door behind her.
Scarlett and Harvey exchanged a helpless look, both at a loss for words.
Not long ago, Georgia had been determined to be with Kayden, no matter how much Scarlett tried to dissuade her. She had stood her ground, unwavering. And now? Everything had fallen apart so quickly.
They didn’t know what had caused the rift, but they didn’t press her for answers. Whatever their daughter wanted, they would support her unconditionally.
Kayden, meanwhile, was left in turmoil. He tried asking the men who had been secretly protecting Georgia if they knew what had happened, but they were equally clueless.
He had nowhere to go. Georgia’s home had been his home for three years, the only place in Hiphia where he felt he belonged. Even when he had to sleep on the floor, he had considered it his sanctuary.
But now, the door was closed to him, and the people inside treated him like an enemy. The crushing sense of rejection and failure left him reeling.
Unable to think of a better option, Kayden rented a room in the hotel closest to Georgia’s house. From the balcony, he could see the Adams family home.
He stood there all night, staring at the house, watching as the lights went out one by one. Sleep eluded him. He didn’t know what had gone wrong or where he had made a mistake.
The next day, Georgia fell ill and was rushed to the hospital.