Chapter 7
It was late into
the night at Regal Flegance Club, in a secluded Vil‘ ioom, Kenneth sat, poring over his personal details. He was the head of the Westey family, the powerhouse behind Jadevale’s leading financial empire.
Five years prior, a sudden attack had left him in a coms. The assailant was never identified, and to avoid further danger, Kenneth was discreetly relocated to Tamendale for his recovery.
After five long years of silence, the moment he repsised consciousness, he found a woman taking liberties with him. To make matters worse, assumed he was a pigolo after they’d been intimate,
Kenneth’s face hardened as he recalled the night’s events, a cold aura settling around him like a frosty mist.
Shawn, holding a glass of red wine, extended it towards Kenneth. “Kenneth, what were you doing at
hospital!”
Before Kenneth could take it, his personal doctor, Samuel Moore, stepped in, gently pushing the glass away. “Mr. Wesley shouldn’t be drinking right new,” Samuel said.
He went on to explain the cause of Kenneth’s memory loss. “You experienced some sort of shock, woke up too fast, and that led to temporary memory
“And your heart rate was off the charts the night you woke up, Mr. Wesley. It was erratic. Did something happen that night” Samuel looked at Kenneth
meto
Kenneth recalled his embarrassing mistake of mistaking a stranger for his wife, desperately trying to please her. The image of Joanna came to him. He quickly grabbed the glass of wine from Shawn and drained it in one go. “Nothing much. It’s not important.”
Shawni
n just laughed, settling back into his chair. “The past is history. What matters is now. Live a little, man” With a playful smirk, he snapped his fingers, and in walked a bevy of women, each with her own allure.
“Consider this a welcome–back gift from your coma,” Shawn said, his eyes dancing with a mischievous glint “You always loved a good time, switching up your ladies faster than your threads”
Samuel’s brow knitted in disapproval. He steered Shawn away, speaking in hushed tones, “What are you thinking? Mr. Wesley always keeps his distance from the ladies.”
“That’s exactly why now’s the perfect time,” Shawn argued. “Kenneth’s memory’s shot. He’s been alone for too long. Almost thirty and still… untouched.” He gave a reassuring pat on Samuel’s shoulder. “Don’t sweat it. I’ve got this. Just a little fun, nothing serious.”
Samuel, after hearing Shawn out, scanned the room with a critical eye. He leaned in, his voice a stern whisper.” see what you’re doing. You’ve got a problem with Brielle, don’t you? She was Kenneth’s choice, remember? Just don’t screw this up for him.”
Five years ago, Kenneth was attacked and went missing for a night. When his men finally found him, he gave them one last order to locate a girl.
He’d given her a pendant, instructing his team to use it to track her down, making sure not to scare her off. Later, using the pendant’s built–in tracker. Shawn searched the area and discovered that the girl was Brielle Burnham.
They’d looked into Brielle’s background–her biological dad had passed away early on, and her mom remarried. She moved in with her stepdad’s family. Her stepdad, a Mayfield by name, ran a small business and, after losing his wife, was left with his own daughter to raise.
Brielle was found, but by then, Kenneth had slipped into a coma. Doctors said he was in a vegetative state. Given how Kenneth usually kept his distance from women, they’d made a decision to keep Brielle close and had been watching over her ever since.
“Brielle doesn’t strike me as Kenneth’s type. I can’t believe he’d have such bad judgment back then,” Shawn said.
He had a plan for Kenneth, who was now dealing with amnesia, to meet other girls before he had to confront Brielle. To that end, Shawn had carefully selected these girls, ensuring they were more impressive than Brielle.
Samuel wasn’t particularly fond of Brielle either, so he didn’t contest Shawn’s strategy. “Just pick someone smart,” he advised. “That way, when Mr. Wesley’s memory returns, you might escape severe retribution.”
1/4
Chapter 7
After hashing things out with Samuel, Shawn gestured to the most stuming girl in the room. “You come here.”
The girl, catching sight of the strikingly handsome man she was about to se
Kenneth, sitting cross legged, remained expressionless, as t
curve, felt her cheeks flush with excitement.
as he fit a cigarette, watching the get’s approach through a cloud of smoke,
“Mr. Wesley, I’m at your service for anything you desire,” she said in a sweet voice. But Kenneth wasn’t buying it. The girl’s over the top perfume and clumsy seduction rolled off him like water off a duck’s back
Memories of that night flashed through Kenneth’s mind. Joanna, her hair casculing arnund
bestled against him, radiated a youthful allure.
Her skin was smooth as silk, making him want to touch her. The niere thought made Kenneth’s throat bol slightly
He glanced at the girl attempting to perch on his lap, “Beat it,” he said.
“Mr. Wesley,” the girl cooed, drawing out the words with a saccharine sweetness.
In the next instant, Kenneth pressed the lit cigarette he gas holding onto the girl’s arm, his voice icy as he repeated, “Beat it.”
The girl screamed, clutching her seared skin, her face draining of color. Without a word, Kenneth pushed her aside and strode out of the room, leaving the chaos behind.
The girls scrambled out of the way, their once–jealous expressions replaced with fear,
Shawn’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I figured with the memory loss, Kenneth would be different,” he said.
Samuel just shook his head and let out a weary sigh. “The memory loss is only temporary with Mr. Wesley. Some habits run too deep to ever really change”
Kenneth was
is out in the hallway, having just put out his cigarette on the balcony, when he was about to leave. That was when he caught a snippet of
conversation.
“Susan, you’re too much of a softy.” A woman’s voice rang out. “Joanna’s been nothing but trouble for you, and here you are, still fretting over her. It’s just a client issue, no need to stress over it.”
