Chapter 6

"Responsibility?" Mrs. Gregory rolled her eyes. "Don' t insult my intelligence, Aubrey. We all know what kind of 'responsibility' this is."

Kennedy, sensing the tide turning against her, tugged on Aubrey's sleeve, her face a mask of wounded innocence.

"Aubrey, maybe I should leave," she whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I don' t want to cause a fight between you and your parents."

"Don' t be ridiculous," Aubrey said, pulling her back. "This is your home now. You can stay as long as you want."

"Aubrey!" Mrs. Gregory gasped, clutching her chest. "Have you no shame? Look at this scheming little... She's deliberately trying to drive a wedge between you and Eva!"

Aubrey physically stepped in front of Kennedy, shielding her with his body. "If you' re going to yell at someone, yell at me!"

General Gregory, who had been silent until now, slowly rose to his feet. He was not a large man, but he radiated an authority that filled the room and sucked the air out of it.

Kennedy visibly trembled under his gaze.

"You' ve gone too far, Aubrey," the General said, his voice quiet but heavy with disappointment.

"Eva is a good woman. She's patient and tolerant. But that doesn' t give you the right to bully her."

He pointed a stern finger at the door. "Tell Ms. Ferrell to leave. Now."

"No," Aubrey said, his jaw set stubbornly. "If she leaves, I' m leaving with her."

The General' s face flushed with anger. He took a step forward, his hand raised.

"Dad, don' t!" I said, quickly stepping between them.

I turned to the General, my voice placating. "Please, don' t be angry. It' s my fault. Aubrey is just trying to be a good friend."

The General' s anger deflated, replaced by a deep sigh. He gripped my arm, his eyes full of paternal affection and regret.

"Daughter, my old friend entrusted you to me. I' m supposed to be protecting you, not letting my son torment you."

I felt a lump in my throat, but I forced a reassuring smile. "Please, don' t worry about us. Aubrey knows what he's doing. We' ll sort it out."

After a few more minutes of my reassurances, the Gregorys finally left, shaking their heads in disappointment.

The moment the door closed, I turned to face Aubrey's icy glare.

"You went and tattled to my parents," he accused, his voice dripping with venom. "Playing the victim, making me look bad."

"I didn' t say a word to them," I said tiredly.

"Then who did?" he sneered. "Don' t think for a second that this changes anything. I' m not getting rid of Kennedy just because my parents don' t like her."

I wanted to argue, to defend myself, but what was the point? He had already tried and convicted me in his mind.

"Think whatever you want," I said, shrugging. I walked past him into the guest room.

I truly didn' t care anymore.

Two more days, I told myself. I just had to survive for two more days.

The next day, I avoided the department store where Kian worked, walking an extra two miles to a different one to get the things I needed.

It was dark by the time I headed back. The streets were quiet, almost deserted.

I picked up my pace, a sudden, prickling sensation on the back of my neck.

Someone was following me.

My heart began to pound against my ribs. I quickened my steps, the sound of my pursuer' s footsteps growing louder, closer.

I was about to break into a run when three large men stepped out of a dark alley in front of me, blocking my path.

I knew I was in trouble. I spun around to retreat, but I ran straight into a solid body.

A familiar, chilling voice spoke from behind me.

"Well, well. Look what we have here."

It was Kian.