CHAPTER TWELVE
The night stretched on in a fragile quiet.
Kade and Kiera sat on opposite ends of the couch, the space between them filled with words neither of them dared to speak. The city lights spilled through the tall windows, painting everything in silver and shadow.
Leo slept down the hall, unaware that the world he trusted had shifted again.
Kade broke the silence first.
"You should hate me," he said quietly.
Kiera turned toward him. "Why would I?"
"For bringing this chaos into your life," he replied. "For letting my mess brush against you."
She considered his words carefully. "You didn't choose what she did."
"No," he admitted. "But I chose to stay longer than I should have."
Kiera hugged a pillow to her chest. "People stay in broken things when they're scared to face what's next."
His gaze lifted to her, sharp and searching. "Is that what you think?"
"I know it," she said softly. "I've done it."
Something in her voice told him she wasn't talking only about him.
Kade leaned back, rubbing a hand over his face. "Vivienne made it sound like this was your fault."
Kiera stiffened. "I figured she would."
"That doesn't make it true," he said firmly. "And I need you to hear that."
She met his eyes. "I never wanted to come between you."
"You didn't," he said without hesitation. "You reminded me of who I was before I learned how to shut everything down."
Her throat tightened.
"That scares me," he continued. "Because I don't know how to protect you from what follows."
Kiera let out a slow breath. "Then don't protect me. Just… don't lie to me."
He nodded. "I won't."
The honesty between them felt dangerous. Exposed. Real.
She stood slowly. "I should check on Leo."
"Kiera," he said, stopping her gently with her name alone.
She turned back.
"I don't expect anything from you," he said. "Not now. Not ever."
Her lips parted. "That makes it harder."
He frowned. "Why?"
"Because part of me wishes you did."
The admission hung between them like a held breath.
Kade stood as well, closing the distance—but stopping just short. Close enough that she could feel the warmth of him, the restraint in the way he held himself.
"We need boundaries," he said, voice low. "For Leo. For you."
She nodded, even though her heart protested. "I agree."
"But," he added quietly, "I won't pretend I don't feel this."
She swallowed. "Neither will I."
For one terrifying second, he thought he might kiss her.
Instead, he stepped back.
"Get some rest," he said. "Tomorrow will be… loud."
She gave a small, understanding smile. "Goodnight, Kade."
"Goodnight, Kiera."
The next morning came with consequences.
The tabloids wasted no time.
By noon, headlines screamed speculation:
BILLIONAIRE HEIR IN PUBLIC BREAKUP
ENGAGED COUPLE CALL IT QUITS AT ELITE GALA
Kade watched the news without expression, coffee untouched.
Kiera entered the room slowly, phone in hand. "I'm guessing you've seen this."
"Yes."
"They're already spinning it," she said. "Some are saying… I had something to do with it."
His jaw tightened. "I won't allow that."
She hesitated. "Vivienne will."
He looked up sharply. "Has she contacted you?"
"No," Kiera said. "But she doesn't need to."
The weight of reality settled in.
"You don't deserve to be dragged into this," Kade said.
She gave a sad smile. "I've been dragged my whole life."
He stood. "That ends now."
"How?" she asked.
"I'll make a statement," he said. "Clear, firm. No names. No room for interpretation."
"And me?" she asked quietly.
He hesitated. "You stay out of sight for a bit. For your peace."
Her shoulders sagged. "I understand."
Later that afternoon, Leo returned from school quieter than usual.
"Dad?" he asked hesitantly. "Are you and Vivienne mad?"
Kade knelt in front of him. "We're not together anymore."
Leo frowned. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No," Kade said immediately, pulling him into a hug. "You did nothing wrong. Ever."
Leo clung to him for a moment, then glanced at Kiera. "Is Kiera staying?"
Kade looked at her before answering. "Yes."
Relief washed over Leo's face.
That night, Kade released a brief public statement. Respectful. Controlled. Final.
Vivienne responded with silence.
Which worried him more than anger would have.
Days passed.
The tension eased into something quieter, more intimate—but also more complicated.
Kade was gentler. More present.
Kiera was careful. Guarded.
They moved around each other like two people aware that one wrong step could ignite something they weren't ready to face.
One evening, as Kiera reviewed school brochures at the dining table, Kade stopped beside her.
"You're still thinking about it," he said.
"Yes."
"You should enroll," he added. "Don't let this stop you."
She looked up. "What if it complicates things?"
"Then we adapt," he said. "We always do."
She smiled faintly. "You sound very sure."
"I am," he replied. "About this."
Not about us, she noticed.
But maybe that was enough—for now.
Later, as she prepared for bed, Kiera paused outside his study. The door was open. Kade sat inside, staring at a photo of Leo as a toddler.
"You okay?" she asked.
He looked up. "I'm trying to make the right choices."
She leaned against the doorframe. "Sometimes the right choice isn't the safest one."
He studied her face. "You're wiser than you think."
She shrugged. "Pain teaches quickly."
Silence settled again.
Then Kade said quietly, "If Vivienne comes after you—"
"She won't win," Kiera said firmly. "Not this time."
He nodded, something like pride flickering in his eyes.
As she walked away, Kade realized the truth he could no longer deny:
Loving Kiera wouldn't be simple.
It wouldn't be quiet.
But it would be real.
And after a lifetime of hollow victories, that terrified him more than any scandal ever could.
Yet for the first time, he wasn't running from the fear.
He was standing still—waiting to see if love would meet him there.