After He Played Me, I Teamed Up With His Rival

Chapter 4

Kieran was eventually brought into the station. Illegal trespassing. Willful destruction of property.

I didn't press criminal charges in the end. But the incident still made waves at his university.

I thought, after all that, he might finally settle down.

I was wrong.

A few days later, I went to the city hospital to visit an ailing business partner. The moment I stepped out of the elevator, I saw them. Kieran, supporting Tessa as they walked out of the obstetrics and gynecology department.

Tessa was pale as paper, her eyes rimmed red. She'd clearly been crying.

Kieran was frowning, trying to explain. "Stop being mad. I'm doing this for us."

"What happened last time really was our fault. My cousin was furious. This baby... we can't keep it. But once I inherit the family fortune, I'll make it all up to you. I promise."

Tessa shook off his hand, her voice cracking. "I knew it. That old hag forced you into this. She just can't stand to see us happy!"

Her gaze swept forward and landed on me. Her eyes instantly curdled into venom.

"This is all your fault! You're the one who made him give up our baby!"

"You're just jealous because I can give Kieran a child—openly, rightfully!"

She lunged at me, face wild with hysteria. Kieran grabbed her, holding her back. But he didn't offer me a single word of defense. He just frowned and urged me to leave.

I watched him shield her. The last flicker of feeling inside me finally died.

"Kieran. Have you forgotten your little sister is still in this hospital? Her medical bills are due. And I'm the one who's supposed to pay them."

His face shifted at the mention of his sister. But he still clenched his jaw. "Raven, this is between us. Don't use my sister against me."

A cold laugh escaped me. "You used my money to get another girl pregnant. And now you expect me to keep paying your sister's hospital bills? Kieran, you've got nerve."

Tessa, fresh off the loss of her child, completely broke down. She tore free from Kieran's grip and hurled her water bottle straight at my head.

"You killed my baby! I'll kill you!"

The bottle flew toward my face. I shut my eyes on instinct. But the impact never came.

When I opened them, a hand—long, well-defined fingers—had caught the bottle midair.

"Making a scene in a hospital. Not really appropriate, is it?"

A cool male voice. I looked up. Dorian.

In the business world, he was our company's fiercest rival. And, as it happened, a visiting professor at Kieran and Tessa's university.

"Professor Dorian."

Both Kieran and Tessa froze, clearly blindsided to run into their own professor here.

Dorian subtly positioned himself in front of me. A flicker of anger passed through his eyes.

"This is a public space. What you're doing is not only disruptive—it also borders on assault. Would you like me to bring this to the university's attention?"

Tessa shrank behind Kieran, too terrified by his presence to speak.

Kieran scrambled to smooth things over. "Professor Dorian, this is all a misunderstanding."

Dorian arched an eyebrow. His gaze drifted toward me. A faint smile curved his lips.

"My girlfriend was being chased down and screamed at. That's a misunderstanding too?"

Kieran and Tessa were stunned. So was I. I stared at Dorian in shock.

Since when was I his girlfriend?

Dorian ignored my expression entirely. He slipped an arm around my shoulders.

"She's not some 'cousin' or 'old woman.' She's Raven, Vice President of the Sterling Group. Someone you should think twice before provoking."