Mirabelle’s POV:
My breath hitched. This couldn’t be happening. One disaster after another, but right now, Ken needs me more than ever.
The raw materials, the money… it all faded to the background as I listened to the ragged sound of his breathing.
“Where are you?” I asked softly, my voice surprisingly calm despite the chaos in my chest.
“Home.” He managed, his voice cracking. “I don’t… I don’t know what to do, Mira. It’s all gone.”
“Stay there.” I said firmly. “I’m on my way.”
I hung up and floored the gas.
I parked outside Ken’s apartment, my fingers gripped tightly around the steering wheel as my mind raced. I took a deep breath before stepping out of the car, locking it behind me. Climbing the stairs up to his floor felt like it lasted forever. By the time I reached his door, I felt sick to my core, my hands shaking.
I knocked twice before opening the door, stepping inside without waiting for a response. The apartment was quiet-too quiet.
And then I saw him.
Ken was pacing back and forth, his face pale and drenched in sweat, his hands trembling at his sides. It was as if the world was crashing down on him, and he had no way to stop it.
“Ken?” I said softly, my voice trembling as I stepped closer.
He froze mid-step, turning to face me. His eyes were filled with fear, but as soon as he saw me, he rushed over, his hand grasping mine tightly.
“I-” His voice cracked as he tried to say something, but no words came out. Instead, he collapsed onto the couch, his breathing rapid and shallow.
I sat down beside him, not knowing what to do at first. He was so wound up, his fear overwhelming him, and I had to get him to calm down.
“Breathe, Ken.” I said gently as I placed my hand on his. “Just breathe with me, okay?”
His chest rose and fell erratically as he nodded, his grip on my hand tightening. I took a deep breath, trying to set an example, and he mimicked me. Slowly, I counted out the seconds, guiding him to match my breathing.
We sat in silence for a while, my hand holding his as his breathing steadied. Gradually, his panic attack began to subside, but his eyes remained distant.
“I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.” He whispered, his voice breaking. He leaned back against the couch, rubbing his face in frustration. “It feels like everything’s falling apart, Mira.”
I nodded, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill. I wanted to tell him everything, to scream at him for abandoning me for Mitchelle. But right now, he needed me, and I couldn’t make this about my own pain.
“I get it.” I said softly. “But you’re not alone in this. We’ll figure it out.”
He looked at me with bloodshot eyes. “I’m scared, Mira. I am so fucking scared.”
I swallowed hard, feeling my own heart race. I shifted in my seat, still holding his hand. “Ken, do you know anything about what happened with the fire?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly. “Is there any connection between it and- I don’t know, maybe, Noah?”
Ken’s eyes flickered nervously, and for a moment, I could see the hesitation in him. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again, as if deciding whether or not to tell me.
“I… I don’t know.” He said finally, his voice low. “Something’s not right with Noah, Mira. I’ve seen the way he’s been acting lately, and I think… I think he’s been hiding something.”
“Ken, I don’t need guesses. I need answers. I need to know what’s going on. Everything’s falling apart, and Noah…” I trailed off.
Ken flinched at my words. “Please, Mira.” Ken said softly. “We need to stay united. We can’t let this tear us apart. Let me handle it. Just stay out of it for now, okay?”
I stared at him. He was asking me to trust him, to let him handle things. But I couldn’t do that. “I can’t.” I said quietly. “I can’t stand by and watch everything I have worked so hard for, crumble to the ground without doing anything. I need to know who’s behind all this.”
Ken’s gaze hardened. “This is not the time to dig into conspiracies, Mira. Not now.”
He stood abruptly, pacing again, his agitation growing. I could see he was hiding something, and the more he resisted, the more I felt like I was onto something. But I didn’t push him further. Instead, I let out a heavy sigh and stood up.
“Fine.” I said, my voice cold. “I’ll work with you.”
Ken flinched, but before he could say anything else, I turned and walked out of the apartment.
I needed a moment to think.
I drove aimlessly, my thoughts swirling as I found myself on a quiet, secluded street I used to visit when I needed to clear my mind. The city was bustling around me, but all I could hear was the pounding of my own heartbeat.
I leaned my head against the steering wheel, my eyes closing as I tried to process everything. Noah… Samuel… the fire… nothing made sense anymore. My loyalty to Noah, the man I loved. I had overheard things that couldn’t be ignored. But a part of me still wanted to believe in him.
Could he really have done this?
Could he really have hurt me this way?
A sharp buzz from my phone pulled me from my thoughts, and I glanced at the screen to see Grandpa Ed’s name.
“Mirabelle, where are you?” He asked, impatiently. “Why did you run out like that?”
“I’m fine, Grandpa.” I lied, my voice shaking. “I just needed to get some air.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and I could tell he didn’t believe me. “Something’s not right, Mirabelle. I want you to come home. Someone visited earlier today. Left something for you. I think it’s important.”
My heart skipped a beat. Someone had visited? Who? Why?
“I’ll be there in a minute.” I replied.
When I arrived home, I found Grandpa Ed waiting for me, holding a thick, sealed envelope. His face was unreadable as he handed it to me. “A strange man came over and left this for you with Jamie.” He explained.
“And the kids?” I asked.
“They are asleep.” He replied.
I felt a chill run down my spine as I took the envelope. My hands trembled as I opened it and pulled out several documents and a few photographs.
As I read through the documents, my stomach dropped. It was from Samuel. He had confessed to everything. How Noah had manipulated him, made him lie about his wife’s accident just so that he could be alone with Natasha in Shanghai.
How Noah had arranged for reporters to follow him and Natasha. He had even gone so far as to hire men to ensure that the pictures of Noah and Natasha together would surface and destroy my mental health.
I felt my blood run cold as I read the final part. Mr. Ali wasn’t in Hong Kong-he was still in Shanghai, and Noah had lied to me.
He lied about the trip being moved closer just so that he could be alone with that slutty bitch. How could he?
It was never business. It had always been personal. Noah and Natasha had orchestrated this entire thing.
My heart sank as the pieces started to fall into place, and with them, my fear turned into a burning anger. I wasn’t going to let Noah get away with this.
Not now.
Not ever.
I will make sure that he pays for what he has done to me.