She took a moment, then continued, “Anyway, I’m at the Regal Elegance Club now. I’ll head to room 404 to check on her for you.”
name made Kenneth freeze in his tracks? Just then, Clara, who was deep in conversation with Susan on the phone, collided
The mention of Joanna’s name
with him.
“Hey, look where you’re going,” she started to snap, but her anger dissipated the moment she noticed his good looks. Her face turned red as sho corrected herself, “Sir, you bumped into me.”
“Apologies,” Kenneth responded, his tone neutral and detached,
Feeling suddenly shy, Clara shook her head. “It’s okay,” she whispered. Watching him walk away, she was left with a twinge of regret for not asking for his
number..
In room 404, Joanna stood trembling, backed against the wall. Fraser towered over her. “You slipped through my fingers earlier,” he said, a smirk playi on his lips. “But it looks like you’ve brought yourself right back to me.”
In a corner of the
the room, Joanna’s client, Benson Cushman, and his associates lingered. She turned to them, desperation in her voice. “Help me, please,” she begged.
Benson, an older man with a look of irritation, shook his head. “Serving Mr. Anderson is an honor for you.” With that, he ushered his group out of the room, leaving Joanna to face Fraser alone.
Chapter 7
“Mr. Cushman, she’s a real knockout, that hostess, You sure you’re just banding het over to Mr. Anderson a subordinate murmured.
Benson flicked a dismissive hand through the all “She’s still just a swoman,” he replied. “Keeping Mr. Anderson happy by giving him what he wants, w Pay oft
The subordinate’s tone shifted to flattery. “I see your point, Mr. Cushman. You are truly wise and strategic
The growled, “no one”
The door to room 404 clicked shut in a flash, Fraser’s hand fisted in Joanna’s hair, yanking her down with brutal forca, “Bitch,” I coming to save you new.
“Let me gol” Joanna’s cry was a mix of pain and desperation as tears streamed down her face.
Earlier that evening, Joanna had made her way to Regal Elegance Clubs to meet with their client, Benson Cushman. The event had been grueling, with being coerced into downing drink after drink.
She’d heaved into the bathroom a couple of times, managing to keep sober, But just when she thought the night couldn’t get any worse, Fraser had appeared out of nowhere.
The Anderson family was well known in Tarrendale, so when Benson spotted Fraser, he immediately felt the need to win his favor
Fraser had been livid with Norbert. Upon learning that Benson was negotiating a partnership with Norbert, Fraser initially intended to disrupt their plans.
But when he arrived and saw Joanna entertaining them, his anger took a new direction. Malicious thoughts swirled in his mind as he decided to scores with her.
“Who’d have thought Norbert would have his wide entertain his clients?” Fraser sneered, his grip tightening in Joanna’s hair as he pushed her against the coffee table. “Joanna, you turned me down once. Now you’ll regret it”
Resentment simmered in his veins as he ripped open her dress, exposing her skin.
“Don’t touch me. Get away,” Joanna whispered. The alcohol had sapped her strength, making her weak and vulnerable, which only seemed to stake Fraser’s twisted desire.
His gaze fell on the love bites marking her skin, and he spat out a curse. “You bitch, you and Susan are just the same–women who can’t live without men.” With a vicious snarl, he lunged for Joanna.
The door burst open at the most critical moment in the blink of an eye, Fraser, who had been pinning Joanna down, was yanked off and sent crashing to
the floor.
Through her tear–blurred vision, Joanna made out a figure that looked strikingly like her husband. “Norbert,” she whispered, her voice quivering
Kenneth, who had been the one to intervene, turned at the sound of her voice. He glanced her way, then stepped closer, shrugging off his jacket.
As Joanna realized the man wasn’t Norbert and saw him removing his clothing, she closed her eyes in despair. “No,” she pleaded. “Please don’t touch
- me.
To her surprise, she was enveloped in warmth as his coat settled around her, its unfamiliar scent wrapping her in a cocoon of safety
“Who are you? Stay out of this!” Benson and his crew stormed into the room, their voices booming as they threatened Kenneth
“You again? You’re asking for trouble,” Fraser sneered, instantly recognizing Kenneth from the hospital incident. He gestured for Benson and the others to surround Kenneth, and chaos erupted as a fight broke out,
Clara anived just in time, slipping through the slightly ajar door to witness the chaos. There was Kenneth, his face a mask of calm as he took down each of them, his presence dominating the room.
Fraser’s face contorted with rage as he watched Keaneth single–handedly overpower his men. Seizing a battle, he lunged at Kenneth. “Die!”
“Watch out!” Joanna’s cry from inside the room was mirrored by Clara’s warning from the doorway
3/4
Chapter 7
Kenneth swiftly raised his arms to shield himself. The battle shattered upon impact, its shards cutting into his arm. Fraser seized the opportunity fo
scratch Kenneth’s wound
With a fierce kick, Kenneth sent Fraser flying into the wall, where he slumped to the ground, unconscious. The room wat a tang of alcohol
Kenneth approached Joanna, his gaze softening as he took in her disheveled appearance. He extended his hand. “Let’s it’s over now
thick with the
He hesitated, recalling that she was a married woman, and began to pull his hand away. But Joanna reached out and clutched his hand, her voice quivering with urgency. “He scratched you. We need to get you to the hospital, now”
Kenneth glanced at the scratches on his arm, dismissive. “It’s nothing,” he said.
As he spoke, he made another attempt to retrieve his hand. To his surprise, Juarma’s grip lightened, her face etched with gravity Confused, Kenneth met her gaze. “Joanna?” he questioned,
“He has AIDS,” she whispered, her voice on the brink of tears.
Ө
