Chapter 94: Chapter 94

JUNE

I had to wait until Kristen was engaged in a conversation with Mark before I approached Edith, who was hell-bent on helping us prepare dinner.

Funny how I'm the one trying to approach her when she did the same before I got together with Kristen.

“Are you going to stand by the door for eternity?” She turned to face me, smiling warmly.

Against my better judgment, I found myself moving towards her. There is one thing about her smile that made me feel at home.

“What's wrong? I doubt you will be here if you don't have anything you wish to ask me?” She stirred the pot on fire before she turned the gas off, and turned to face me, smiling like one who didn't have a care in the entire world.

I cleared my throat, trying to think of how to start. “Can we sit for this?” I motioned towards the kitchen stools.

She pursed her lips and nodded her head before a smile broke out once more. It was as if she didn't know how to make any other expression.

She sat next to me, with her entire focus on me, waiting for me to tell her my reasons for seeking her.

“I know I have been nothing but a pain in the arse from the first time we met….”

“No, you haven't,” she chuckled. “I understand you, June. Should I be the one in your shoes, I would have acted the same way. But girl, you've got some guts! How did you manage to snag up a man like Kristen? I tell you, you are a diva!”

I giggled, nervously tucking a strand of my hair behind my left ear, “Well… Things happened.”

“Of course, I know you won't tell me your secrets,” she winked, causing me to break out in a hearty laugh.

Before I came over to her, I thought the conversation between us would be strained. Who would have thought she would be this easy to talk to?

“... So, why are you here? I know there must be a reason,” she suddenly said, still smiling.

I slowly nodded, “Indeed, I came because of something. It's… It's about Kristen.”

“Kristen? Is there anything wrong? Why are you—”

I raised my right palm to stop her, shaking my head, “it's not something bad. I just want to know what's going on with him this past week. He has refused to tell me what it is, so I thought….”

“You know that I will be the one to tell you about that, am I right?”

I affirmed her words with a nod of my head.

She sighed, “I believe it will be better for Kristen to tell you about this. I don't think I'm in the right position to meddle. It's—”

“You won't be meddling by telling me what I need to know, Edith. Please,” I placed my right hand on hers and squeezed. “Please just help me. I need to know the right things to do, to help him out.”

I pleaded, hoping she would give in. Edith is the only one who can help me out. Though Mark and Kristen have gotten closer these past few days, we both know he won't easily tell Mark anything because he's aware that Mark will tell me.

Edith sighed once more, “I don't want to tell you this, but I can't ignore your pleas.” She locked her eyes with mine, her blue eyes staring into my honey-brown orbs.

“Kristen's life is being threatened. He l—”

“What?!” I screeched so loud, that it was a wonder Kristen didn't run into the kitchen to know what was going on.

She nodded, “It started after you woke up in the hospital, and has been going on for days now.”

“Why? Who are the ones threatening him?” I tried to relax, knowing that I needed to know everything.

“No one knows. It's just that each day the threats get difficult to handle. That was why he changed your location.”

“Is that why he wants to take me out of the country? To help solve these?”

“Yes, it is. But I'm afraid it won't help at all. Kristen doesn't have many resources to start a new life anywhere else. He—”

“That's not possible! Kristen is bloody rich, he—”

“I'm sorry to break this down to you, but Kristen has nothing now. His assets were confiscated by the police because of the scandal. He lost two-thirds of his shareholders, and those who are yet to withdraw are planning on it. Dija is the mastermind behind everything and—”

“But that's not possible,” I frantically shook my head. “Kristen promised to give me a better life in a new country. He said everything was okay, and—”

“No, nothing is okay. He's just trying to appease you. Have you even read the news?”

I shook my head at the question. Since I woke up, Kristen has made sure I never watched the news or surfed the net. My phone is in his custody and has been for a week now.

“That's why you don't know the gravity of what's happening. I'm afraid, it won't ever stop. This will get worse as the days go by. Kristen tried to hire a lawyer, but they had all been bought off. I don't—”

“Can't this be solved?” I interrupted.

She was silent for close to a minute before she slowly nodded, “It can. But—”

“What's the solution? Just tell me. Kristen has done so much for me. He has sacrificed so much. I don't want him to regret being with me.”

Because I'm the cause of everything. Had I kept my feelings to myself and not acted on them, nothing of this sort would have happened. He would have still been the heartthrob of the nation, doing what he loves to do best, while I bask in the warmth of his affection.

“I don't know if you will do it. But I've got an idea,” she suddenly said.

“Tell me. What exactly is the solution?”

***

As I left the kitchen that night, my plans were already made. Just for the sake of my uncle, I'm willing to do anything. Even to the point of sacrificing my happiness. I will do anything for him.