4: Successor

Kiara's pov

I woke slowly, my eyes adjusting to the hospital room. Damon was right there, beside me, holding my hands.

“Damon… what…happened?” My voice was barely a whisper, but I had to know.

He looked down, pain clouding his face. “Kiara…the baby,” he said quietly. “I'm so sorry. You lost the baby.”

“I lost it?” I asked in a shaky voice.

“Yes. I… I didn't know you were married.” He said cautiously, a hint of jealousy in his eyes.

“I was.” I replied without meeting his eyes, memories of Nicholas flooding my mind.

‘You lost the baby'.

These words hit me like ice, freezing every part of me. My baby was gone. A tear slipped down my cheek, then another, until I was silently sobbing. The hurt was too deep to put into words.

Losing this baby made me realize I had totally cut ties with Nicholas. But I felt the agony of a mother losing a child. Even if the dad was a scum.

Mandy. She had looked me in the eye yesterday, handed me a drink with that innocent smile, and poisoned it. My own sister.

I bit my lip hard and it almost bled. If she could poison me, then she could actually plot against me.

How desperate were my step-siblings? How could I have fallen into their trap?

What a bitch.

The nurse came in a moment later to check on me. I heard her talking, something about needing to rest, needing to take things slowly. But I couldn't listen. I couldn't afford to.

James was on my mind. In my head. The stakeholders' meeting was today. My father's company was about to be handed over to my stepbrother if I wasn't there to stop it.

This was their plan. To take me out of the picture and claim the inheritance. I clenched my fists, my chest burning in anger.

“You need a full day of rest,” The nurse said to me when my gaze shifted to her.

“A whole day?” I nearly laughed, shaking my head. “No, I'm going now.” I sat up, swinging my legs over the bed.

“Kiara,” Damon said, his hand on my shoulder. “You're barely strong. Just rest-”

“No.” I said through gritted teeth. “You don't understand, Damon. I was poisoned by my step-siblings. Today is the signing. If I'm not there, James wins. I lose everything. He takes everything that was supposed to be mine.”

Damon's eyes hardened as he nodded. “Kiara, if you're set on this, then I'll help you. But you can't go alone.” His voice came out smoothly. He wasn't judging me, wasn't telling me I was being reckless. He just… understood.

“Then help me up,” I murmured, leaning into his arms as I groaned in pain.

Damon’s hand brushed against mine, steadying me as I faltered for a moment. His touch was firm and calm, holding me in a way that felt both new and oddly comforting. I didn’t want to need him, but right now, I did.

We reached the company within an hour. Damon's arm was still around me as I stepped out of the car, my heart racing as we approached the board room. I saw James through the glass, a smug smile on his face, a pen in his hand, seconds away from taking everything from me.

Mandy sat beside him, her cold, mischievous eyes widening as she spotted me.

“What's this loser doing here?” Mandy sneered, her voice dripping with hatred. The room went silent as I walked in, Damon close by my side.

She even had the guts to call me a loser.

I didn't stop until I was inches from her. Then, with every ounce of strength left in me, my palm landed on her left cheek. The sound echoed through the room.

Gasps filled the air, Mandy’s face turned red, her hand flying to her cheek as shock turned to anger. I could see the humiliation in her eyes, flickering like a fire about to explode. But she kept silent, biting her lip as everyone stared.

“You thought you could poison me and just take what you wanted?” I scowled, each word dripping with anger. “You thought I'd lie down and let you steal everything that's mine? Well, I'm not done yet.”

The room was silent, eyes darting from me to Mandy, the shock rippling through every face. Mandy tried to regain her composure, her eyes narrowing.

“What are you talking about?” She hissed, but I could see the fear flicker in her eyes.

“She poisoned me,” I said, my cold gaze shifting to the board members then to Mandy. “Because she wanted me out of the way so James could steal the company. That’s who you’re about to hand my father’s legacy to. And I have every right to sue you in court for the murder of my unborn child.”

My own words sent a sharp ache through my chest, but I refused to let her see any weakness.

The board members exchanged looks, shock and uncertainty written across their faces.

James, noticing the board members' reaction, stood up, his smug smile replaced by anger. “You're insane Kiara. They'll never believe you-”

Damon stepped forward, his steady, strong voice filling the room. “I was there when she was taken to the hospital,” He said, his arm protectively around me.

“Here's the doctor's report, also showing her DNA." Damon said, bringing a paper from his pocket.

I didn't know he had collected the doctor's report. That was the best evidence to show the board members.

I looked up at Damon, and in that moment, I started to like him. We locked eyes together, and a small smile pulled on my lips.

“It wasn't an accident.” Damon said, handing over the report to the board members.

The board members exchanged glances again, nodding their heads with a smile on their faces.

“You're the true heiress, miss Kiara Abernathy.” One of them said, and I felt a wave of relief rush inside me.

James and Mandy left the room in defeat, humiliation etching on their faces.

If they dared try anything stupid again, then I had a murder case to file.