Chapter 6

Kianna Johnson POV:

After that night, a wall of ice formed around my heart. I didn't speak to Grant. Not a word. I didn't acknowledge his presence. He was a ghost, a shadow, a stranger in my peripheral vision. He still followed me, a few paces behind, his silent watch a constant, irritating reminder of his betrayal. But I carried an invisible shield now, a force field of cold indifference that kept him at bay.

At mealtimes, he would meticulously prepare my plate, just as he always had, knowing my preferences down to the last detail. He'd set it before me, then step back, waiting. I would push the plate away, untouched. He would then silently collect it, his movements slow, heavy with a sadness I chose to ignore.

When it was time to leave, he would open the car door for me. I would walk past him, my gaze fixed straight ahead, and slide into the backseat without a glance. I never once saw his hand hesitate, his fingers poised in the air as if to help me, before he slowly, mechanically, closed the door.

In the days that followed, I noticed the change in him. He was losing weight. His face was gaunt, unshaven, his eyes shadowed with a profound weariness. He was always quiet, always watchful, but now there was a hollow desperation in his gaze.

I knew Dariana noticed it too. She had always been possessive, but now her jealousy simmered, a constant, low-burning flame. I saw her watching him, her sweet facade barely concealing her irritation.

One afternoon, I heard their voices from my study. Dariana had cornered him in the hallway. "Grant, what's wrong with you?" Her voice was shrill, laced with annoyance. "You look like a zombie! And it's all her fault. She's being impossible!"

He tried to soothe her, his voice low and tired. "Dariana, please. Don't worry about it."

"Don't worry?" she snapped, pulling at his arm. "You're letting her walk all over you! Why are you letting her treat you like this? She needs you, Grant! She'll come running back. She always does." Her voice was laced with a venomous certainty.

Grant's brow furrowed, and he glanced around, as if worried someone might overhear. "You don't understand, Dariana," he said, his voice a strained whisper. "Kianna isn't like that. When she cuts someone off, it's final." His eyes held a deep, unfamiliar fear. "And if we lose her... if she doesn't forgive me... how are you going to get what you need?" His voice dropped even lower, "It' s getting harder to convince her to go through with it. If she really cuts me off, she'll never go to the operating room willingly."

A cold dread coiled in my stomach. The words confirmed everything. My blood ran cold, solidifying the hateful truth.

"I promised I'd do anything to keep you safe, Dariana," he continued, his voice heavy with desperation. "Even if I have to commit a crime, I will save you."

Dariana's eyes widened, then filled with a possessive joy. She reached up, pulling his face down, and pressed her lips to his. A long, lingering kiss.

Grant's body stiffened, a silent struggle in his frame, but he didn't pull away. He just stood there, letting her kiss him. Submitting.

The sight hit me like a physical blow, worse than any shattered bottle or thrown car. My body began to tremble, a violent, uncontrollable tremor. My breath hitched, a choked gasp trapped in my throat. I pressed my hands over my mouth, stifling the raw scream that threatened to escape. I couldn't make a sound. I couldn't let them know I had witnessed this final, devastating act of betrayal.

I stumbled back, my legs like lead, my vision blurring. I fumbled for the doorknob, pushing it open, and slipped back into my room. I locked the door, then slid down, collapsing onto the floor, my back against the cold wood. My mind reeled, the image of their kiss burned into my retina. I squeezed my eyes shut, but it was no use. It was there, vivid and cruel.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. A lifeline. I fumbled for it, my fingers numb. It was my father.

"Kianna, the Powell family is hosting a small, intimate dinner tonight," he said, his voice brisk. "A formal introduction. Their son, Aaden, will be there. We're going to make a public announcement about the alliance."

My grip tightened on the phone, my knuckles turning white. I took a deep, shuddering breath, forcing down the acidic taste of betrayal in my mouth. "Understood, Dad," I managed to say, my voice surprisingly steady. "I'll be there."

"Good. Don't be late." He hung up.

I stared at the black screen, then slowly, deliberately, rose. I walked to the mirror, my reflection a pale, ghost-like apparition. My eyes were red-rimmed, my lips swollen from silent screams. The girl who had loved Grant Langley was truly dead. Shattered into a million pieces.

I splashed cold water on my face, then meticulously applied makeup, covering the evidence of my anguish. I chose a sleek, dark dress, perfectly cut, that accentuated my figure. I pulled my hair back into a severe bun, every strand in place. No more soft, romantic curls. No more naive girl.

When I was done, I looked at my reflection again. The woman staring back was cold, poised, and utterly unyielding. There was no trace of the heartbreak that still raged within. She was a weapon, forged in the fires of betrayal.

I walked downstairs, my heels clicking sharply on the marble floor. "Prepare the car," I said to a startled maid, my voice crisp and authoritative.

Just then, Grant appeared, his eyes immediately fixed on my transformed appearance. He took a hesitant step forward. "Kianna, where are you going? I wasn't informed of any appointments." His voice was laced with a strange urgency, a hint of desperation.

Dariana, drawn by the commotion, floated down the stairs, her eyes wide. "Oh, Kianna, you look beautiful!" she exclaimed, her voice syrupy sweet. "Are you going to a party? Can I come? I feel so much better now." Her eyes, however, were fixed on Grant, a silent warning.

A cold, hard smile touched my lips. Let her come. Let her see. Let her witness the death of her carefully constructed fantasy. "Yes, Dariana," I said, my voice dangerously soft. "You can come. You absolutely can." I knew then. This wasn't just my escape. It was my declaration of war.