Scandal
1461 Words
The clock struck ten when Kain finally returned back to the Elmont mansion.
He pushed the main door open.
Kain stepped in, slightly unbalanced, smelling of alcohol and stale club air. His shirt was wrinkled, his eyes bloodshot but lit with a smug kind of energy until he noticed the two women waiting in the main hall.
On the long couch sat the imperious Aria whose striking long legs were crossed, arms folded, and waiting. She was still in her official dress; a dark blue suit, laced shirt and long skirt.
To the side, the sophisticated teeny Mira was leaning against the stairs, arms stiff, chewing on invisible gum with the type of attitude that screamed impatience. Seemed like she couldn't wait for something to start.
Neither of them said anything when Kain walked in, only their intense gazes sparked a tension between them that crackled louder than any words could.
“Whoa,” he said in a jest, blinking. “Is this… some sort of trap? Am I in trou-”
“You took one of our cars without permission,” Aria said, cutting him off calmly but sharpy.
Kain’s brow lifted. “I saw the keys lying around. Thought they were for me. Surely I get to ride something to school right?"
“You’re not entitled to anything,” Mira snapped from the side and spoke before Aria could. “Just because you’re married in name doesn’t make you family."
Kain turned to her with a crooked grin. “And who are you again? The little sister who's too scared to live up to her daddy's contract making her biggie sister carry all the burden? Yeah, right. Plenty from you.”
“Excuse me?” Mira took a step forward.
“That’s enough!” Aria stood unable to bear it anymore. She stepped between them, casting a furious glance “Both of you. Stop!"
Mira's eyes widened. " Aria?" She called. " you’re defending him?" She muttered in a daze.
“I’m not,” Aria yelled. " But going back and forth with him won't solve anything." She told Mira then turned to Kain. “You shouldn’t have taken the car. You could’ve caused a scene. We agreed that this stays quiet, I didn't expect you'd go back on your own words. But then, I expected too much from you." Aria straightened her back, eyeing Kain up and down. " The car isn't yours. None of the properties are. Stay off!" She warned.
Kain’s grin faltered. For a second, he looked like a child caught red-handed.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Really. I saw the car and thought… why not? I got excited." He sighed a chuckle. "I understand now. It'll never happen again. I'll keep to my words. I'm just a guest, nothing more, nothing less."
Kain didn't wait behind. He dropped the car key on the table top and staggered to his room.
The sincerity in his voice threw Aria off for a moment. She hadn’t expected that.
Behind Aria, Mira turned and headed up the stairs. She didn't say anything either. But the stomp of her feet spoke enough of how she felt.
Aria didn’t respond. She just stared in a daze, heart sinking. It's over. He already apologized, but she wouldn't let her guard down again.
Even though he'd apologized and promised to keep to his words, Aria could never trust him again.
She noticed the sincerity and sadness in his tone, but why should she care? He was wrong for what he'd done!
Aria was still frustrated as she'd had her day ruined by Kain's reckless act.
Just then, her phone buzzed again. It was the fourth missed call from Adrian.
She'd missed her dinner date with him.
" Ha!" Aria sighed, picked up the car key and went upstairs to her room.
Later that night, after having freshened up and relaxed, Aria sat on her bed, eyes glued to the unread messages from Adrian.
"Guess you’re busy. That’s okay.
Maybe next time, huh?"
There were no accusations, just polite disappointment. And somehow, that stung worse.
Aria dropped her phone and went to bed early. It was best to act like something super important came up than to apologize and seem the asshole.
" Ha!" She sighed again before slowly drifting to sleep, exhausted.
...
The next morning was anything but normal. Kain only came to the dining hall to grab his breakfast before returning to his room. He didn't greet, didn't say anything.
Aria was fine with this, but then, Mira acted the same.
After having mumbled a good morning, she said nothing to her all through breakfast. And when she was done, she merely returned to her room and stayed in there.
Aria didn't know what was going through her sister's mind, but she wasn't in the best of moods to play the good sister. She also had her own feelings and was pissed off as well.
But then, when she went to work, whispers had already started before she even got to her office.
She noticed it in the lobby first, how the receptionist avoided her eyes, how a pair of interns huddled near the elevator were passing a phone back and forth.
Inside the boardroom, having noticed she was unaware, one of the executives cleared his throat and finally revealed to her. “Ma’am… you might want to check the news.”
Aria opened her phone and nearly choked when she saw it.
Viral Video: Elmont Heiress CEO Snagged by Campus Bad Boy?
There it was!
A video clip from the campus, showing Kain laughing near the Audi, arms slung casually around a few boys. He looked smug as someone behind the camera asked:
“So what’s the deal, Kain? Sugar mama or just a lucky catch?”
Kain laughed. “ I got the best girl in town, man. She's rich, she’s fine, and she’s mine. Haha, That’s all I’ll say.”
The rest was drowned out by laughter.
Aria’s blood boiled, seeing this.
She slammed her phone to the table with a clack, and her pulse thundered in her ears. ' That's it!'
She stood and rushed back home, she was done with Kain.
Back at home, she met Kain strolling around the main hall, still in pajamas.
“ How dare you set me up!” Aria hissed as she slammed the door behind her.
“What?” Kain blinked, both surprised at her presence and her words. “What are you talking about?” He frowned.
Aria didn't bother to explain and just shoved the video in his face. “This. You wanted to make our marriage public, didn’t you? Spread your name around and ruin my reputation huh?”
Kain gasped as he watched the video play, eyes widening. Then his face went serious. “I didn’t post this.”
“You didn’t?” she scoffed. “Then what, your friends just magically decided to make you famous?” Aria neared him, poking a finger right in his face as she yelled furiously.
“I swear, I didn’t--"
Her hand rose struck before she even realized it, tired of the lies.
Pa!
Kain stumbled back, holding his cheek, stunned.
Aria's voice cracked as she yelled, “You did this!”
“I didn’t mean--” he started.
“I should never have agreed to this sham!” she shouted, tears prickling her eyes. “You’re a selfish, lying bastard. You don’t care what I’ve given up to protect you. And now this?"
" I really should have let you rot in jail.”
Aria stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Kain remained frozen in the hallway, one hand over his stinging cheek.
For once, he didn’t say anything smart. H didn't have anything smart to say. He just stood there, dumbfounded and silent.
At the crown of the stairs, Mira stood stunned and wondrous. " Jail?" she muttered.
- Writer
