Chapter 3 Battered Heart

The next day, Kyla woke up pretty late. By the time she went downstairs, Gerald had already left for the laboratory.

The entire day, she found herself alone in the villa.

But as evening approached, the doorbell rang unexpectedly.

Through the monitor, Kyla saw Aubrey standing outside, holding a few exquisitely wrapped gift boxes and wearing a sweet, innocent smile.

Kyla hesitated to open the door, but Aubrey was persistent, continuously pressing the doorbell and even pulling out her phone, seemingly ready to call Gerald.

In the end, Kyla opened the door.

"Kyla, I've come to see you." Aubrey bounced inside cheerfully, took off her jacket, and hung it on the rack as if she were at home. "I couldn't stop thinking about what happened yesterday and felt so guilty. Gerald blamed me and asked me to come over to apologize to you."

Aubrey placed the gift boxes on the coffee table and opened them one by one. "These are skincare products I specially picked for you, and your favorite scented candles. Please don't be mad at me, okay?"

Kyla watched her display with a cold demeanor.

Aubrey seemed unfazed by the icy reception and wandered around the living room, as if inspecting her own territory.

Her eyes lit up when she spotted a lush orchid plant in the corner of the study. "Wow, this orchid is thriving, evidently well cared for. Kyla, you are so amazing."

That plant had been nurtured by Kyla for five years, growing from a tiny seedling into the verdant, glossy-leaved beauty it was now.

Gerald had once mentioned his admiration for the orchid's endearing qualities, so she had tended to it diligently, watering and polishing it daily, much like she nurtured the fragile relationship they shared.

Aubrey walked over and reached out to touch the leaves but suddenly sneezed dramatically, followed by several sneezes.

"A-achoo!" She rubbed her nose, looking apologetically at Kyla. "I'm sorry, Kyla. I... I think I'm allergic to pollen, especially from flowering plants."

She sneezed again, her eyes reddening, looking pitiful.

Kyla stood there, staring at her coldly.

Just then, the front door swung open, and Gerald walked in. He must have just returned from the lab, still clad in his white coat.

"Aubrey? Why are you here?" he asked, surprised, but his attention quickly shifted to her reddened eyes and unusual cough.

"Are you alright? Feeling unwell?" He immediately approached her, his brows furrowed, his voice filled with concern.

Aubrey quickly waved her hand, leaning weakly against the bookshelf, her voice nasal. "It's nothing, Gerald. I just... seem to be a bit allergic to that plant." She pointed to the orchid.

Gerald's gaze followed her gesture, landing on the plant before turning to Kyla with a darkened expression. "Didn't I tell you Aubrey is allergic to pollen? Why did you still keep the plant here?" His tone was openly accusatory.

Kyla was taken aback.

When did he ever say that? She was unaware.

She picked up her phone to type a question but saw Aubrey flash her a quick, secretive smile of triumph.

In that moment, Kyla understood everything.

It was just another one of Aubrey's tricks to assert her dominance.

Kyla's heart sank to the depths.

She looked at Gerald, seeing only his anxiety and concern for Aubrey, not even granting her a chance to explain.

Kyla didn't type anything, just approached the orchid, reaching out as if to move it.

"Leave it," Gerald commanded coldly, then turned to Aubrey. "Go sit in the living room. I'll handle this." With that, he stepped forward, without hesitation, and picked up the orchid plant, pot and all.

Kyla's eyes widened in shock. She rushed forward to grab his arm, shaking her head vigorously. That wasn't just a plant but the sole companion of her silent years, her only solace.

"Don't make a scene." Gerald impatiently tried to shake off her hand; his gaze was cold and unyielding. "It's just a plant. Aubrey's health is more important."

"Oh, no! Gerald, please don't..." Aubrey interjected with feigned sincerity. "Kyla seems to really love that plant. Maybe... maybe I should leave. I can endure it..."

Her words only darkened Gerald's expression further.

He saw Kyla as unreasonable, deliberately making things difficult for Aubrey.

"Enough!" he barked, forcefully shaking off Kyla's grip, causing her to stumble back, crashing into the cold bookshelf with a dull thud.

Yet he didn't spare her a glance, carrying the orchid out of the study, out of the villa.

Soon, the sound of something heavy shattering on the ground echoed from outside.

Kyla knew her plant was gone. Along with it, the last shred of her laughable persistence and hope, shattered by his own hands. She stood rooted to the spot, feeling cold all over.

Aubrey approached her, whispering in a voice only they could hear, "Kyla, did you see? To him, your past five years mean nothing compared to a single word of my allergy." With that, she turned and skipped away lightly.

"Gerald, wait for me! Let me help you clean up the pieces so you don't cut yourself..." Her sweet voice drifted in from outside, like a dagger wrapped in honey, repeatedly cutting into Kyla's already battered heart.