Fated to Be

Mr Hale

The moment Kiona stepped out of the university gates, her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen.

Dad.

A small smile appeared on her face as she answered.

"Dad—"

Before she could finish, Susan's sharp voice came through the speaker instead.

"Kiona Brooks, come home immediately!"

Kiona frowned.

"What happened?"

"Just get home. Your father's eye surgery can't wait any longer."

The call ended.

Kiona stared at the phone for a moment before slipping it into her bag.

Her heart tightened.

Maybe they've finally found a hospital willing to perform the operation...

Without wasting another second, she hailed a motorcycle taxi and hurried home.

A few minutes later...

She pushed open the familiar gate and stepped into the house.

Something felt different.

The living room had been tidied more than usual. Expensive snacks covered the coffee table, and tea had already been served.

Her footsteps slowed.

Then she noticed a stranger sitting comfortably on the sofa.

The man looked to be in his late fifties. He wore an expensive tailored suit and several gold rings that gleamed under the light. His hair was neatly combed back, and a costly wristwatch rested on his arm.

His smile seemed friendly...

Yet something about the way his eyes lingered on her made Kiona uncomfortable.

"Kiona," Susan called. "You're finally here."

"Dad..."

Kiona looked at her father.

His cloudy eyes searched for her voice.

"I'm here, Dad."

Relief briefly crossed his face.

Then it disappeared just as quickly.

Susan folded her arms.

"So..."

"Where's the money?"

Kiona lowered her head.

"I... I don't have it yet."

The room fell silent.

"But I promise I'll find a way," she continued quickly. "Please give me a little more time."

Susan let out a cold laugh.

"Time?"

"Your father is slowly losing his eyesight, and all you can ask for is more time?"

"I'm trying—"

"No."

Susan cut her off.

"You've tried enough."

Jaspar leaned lazily against the wall, a mocking grin spreading across his face.

"Since you don't have the money..."

He nodded toward the visitor.

"...why don't you marry Mr. Hale?"

Kiona looked at the man again.

He smiled broadly.

"My dear, I've heard many wonderful things about you."

"I own several businesses and properties. You'll never have to worry about money again."

"My six wives live comfortably."

"I'm sure you'll fit right in."

Kiona's expression froze.

"...Six wives?"

Mr. Hale chuckled.

"Age teaches a man how to cherish his family."

Susan smiled as though the arrangement were perfect.

"Mr. Hale has already agreed to pay for your father's surgery."

"And he'll provide for all of us."

Kiona slowly turned toward her father.

"Dad..."

"You knew about this?"

Her father lowered his head.

"I..."

His voice trembled.

"I only want your future to be secure."

"My future?"

Tears gathered in Kiona's eyes.

"You want me to become someone's seventh wife."

"I had no choice," he whispered.

"The doctor said my surgery can't wait."

"I don't want to become a burden to you anymore."

Kiona's heart ached.

She loved her father.

She understood his fear.

But this...

This wasn't the answer.

She looked directly at Mr. Hale.

"I'm sorry."

"I can't marry you."

Mr. Hale remained surprisingly calm.

"Why not?"

Kiona took a slow breath.

Then she spoke the truth.

"...Because I'm pregnant."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Susan stared at her as though she had misheard.

"...What did you say?"

"I'm pregnant."

Her father rose abruptly from his seat.

"Kiona!"

Pain filled his voice.

"This isn't how I raised you."

His hands trembled.

"Who is the father?"

Kiona hesitated.

There was no point hiding it anymore.

"Lyrien Reynolds."

"The heir to Reynolds Corporation."

For a second...

No one spoke.

Then—

"Hahaha!"

Jaspar burst into loud laughter.

"You?"

He pointed at Kiona.

"You're telling us the CEO of Reynolds Corporation got you pregnant?"

He wiped tears from his eyes.

"That's the funniest thing I've heard all year."

"If that's true..."

"I'll never place another bet in my life."

Even Susan laughed bitterly.

"Kiona."

"You expect us to believe someone like Mr. Reynolds even knows your name?"

