Chapter 21 — Breaking the Silence
Kiera woke to the soft hum of the city below, sunlight spilling through the towering glass windows. The penthouse was quiet—too quiet—and for a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the calm. Leo had already gone to school, and Kade… Kade was somewhere in the mansion, distant as ever.
She stared at the ceiling, her mind replaying the last few days. He had been here, physically present, but emotionally absent. His arms had held her once, just once, and since then… nothing. The cold wall between them was thicker than any steel.
Kiera swallowed hard, biting her lip. She knew he was trying to protect her, to keep her safe, to keep himself from feeling the surge of emotion that he clearly couldn't handle. And yet… she felt lonely. More lonely than she had in years.
She rose, pacing the room, letting the morning sunlight warm her skin. Her hands instinctively smoothed the blanket she had kept wrapped around her, a silent reminder of the safety she craved. She longed to hear his voice—not the clipped, professional tone he used around the house, but the deep, husky voice that had once spoken to her with warmth.
Her thoughts drifted back to the therapy session she had attended yesterday. The therapist had told her to speak up, to claim her feelings, to allow herself to express the anger, the fear, the longing. "You cannot heal in silence," she had said.
Kiera bit her lip again. Could she confront him? Could she break through the armor he had built around himself for so many years?
The sharp click of the elevator startled her. She turned instinctively and saw him step out, briefcase in hand, looking every inch the billionaire she had once admired from afar. But today… today, he looked more human. Tired. Fractured. Vulnerable, though he would never admit it.
"Kiera," he said, voice low. Not cold, but not warm either.
She swallowed, nodding, unsure of how to begin.
He walked past her, placing the briefcase on the counter. Then, without a word, he sat on the edge of the couch across from her. The distance between them was measured, deliberate.
"I…" Kiera began, but stopped.
He raised a hand. "Let me start."
She frowned. His rare words of initiative surprised her.
"I've been… distant," he admitted, voice rough. "I thought it would help you heal. I thought… if I stayed away, I could protect you from me. From the chaos I feel whenever I see you."
Kiera's chest tightened. That was the closest he had come to admitting his feelings since the incident. And yet, the words were coated in guilt, edged with fear.
"You don't have to protect me from yourself," she whispered. "I… I want you to be here, Kade. I need you. Even if it's messy. Even if it's terrifying."
His jaw clenched, his hands gripping his knees. "I'm terrified," he confessed. "Terrified that if I let myself feel, I'll make mistakes. That I'll hurt you again. That I… that I'll lose you in my selfishness."
Kiera took a tentative step forward. Her heart pounded. "We can't let fear control us, Kade. We've survived worse. We… we can survive this too."
His eyes softened slightly, vulnerability breaking through. "I don't deserve you," he whispered.
"You don't get to decide that," she said firmly. "Not anymore. You're here. You're alive. You're… you. That's enough for me right now."
He let out a shaky breath, leaning back into the couch. For a long moment, neither spoke. Kiera watched him, memorizing the slight slump of his shoulders, the tension in his hands. This man—powerful, cold, untouchable—was unraveling in front of her. And for the first time, she realized that the wall he built wasn't just for her—it was for himself.
"Leo mentioned he wants to go to the park after school," she said softly, trying to change the topic, though neither of them could hide the undercurrent of tension.
He nodded. "I'll take him. You… stay here. Rest. Or… do whatever you want. Just… be careful."
The words were awkward, hesitant, but she caught the care beneath them. It wasn't much. But it was enough.
She stepped closer, until she was just a few feet away. "Kade… I can handle myself. I can handle the world if I know you're here too. You don't have to carry it all alone."
He looked at her then, really looked at her. His eyes, dark and intense, softened, and for the first time, he didn't avert his gaze. "I don't know if I can do this," he admitted, voice low and raw.
"Then we'll do it together," she said, reaching out. Her hand hovered near his arm. "Step by step."
He exhaled sharply, and after a tense heartbeat, allowed her hand to brush against his. Not a hug, not a kiss—just a touch. But it was enough to shatter some invisible barrier.
"I… I'll try," he murmured.
Kiera smiled faintly, a mixture of relief and hope filling her chest. She took a step back, giving him space, but not leaving him behind. "That's all I ask," she said softly.
The door opened then, and Leo's small voice called out, "Mommy! Daddy! Are you guys talking?"
Kade shot her a look, half-exasperated, half-amused. "Talking?" he repeated, tone dry but lighter than before.
Kiera chuckled softly. "Yes. Adults talk sometimes."
Leo ran into the room, his small arms wrapping around Kiera's waist. "I missed you!"
Kiera hugged him, holding him tight, while Kade observed quietly. A small smile tugged at his lips—one that he tried and failed to hide.
For the first time in days, the tension in the penthouse lifted slightly. Not gone, not completely healed—but softened.
Kiera looked at Kade and allowed herself a single thought she hadn't dared to voice before:
Maybe… we can survive this together.
And for the first time since the nightmare, Kade didn't pull away.
He didn't have to say it. The weight between them shifted. Slowly. Painfully. But it moved.
And sometimes… that's all healing really needed.