THE BILLIONAIRE'S HIDDEN SIN

CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3 — Turning Point

Regina's POV

I couldn't sleep.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Kelvin's face. That smile that didn't reach his eyes. The way he said you will regret this like he'd already decided I was guilty and needed to be sentenced.

I tossed and turned until the first light crept through my window. Then I gave up on sleep entirely and got dressed.

I needed to see him, and explain the whole thing, but the response I might get scared me more. Stay away from me, maybe that's where it would end.

******

The hospital was busy with its usual routine, nurses and doctors in scrubs, everyone minding his business. I walked through the main entrance and scanned the hallways, my heart pounding against my ribs with every step. The smell of antiseptic filled my lungs and made my stomach churn.

I knew his schedule by heart. He always cleaned the east wing first, then moved to the pediatric ward around this time. I'd visited him enough times during his breaks to memorize every corner of this place.

But he wasn't there today. I checked the supply closet, then to the break room, both were empty, and that choked me tightly.

I was about to check the west wing when a hand grabbed my wrist and yanked me backward into a narrow corridor I hadn't even noticed. My back hit the wall and I gasped, but the sound died in my throat when I saw his face.

Kelvin. Dressed in his janitor uniform, his eyes were pale but calm like he had spent the whole night bothered about sleep, his usual tidy hair no one dares to rough, and I love it any day.

He pinned me against the wall, one hand still gripping my wrist, the other braced beside my head. His eyes were cold in a way I'd never seen before.

"Leaving me isn't enough?" His voice was low and dangerous. "Now you want my job gone as well?"

I shook my head frantically. "Kelvin, no—"

"Why are you here?" He leaned closer, and I could smell the disinfectant on his uniform. "Have you come with your fancy billionaire to get me ruined completely?"

"Ruined?" My voice was shaking. "That will never happen, Kelvin. I came to see you, just me alone. Please, you have to believe me."

He laughed, but it wasn't the type I'm familiar with, it was hollow and sharp, like breaking glass.

"Believe you?" He released my wrist and stepped back, running his hand through his hair. "I saw you, Regina. I saw you get into his car and he gave you a drive home. You even stayed longer than I expected—"

"You are overthinking, Kelvin." I grabbed his shirt, my eyes searching his, and he pulled me away immediately, and that made tears well up in my eyes.

“He saved me from humiliation, and went on to offer a drive. I was about to refuse when you interrupted. That's all."

"Really?" He gave a smirk that felt worse than if he had screamed at me. "Don't stand there and pretend you don't know about this. You told me not to pick you up, that you would handle it yourself, and then I find you beside a limousine with Drew Caverstone."

My throat tightened. "Drew Caverstone. Have you both met before?"

"Everyone knows him." Kelvin's jaw clenched. "And everyone knows what he does. He takes what he wants and leaves destruction behind. You think you're special? You think he actually cares about you?"

"He helped me, and that's all, I'm done with him. I promise—"

“Enough!” He cut in, the first one he had with me in years, and it made my stomach rumble like I had been poisoned.

“What brought you here?” His voice was still cold, but calm now.

"I came to fix us." Tears were already pouring down my cheeks. "I came to explain because I love you, Kelvin. I love you and I can't lose you over something that didn't even mean anything."

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes. The softness in the Kelvin who held me when I cried, who promised we'd make it out of this life together is nowhere to be found.

"We are done." His voice was flat that I couldn't call it a joke. "I can't do this anymore, Regina. I can't compete with a billionaire."

"Kelvin—"

"I mean my words." He stepped closer, and I could sense the determination in his eyes. He placed his palm flat against my shoulder, pushing me toward the exit. "Go back to him, and just stay away from me."

I turned and gripped his arm tightly like it was all I needed from him. “Noo Kelvin, you aren't competing with anyone. Please, just believe me over everything you saw.” My tears showered heavily and I rubbed my eyes on his arm.

He didn't push away this time, he just hesitated for a while, and I thought he was going to repent, he was going to understand and pull me tightly into his chest.

“You have two options,” the word echoed in my ears. He wasn't looking at my face, didn't adjust his cold voice either.

I raised my head and held his gaze. “I will do both,” I whispered, I don't know how or why I said that, but somehow that was my answer.

“Stay away from me,” his word slice my heart deeply that it hurt down my stomach. He turned to look at my face, cold and detached. “If you do otherwise, either of us will die.”

“What? What… did you mean?” My throat swallowed hard.

He didn't answer. He just kept walking me toward the exit, his palm firm against my shoulder.

"You're making a mistake," I said, my voice breaking. "You're the only good thing in my life, Kelvin. You are the only thing that felt real, please don't do this to me." My eyes rain tears.

He stopped at the door and dropped his hand. His face was unreadable now, all the emotion drained out of it.

"If you truly love me. Marry Drew," he said bluntly.

“Never.” I tried to hold him, but he dodged my touch.

“Marry Drew, then wait till I resurface again. Goodbye, Regina.”

He turned and walked away without looking back.

“Kelvin…. Don't say that!! You are not doing this right? Are you!!” I yelled at silence, my heart ache, my mouth went sour from tears that had escape in.

I stood there for a long moment, frozen, watching him disappear down the hallway. I couldn't believe what just happened, didn't believe any of his words either.

“Nooo!” I broke down completely with tears gushing like stream.

*****

I alighted from the taxi I had boarded few minutes ago, I paid and started to drag my drained limb toward my house at the corner of the street.

The scene earlier hadn't left my head, not even a tiny pieces and that sapped the remaining strength I had in reserve.

Marry Drew, then wait till I resurface again. What exactly does that meant to be? This is not my Kelvin—not the one I knew. He will do everything to protect whatever he owns, and I'm the first on that list.

I was still rumbling with my thoughts when my eyes hit a spot. Same spot as yesterday, same black paint catching the last bit of sun.

My chest tightened at once, and I felt something burning in my lungs. I pause for a while to digest the trouble I'm going there to make, then walked straight up to it and hit the window with my tightened fist.

"Get out right now!" I shouted, and I was surprised where I got that strength.

There was no response.

I hit it again, harder this time, and I care less about how much the window cost.

"We are all here." A calm voice broke out from behind me.

I froze.

That voice sound familiar, I turned around and there he was, Drew, standing by our front door like he had come to purchase the whole house, my mum was beside him.

My anger boiled up before l could let a breath. I lunged forward without hesitating, two steps at a time or just enough speed to get me to where he is.

I don't know what to do to him yet, but I was certain it would be chaos or something worse.