Chapter 39
Yook, Edout boy the crop she’s spewing You’re not messy at all.” Kemp pulled out some peanuts and dumped them into kilatina hand.
Kustin dit dodge the just grabbed a peanut and popped it into her mouth.
Inthe chat Ruby know, the first time she blabbed about marrying Kristin off to Kemp, Kristin had already sneakily grilled the servants about him
Kemp had his stivalen with bipolar and paranoid delusional disorders, but it wasn’t like he was off his rocker all the time. It would only kick in when something got under his skin.
When he wasn’t having an episode, he was just like anyone else.
Kustin had done her homework on psychology back in the slammer and had her nose in tons of books about it. She got the drill with folks like him. They hated being looked down on but had a touchy and fragile sense of pride with a fierce protective streak. The trick was to play the weaker victim that would trigger their knight–in–shining–armor complex.
“Carey’s been yapping about you becoming my wife, saying I could have a bang with you.” Kemp plopped down next to Kristin. When she didn’t push back, he figured she was giving the green light
“So, you clued in that I’m sick?” Kristin eyed Kemp. “I don’t want to mess you up. I think they’re out to screw you over.”
Kemp gawked at Kristin, dumbfounded. “You’re sick?”
“Or what, you think they’re genuinely that sweet to you? Do they treat you well usually?” Kristin was playing her cards.
“Hell no,” Kemp cursed. “These people are all about looking down their noses at us. My dad’s been with the FitzGerald family for years, and not one of them respects us.”
“See? Carey can’t stand you, but suddenly she’s hooking you up with a wife, Doesn’t that ring any alarm bells?” Kristin whispered.
“What kind of illness did you say you have?” Kemp was growing suspicious, sensing something fishy about this Carey character.
“AIDS… It’s contagious, incurable, and it’ll kill you.” Kristin showed Kemp the bruises covering her body. “Look, I don’t have long left.”
Kemp was shaken as he stared at the dark bruises on her pale skin, instinctively scooting
away.
“I don’t get why Carey would want to screw you over.” Kristin sighed. Then she dropped another bomb. “I overheard them whispering about that time you lost it and hurt a maid from the FitzGerald family, tarnishing their reputation. Your dad’s an old–timer there with a fat paycheck they can’t cut loose. They want to nudge him out and need to provoke you to mess
TO 37
up again if you hurt me, and I conveniently kick the bucket, it’ll blow up big time. You and your dad will get the boot from the FitzGerald family”
Kemp was seething, barely keeping a lid on it. In a fit of rage, he flung a stool against the warehouse door.
Kristin shuddered and curled up in a corner. She was scared out of her wits… If Kemp lost control, she’d be in the crossfire
“Son of a bitch. I always knew she was no good. She’s been badmouthing my dad for ages!” Kemp ranted as he tried to bust out.
Kristin hugged herself tight, trying to avoid getting hurt. But Kemp’s manic mood had taken the wheel, and he was beyond reach.
He was trashing the place, cursing and howling like a madman.
Outside the room, a few servants pretended to be deaf to the chaos, laughing and munching on fruit with the utmost indifference.
“Do you think this could end up a murder scene?” A servant shivered with fear.
“What’s there to fear? If she dies, it’s her bad luck for messing with a nutcase. It’s not a crime if a lunatic kills someone,” Carey muttered darkly, looking like she wouldn’t lose any sleep
over it.
The servants nervously eyed the warehouse. “Can Kristin’s tiny frame handle this? It seems to end in a fatality.”
Vincent was by the window, the commotion from the backyard warehouse reaching him even
there.
Gripping his hands tightly, Vincent was itching to rush down.
He only wanted Kristin to swallow her pride and admit her mistake, not to die.
“Mr. FitzGerald, Ruby’s coughing up blood!”
Just then, Ruby’s maid came running out, panic in her voice.
Vincent bolted to Ruby’s room. “Ruby.”
“Vinny, I’m so scared…” Blood was still on her lips. “Stay with me, take me to the hospital.”
Vincent hesitated for a second, then carried Ruby downstairs, with Kristin’s fate slipping from his priorities.
“Have the butler check it out. We don’t want her dead!” Even as Vincent got into the car, he gave the order to Carey, who glanced at Ruby.
Ruby was stone cold, not a word from her.
Carey got the message and didn’t rush to open the warehouse door.
Chapter.
Ruby wanted Kristin dead.
As long as Kristin was breathing, Ruby was terrified that Kristin might snatch back everything that belonged to her one day. So Kristin had to go.
In the Warehouse.
“Chill out.. kemp… just cool it.”
At the sight of Kemp in full meltdown mode with no one coming to unlock the door, Kristin shrank into the corner, crying for him to calm down.
Kemp was beyond reason, flinging a stool that crashed in Kristin’s direction.
Kristin curled up and hugged herself tight as the stool hit her ear, tearing a two–centimeter gash, blood gushing out instantly.
With her ear ringing fiercely, Kristin’s left ear was temporarily deaf and the world gone silent.
Kemp was still in a frenzy, smashing everything in sight.
Kristin leaned into the corner, her heartbeat slowing down.
Was this where she’d die?