"You've become quite the storyteller."

"It's the truth."

"No."

Susan's face hardened.

"The truth is that you made a foolish mistake."

"And now you're trying to hide it behind the name of a famous man."

Mr. Hale slowly stood.

His expression had lost much of its warmth.

"If the young lady is already carrying another man's child..."

He sighed.

"I'm afraid I must reconsider this marriage."

He adjusted his suit.

"I have no interest in becoming involved in unnecessary complications."

Without another word, he headed toward the door.

Susan hurried after him.

"Mr. Hale, please..."

"Let's discuss this..."

But he simply waved her off before leaving the house.

The sound of his car driving away echoed outside.

Susan returned moments later.

Her face was dark with anger.

"You've ruined everything."

"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Kiona stood her ground despite the tears threatening to spill.

"I won't marry someone I don't love."

"And I won't abandon my child."

"Our reputation will be destroyed!" Susan snapped.

"The neighbors will laugh at us."

"People at church will point fingers."

"They'll say we raised a shameless daughter."

"I don't care what they say."

"I do."

Susan took a step closer.

"You'll go to the hospital tomorrow."

Kiona instinctively placed both hands over her stomach.

"No."

"You don't get to decide."

"I already have."

Susan's voice became colder.

"You're ending this pregnancy."

Kiona shook her head firmly.

"I'm keeping my baby."

"I'll raise my child myself."

"I don't need anyone else's permission."

Her father closed his eyes.

"Kiona..."

"You still have your whole life ahead of you."

"Think carefully."

"I have."

She looked at each of them.

"This baby has done nothing wrong."

"I won't punish an innocent child for other people's mistakes."

Susan clenched her fists.

"You're unbelievably stubborn."

"And you're unbelievably cruel," Kiona replied, her voice trembling but steady.

The room fell into another tense silence.

Then...

Jaspar walked toward the front door.

With a loud click...

He locked it.

Kiona's heart skipped a beat.

He slipped the key into his pocket before turning around.

"If you won't go willingly..."

A cold smile appeared on his face.

"...we'll make sure you do."

He slowly stepped in front of the only exit.

Kiona instinctively backed away.

Fear flickered across her face.

Her hands tightened protectively around her stomach.

"No..."

She whispered.

"Please..."

"Don't make me do something I'll regret."

Jaspar folded his arms.

"Then don't make this difficult."

The room grew unbearably quiet as Kiona searched desperately for a way out.

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Kiona's eyes darted from the locked front door to the faces surrounding her.

There was nowhere to run.

Jaspar stood firmly in front of the exit, his arms folded across his chest.

"Kiona," he said in a low voice, "don't make this harder than it has to be."

"I've already made my decision."

"And we've made ours."

Susan stepped closer.

"You'll go to the hospital."

"I'm not going."

"You don't have a choice."

"I do."

Kiona's voice trembled, but her resolve did not.

"I've already chosen."

She gently placed both hands over her stomach.

"I'm keeping my baby."

Susan's patience finally snapped.

"You foolish girl!"

In a burst of anger, she grabbed a glass bottle from the table and hurled it toward Kiona.

The bottle struck the side of Kiona's head before shattering on the floor.

She stumbled backward.

A sharp pain shot through her head.

Warm blood trickled down the side of her face.

"Kiona!" her father cried, instinctively rising from his seat.

Susan shot him a glare.

"Stay out of this."

The room spun around Kiona.

Her knees weakened.

She reached for the wall to steady herself.

Everything blurred.

Yet even as dizziness threatened to overwhelm her, one thought echoed through her mind.

I can't give up...

My baby needs me.

She wiped the blood from her forehead with trembling fingers and remained standing.

Jaspar frowned.

"She's still resisting?"

He strode toward her and grabbed her by the wrist.

"Come on."

"Let me go!"

"You'll thank us later."

He began pulling her toward the front door despite her desperate attempts to pull free.

"Kiona..." her father whispered helplessly.

His lips trembled, but guilt kept him rooted to the spot.

