The CEO I Left Behind

Chapter 14: The Questions We Hide

Kathy's POV

I barely slept after meeting my father.

The conversation kept replaying in my mind.

His tired expression.

His apology.

The way he said he never stopped thinking about me.

For seven years, I had convinced myself that he didn't care.

That after the divorce, he chose a new life and forgot about the old one.

But seeing him again made everything complicated.

Because a part of me was still angry.

A part of me still wanted answers.

And another part of me...

Still wanted my father.

I looked at the business card sitting on my table.

I had placed it there before going to sleep.

I told myself I wouldn't use it.

I didn't need his help.

But why did seeing his name on that card make my heart hurt?

---

The next morning, I arrived at Apex Technology earlier than usual.

I needed work.

Work was easier than thinking about my family.

At least documents and schedules didn't ask me how I felt.

"Good morning, Kathy."

Emily greeted me as I stepped out of the elevator.

"Good morning."

She studied my face.

"You look like you didn't sleep."

"I didn't sleep much."

"Is everything okay?"

I hesitated.

Then I smiled.

"Yes."

Emily sighed.

"You always say that."

Before I could reply, the office phone rang.

I quickly picked it up.

"CEO's office."

"Bring me the financial reports."

Luther's voice came through the phone.

"Yes, Mr. Ashford."

I grabbed the documents and walked toward his office.

---

The moment I entered, I noticed something different.

Luther was standing by the window.

His back was facing me.

"Your reports."

I placed them on his desk.

He didn't pick them up immediately.

Instead, he looked at me.

"You look distracted."

My fingers tightened slightly.

"I'm fine."

His eyes narrowed.

"There it is again."

"What?"

"That answer."

I looked away.

"I don't know what you mean."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he walked back to his desk.

"If something affects your work, I need to know."

"It's not affecting my work."

He opened the report.

"Good."

I turned to leave.

"Kathy."

I stopped.

"Yes?"

His expression changed slightly.

"Nothing."

I waited.

But he said nothing else.

So I left.

---

Luther's POV

I watched the door close behind her.

I hated how easily I noticed small changes in her.

The tiredness in her eyes.

The sadness she tried to hide.

The way she became quiet whenever someone mentioned family.

I had spent years telling myself that Kathy Morgan was someone from my past.

A painful memory.

A mistake.

But the woman who returned wasn't the same person I remembered.

And that bothered me.

Because if she had changed...

Then maybe I needed to question the story I had been holding onto for seven years.

---

Later that afternoon, Kathy was sorting documents when a visitor arrived at the executive floor.

She looked up.

Her expression immediately changed.

It was Elena.

Kathy's stepmother.

"Kathy."

The woman smiled warmly.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you."

Kathy stood.

"What are you doing here?"

Elena looked around the office.

"I came to see your father, but I thought I should talk to you first."

Kathy became cautious.

"About what?"

Elena smiled.

"About your future."

Those words immediately made Kathy uncomfortable.

"My future?"

"Your father worries about you."

Kathy said nothing.

"He wants to make up for lost time."

"That's his choice."

Elena's smile remained.

"You've always been independent. I admire that."

The compliment sounded pleasant.

But something about it felt like a warning.

"I just hope you understand something."

Kathy looked at her.

"What?"

Elena lowered her voice.

"Seven years is a long time. A lot has changed while you were away."

Kathy held her gaze.

"I know."

"Good."

Elena smiled again.

"Then I'm sure you understand that some things cannot simply return to how they were."

Before Kathy could respond, Elena turned and walked away.

Kathy stood there silently.

She didn't know why...

But she felt like she had just been warned.

---

From inside his office, Luther looked through the glass wall.

He had seen Elena leave.

He had seen Kathy's expression afterward.

Something was wrong.

He picked up his phone.

"Daniel."

"Yes, sir?"

"Find out everything about Kathy Morgan's family situation."

A pause.

"Sir?"

Luther looked at Kathy sitting alone at her desk.

"Everything."

He ended the call.

He didn't know why he was doing this.

Maybe it was curiosity.

Maybe it was concern.

Or maybe...

A part of him still cared.

And that was the one thing he was trying hardest to deny.