HEART BOUND

SECRETS

(Season 1)

CHAPTER 19

VEX MANSION | MORNING | LIORA'S ROOM

Sunlight pried through the curtains and landed right on Liora's face.

She made a small sound of displeasure in her sleep and pulled the blanket over her head.

When she finally opened her eyes, the room was quiet. Too quiet.

Her room.

And then everything came rushing back.

The elevator jerking to a stop.

The air getting heavy.

Kalen shaking, breathing like he was fighting something inside himself.

Her own arm bleeding.

Her voice going hoarse from banging on the doors.

Then darkness. Lucas's arms catching her.

"What the heck is happening to me?" she whispered.

She had been falling unconscious way too often lately.

She forced herself out of bed. Her legs felt weak. She was halfway to the washroom when it hit her.

"KALEN!"

Was he okay?

Did Lucas manage to save him?

What if he was lying somewhere hurt and no one was helping him?

Panic shot through her chest.

She didn't even brush her hair. She ran downstairs barefoot.

---

"DINING ROOM"

Only two people were there.

Lucas, sitting with a black coffee in front of him. Face blank, unreadable.

Caius, typing furiously on his laptop.

"Miss... Are you okay?" Caius asked the moment he saw her.

Liora didn't answer. Her eyes darted around the room, searching.

No Kalen.

"Did you need something, Miss?" Caius tried again when he noticed her scanning the place.

"Kalen... Where is he?" she asked, voice tight with worry.

Lucas and Caius exchanged a quick look.

"He left for the office a while ago," Lucas answered calmly.

Liora froze.

"Left... for the office?"

That didn't make sense.

She had seen him two nights ago. On the edge. Shaking. Telling her to stay away like he was afraid of hurting her.

And now he was just... at work?

"But he's not fine," she said, panicking now. "He's sick. What if he pushes himself too hard and collapses again? What if he gets stuck somewhere and there's no one to help him?"

The thought of him alone, breaking down with no one around made her chest hurt.

"Miss, you don't need to worry too much about it," Caius said with a small, careful smile. "Sir Kalen is totally fine."

"He is really fine, Miss. You don't have to worry," Lucas added, his voice steady.

Liora stared at both of them.

They were lying. Or hiding something. She could feel it.

"Are you sure he's okay?" she pressed one last time.

"Yes, Miss," Lucas said.

Liora gave up. "But... okay fine."

She turned and walked back to her room.

They weren't going to tell her anything.

Were they scared to talk about Kalen? Or were they trying to hide how bad it really was?

The thought that followed made her freeze in the hallway.

"Is he... dying?"

"Is it some kind of terminal illness?"

Her heart dropped.

God. What if he was?

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The door opened and Kalen walked in.

Cold face. Empty eyes. Same suit, but his shoulders looked heavier than usual.

In the middle of the room, a man was tied to a chair. Beaten. Bloody. Barely breathing.

All the men in the room straightened instantly.

"Boss."

Kalen looked at the man for a long second. Then he said it.

"Untie him."

"Boss?" Zod's voice cracked.

"Do you have anything to say?" Kalen asked the man, voice low.

The men moved fast, untying the ropes. The man dropped to the floor weakly.

Kalen crouched down in front of him.

"Where can I find Michael?"

The man lifted his head and gave a bloody smirk.

Then he spat right in Kalen's face.

"f**k you."

No one moved. No one breathed.

Kalen didn't even flinch. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a face towel, and wiped it off calmly.

"Okay then," he said, standing up. "You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to."

Zod's eyes widened.

"Zod. Let him go."

The entire room went still.

"Are you sure we should let him go?" Zod asked, voice low. "I mean, he already heard us talking about our plans."

Kalen didn't answer. He just turned and walked away, leaving everyone in shock.

When Zod got the order to bring the man in, he expected Kalen to tear him apart.

That was the Kalen he knew. The one who broke bones and left messages.

But this Kalen?

This calm one?

It was worse.

Zod realized something in that moment.

The most dangerous men were not the ones who screamed.

They were the ones who stayed quiet.

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Rhine had come over because Zach asked her to keep Liora company.

It was easy. Liora was sweet. A little reserved, but kind. They had a lot in common.

Rhine was laughing at something Liora said when her phone buzzed.

She glanced at it and her smile dropped.

Liora noticed immediately.

"Rhine, are you okay?"

"Emm... I'm fine," Rhine said quickly, forcing a smile.

Liora hesitated. Then sat up straighter.

"Okay. But I need to ask you something. Something important."

Rhine frowned. "What is it? Spill it out."

"You've known Kalen and his brothers for a long time, right?"

Rhine nodded slowly.

"Please," Liora said, her voice dropping. "You have to tell me what's wrong with Kalen. I already told you what happened in the elevator. I just need to know... does he have some kind of genetic illness? Or a terminal illness?"

Rhine's mind went blank.

If Liora found out the real reason for what happened that day, everything would be over.

"Why don't you ask... emm... Zach about it?" Rhine said carefully. "You know how private Kalen is. I don't really know much."

Liora's shoulders fell.

"Oh. Okay. But I'm really worried about him."

Rhine gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm sure it's nothing serious, okay. By the way, I need to go now. Something important came up."

"It's okay, Rhine. Thank you."

They hugged and Rhine left quickly.

The second the door closed, Liora sighed in frustration.

No one was going to tell her anything about Kalen.

Why? What were they all so afraid of?

She wasn't going to give up. Not yet.

She turned to head back to her room when she heard it.

The front door opening.

Too early.

Kalen never came back this early.

Caius and Lucas said they wouldn't be back until late.

Who was it?

Liora turned the corner to check.

And stopped.

Shock froze her in place at the sight that welcomed her.

TBC