Chapter 6

Kendrick's POV

It looked like I was dreaming, but I wasn't. Instead, it was reality.

If told I was going to run into Mickey someday, I wouldn't have believed it a bit.

“And she hasn't lost her touch; rather, she is radiating,” I muttered, only to shake my head sideways, trying to get the thoughts about her off.

I was supposed to be mad at her for acting as a bridge between me and my inheritance but here I was, drooling over her shamelessly.

Digging my hand into my hair, I pulled out my laptop only to turn it off the next second.

Through the intervention of my father's lawyers, whom he quickly withdrew from the case, I was able to silence the consumer who wanted to wreck my business.

Even after doing this, my company was still struggling, making me lose interest in work.

Now drumming my fingers against the table, I had my gaze fixated on Cassie's picture on my table.

Apart from her, I had no reason to keep struggling with work. I would have quit a long time ago.

Kiara was nothing but a thorn in my flesh. She neglected Cassie, and me like we never existed and only came crawling back whenever she needed money.

“I thought I was making the right decision then.” I let out a bitter chuckle. “Indeed, one mistake is enough to drown someone.” Taking a deep breath, I pulled myself up, and almost immediately, the door flung open.

“I had looked up to the name and identity… it matches that of your ex-wife.” Alfred rapped.

When I returned from the restaurant earlier, I had asked him to look into Mickey.

“So… what's she doing?” I asked, feigning not to be interested when, in the real sense, I was itching to find out what had become of her.

“She is the CEO of Valor Fashion Home.” He said, and at once, I grabbed the edge of the table as it was unbelievable.

All the while I had been studying that company from a distance, beginning from its opening and every single achievement they had made over the years.

“No way!” I muttered, lowering myself on my chair, still holding onto the edge of the table.

Moments later, I snapped my head upwards and with my gaze fixated on him, I asked, “Are you certain with your claim?”

Chuckling, I added, “I guess you are making a mistake. You should look into her carefully, I mean… there have been cases of mistaken identities.” I said, trying to wrap my head around what I had just heard.

“I recognized your ex-wife pretty well, and I can even tell who she is from a distance; I’m not making an error here.” He sang like a canary.

Grabbing my head, I let out a low sigh as I bit my bottom lips.

Things were getting rough and tough by the day.

After a hard day at work, I returned home to get some rest.

At first, everything was going well since Kiara was home and tending to Cassie, but just when I was about to drift into sleep, I heard a little squeak next to me.

Snapping my eyes open, I locked eyes when Cassie's doe pair.

Pouting, she had her hands pushed in front of her with her whole body covered in milk. She must have pulled down the pack from the kitchen counter.

With a frown on my face, I threw my leg off the bed but the moment I saw her facial expression, I flashed her a smile.

“Where is your mom?” I asked in a mild tone in contrast to the scream that wanted to erupt through my lungs.

“She went…” She pointed towards the door.

“Dad!” Holding my hand, she began to pull me until I rose from the bed. She continued pulling me until we got to the kitchen.

With my eyes widened in anger, I clenched my fists by my side. The more I stared at the sight in front of me, the more furious I became.

Cassie had changed the look of the kitchen, spilling food ingredients on the island table, crashing plates, and doing several other unimaginable things.

“I'm hungry.” She tugged my hand, bringing me back to my senses.

“I will get you some food now,” I said with my back turned on her, otherwise, she would have seen the angry look on my face and then burst into tears.

By the time I had finished cleaning the place, it was already dusk but Kiara was nowhere to be found.

After putting Cassie to sleep, I made my way to the living room to watch TV in a bid to clear my head but it didn't help a bit.

My mind kept flashing back to Mickey despite all of my efforts to forget about her.

Biting my bottom lips, I fell on the couch and with my hands wrapped across my chest, I had my gaze on the ceiling.

Where has she been all these while?

How was she able to rise to her current level?

These questions kept ringing in my head and when I couldn't take it anymore, I decided to drown my sorrow with alcohol.

Before I could take a step, the door flung open and Kiara stuttered in. I didn't need anyone to tell me she was drunk since she was staggering, not to talk about the alcohol that she reeked of.

“Thank goodness Cassie is asleep.”

“Hey! Kendrick.” She called, waving at me but I ignored her.

Pushing my hands into my pockets, I began to grimace as I stared at her with an irritating look on my face.

It was as if I should go to her and bash her face against the wall.

“Why that look?” She asked, bringing me back to reality.

With my lips still pressed tightly together, I feigned like she wasn't speaking to me as I followed her movement with my eyes.

When she finally managed to close the gap separating us, she grabbed my shoulder, increasing my irritation.

Unable to bear it anymore, I pushed her off.

“You make me regret knowing you each day.” I spat in her face.