Chapter 5 Rekindling Old Ties
Back in Zloria, the familiar streets gave Kiara a faint sense of belonging.
Days of nonstop running around had worn her out.
After a quick shower, she collapsed onto the bed and was out within minutes,
She woke to the sound of pounding on her door.
Whoever it was, they were knocking like they meant to break it down. Kiara dragged herself up, irritation simmering, and yanked the door open–only to find Yara standing there, with Hugh in his wheelchair beside her.
Oh great. These two again,
Kiara gripped the doorknob, her expression cold. “What do you want?”
Hugh’s face was like a storm cloud. “Where’ve you been for the past few days!”
They’d been restless ever since learning Kiara had 20 billion in her possession–excited at the thought of getting rich but anxious because she’d blocked their calls and disappeared.
With no way to reach her, they couldn’t get their hands on the money.
Before Kiara could answer, Yara snapped, eyes blazing, “Dad’s leg got fractured because of you! You’re paying for it!”
Up until last time, she’d been all smiles, trying to charm money out of Kiara
But ever since Kiara had slapped her in the hallway, Yara had been stewing over the insult.
Kiara already knew what they were after and had her counter ready,
She went to the living room, pulled a thick stack of papers from a drawer, and tossed them at their faces. “Oh, I forgot to tell you–I took a trip to Stamburg. Got carried away at the tables and lost all the money.”
Keeping that kind of money was dangerous; with someone like Hugh, he’d probably hire someone to kill her.
The receipts were arranged for James, all genuine, straight from real casinos. Nothing in them could be challenged.
Hugh, a lifelong gambler, instinctively rubbed the special watermark on the paper.
Once he realized they were real, his eyes rolled back, and he nearly keeled over.
That was 20 billion–and all of it was his money!
How dare Kiara gamble it away?
Hugh’s body shook with rage. Yara didn’t need anyone to explain it to her.
In her mind, everything Kiara had belonged to her. And now, Kiara had blown through 20 billion like pocket change? That was something she couldn’t stomach.
With a shriek, she lunged. “That was mine and Dad’s money! Give it back-”
Sinack!
Kiara’s palm landed across her face with a sharp crack.
Shaking out her tingling arm, she stared coldly at Yara’s swelling cheek. “Dream on.”
That money had nothing to do with Hugh or Yara–never had, never would.
They had woken her from sleep, and Kiara wasn’t in the mood for games.
She raised her hand again, but before it could land. Yara screamed and bolted.
“How did your mother give birth to a disgrace like you?” Hugh snarled, his glare murderous.
Chapter 5 Rekindling Old Ties
Finished
Kiara planted a kick into his wheelchair, sending it over with a crash. “And what gives you the right to talk about my mother?”
Watching him writhe on the floor, unable to get up, she realized–oh, so he really was hurt?
Well then, what could a dutiful daughter do?
Only wish that dear old Papa stayed lame for the rest of his life.
She called security, had both Hugh and Yara tossed out, and told them never to let the two back in. Then she returned to bed for a blissful second round of sleep.
It took a full day before she felt even halfway recharged.
After cleaning herself up, she went out hunting for food.
As usual, she drove across the city loading up on groceries, then hired a few men to drive cars from her mechanic’s shop to at location of her choice–where she quietly stored them away herself.
Once she paid the shop owner the remaining balance, Kiara sat down on the pavement, watching the sun sink, a rare calm settling over her.
This time, she swore, she’d live safely until the disaster was over.
Buzz!
Her phone chimed. WhatsApp. Sibley Harmon had sent her a message.
“Kiara, what’s going on with you and Milo?!
Sibley had been her friend since middle school, the one who stayed by her side after her mother jumped off from the roof. when the days had been hardest..
They’d always been different–Kiara drifting through life, Sibley the top student. Last year, Sibley had graduated from Slocmore University and now held a mid–level, well–paying job at a top–300 company in Yrasea.
Seeing her message, Kiara felt a pang of nostalgia
In her last life, the disaster had come out of nowhere. She and Sibley had managed to keep in touch at first, but as the heatwaves worsened and communication systems failed, she lost the only true friend she’d ever had.
Kiara tightened her grip on the phone, a twinge of guilt running through her.
She’d been so wrapped up in stockpiling supplies that she’d nearly forgotten about Sibley.
Snapping out of it, she dialed her number.
Sibley’s personality was gentle, and her voice was as soft and warm as always, “Kiara, did Milo hurt you?”
Kiara denied it. She and Milo had gotten together over shared hobbies, and they’d been dating less than six months. There hadn’t been time for anything truly deep.
What she cared about more right now was Sibley
She couldn’t just blurt out that a disaster was coming, so she took the long way around. “Have you ever thought about moving back to Zloria? Might be a good career move.”
When a catastrophe hit, a city could shut down in an instant. Kiara could barely picture someone as gentle as Sibley surviving what was coming
She couldn’t invite Sibley to live with her–not with the secrets she carried–but having her in the same city would ease her
mind.
Sibley chuckled. What a coincidence. A headhunter in Zloria has been reaching out to me. I’m tempted. All right–next week I’ll hand in my resignation. When I get back, you’re buying me dinner,
“Done, Kiara promised.
Not many people had a place in her heart. With Hugh and Yara gone, there was only Sibley.
Chapter 5 Rekindling Old Ties
With Hugh and Yara now out of the picture, Kiara hoped that this time she could keep Sibley safe.
Finished
Back when life had been at its absolute worst–when she’d felt she couldn’t go on–Sibley had been the one to shield her from harm, steady and unwavering
—
They chatted for a while before Sibley, sounding tentative, steered the conversation back to Milo. “Did he do something to hurt you?”
Kiara touched the bridge of her nose.
She had no intention of ever speaking to Milo again, and ruining his image cost her nothing.
“Yeah. He was seeing other girls behind my back. That’s why I dumped him.”
On the other end. Sibley bristled. “What a jerk!”
Kiara gave a small laugh. “I wasn’t that into him anyway. No big deal. But you–when you get back to Zloria, you’d better let
me know.”
Once Sibley promised, Kiara hung up.
Only then did she realize her clothes were clinging to her, soaked through with sweat.
She pulled up her weather app. Good grief–past six in the evening, and it was still 101°F.
Send Gifts