Outside, the afternoon sun beat down on the quiet street.

Jaspar scanned the road.

"I'll stop a taxi."

Summoning every ounce of strength she had left, Kiona twisted sharply and tore her wrist from his grasp.

She stumbled several steps away.

Not far from the house flowed a wide river.

She backed toward it, breathing heavily.

Blood still stained the side of her face.

Her eyes were filled with fear...

...and determination.

"Don't come any closer," she warned.

Susan scoffed.

"What are you going to do?"

"I mean it."

Kiona took another step backward.

"If any of you try to force me..."

Her voice cracked.

"...I'll jump."

Everyone froze.

Jaspar frowned.

"Stop talking nonsense."

"I'm not."

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I'd rather risk everything than let anyone take my baby away from me."

For the first time, uncertainty crossed Susan's face.

"Kiona..."

Her father took a shaky step forward.

"Please... don't do anything reckless."

"I don't want to," Kiona whispered.

"I just want all of you to leave me alone."

Just then...

The roar of an approaching engine broke the tense silence.

A sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of the house.

Its polished exterior reflected the afternoon sunlight.

The rear door opened.

A tall figure stepped out.

Perfectly tailored charcoal suit.

Cold, commanding presence.

Piercing grey eyes.

Lyrien Reynolds.

Gilbert quickly followed behind him.

Lyrien's expression darkened the instant he saw Kiona.

Blood stained the side of her face.

She was trembling.

One hand clutched her stomach protectively.

The sight made his chest tighten.

His gaze shifted toward Susan and Jaspar.

"What happened to her?"

Neither of them answered.

Lyrien walked past them without another glance.

He stopped a short distance from Kiona, careful not to move too quickly.

His voice, usually calm and distant, carried unmistakable concern.

"Kiona..."

She looked up.

The moment she recognized him, fresh tears welled in her eyes.

"You..."

Lyrien removed his suit jacket and gently draped it over her shoulders.

"I'm sorry."

The words caught everyone by surprise.

"I should have found you sooner."

Kiona looked away.

"You already made it clear what you thought of me."

His expression filled with regret.

"I know."

"I judged you without knowing the truth."

"I was wrong."

"I'm sorry."

Silence hung between them.

Finally, Lyrien spoke again.

"I know an apology can't erase what happened."

"But I won't run away from my responsibility."

His eyes briefly lowered to the hand resting over her stomach.

"If that child is mine..."

He looked back at her.

"I'll protect both of you."

"I'll make sure neither of you has to face this alone."

Kiona gave a faint, bitter laugh.

"Those are beautiful words."

"But the last time I trusted you..."

"You handed me a bank card and told me to disappear."

Lyrien lowered his head.

"I deserve that."

"I can't change what I did."

"But I can prove that I'm not with the same intention ."

"I won't ask you for anything else."

"I just hope you think about the child you're carrying."

Gilbert stepped forward.

"Miss Brooks, Mr. Reynolds has already arranged medical care and a safe place for you to stay."

"You'll have the freedom to make your own decisions."

"No one will force you."

Kiona looked back at the house.

Susan's face burned with anger.

Jaspar glared at her in silence.

Her father stood in the doorway, tears running down his cheeks.

She realized something painful.

There was nothing left for her there.

Slowly, she looked back at Lyrien.

"I don't know if I can trust you."

"You don't have to," he replied quietly.

"Not today."

"You're carrying the ReynoldsHeir and I won't hurt you."

Kiona closed her eyes for a moment.

When she opened them again, her decision had been made.

"I'm not coming because of the status."

"I'm coming because... my baby deserves a safe place."

A small smile of relief crossed Lyrien's face.

"That's enough."

"I won't let you regret it."

Without another word, Kiona walked toward the waiting car.

Lyrien opened the door for her.

As she took her seat, he turned to look at Susan and Jaspar.

His voice was calm, but every word carried unmistakable authority.

"From this moment on, Kiona Brooks is under my protection."

He entered the car beside her.

The luxury sedan pulled away, leaving the stunned family standing silently in the middle of the road.