Chapter 3

Kenna

She stares at me as if she wants to drive a stake through my heart. Yeah, she knows I’ve caught her. This woman has never liked me, the moment I married and came into Xander’s life, Violet has made it perfectly clear by ignoring me and only pretending to be nice to me when Xander was around. Which of course was never very often. 

From behind me, I hear Xander’s harsh voice, it’s almost a snarl. I turn around and see his eyes darkening, the expression he wears is grim. I shudder, he looks like the Devil himself. His eyes piercing through me. 

“What the fuck are you doing?” he asks, I say nothing rooted to the spot. “Kenna!” His voice is as cold as ice, it makes me shudder from my head to my toes.  Is he afraid maybe of what I might actually do to his precious Violet? If only I would do something to hurt her, then at least my marriage may have stood a chance. 

Violet’s eyes widen, I can see the fake panic all over her face. God, how I want to slap her right now. Instead I clench my fists. She turns her face away, allowing tears to well up. This woman is a drama queen, she certainly knows how to play Xander. The little bitch. “I swear, Kenna, I didn’t do anything. You’ve got this all wrong,” I even hate her whiney bitch voice. It’s fake too. Just like the damn rest of her. 

Now I’m wondering if I am out of my goddamn mind confronting her in front of Xander. I smirk at her, “stop pretending. I know it was you.” 

I glare at her with piercing eyes, as if fire is coming out of them and walk up to Violet, pulling out the photo of Xander that I’d printed from my phone. He stands near to her bed, just the sight of him close to her makes my stomach flip. God, I feel nauseous as if I might be sick. I take the photo and place it on the bed in front of them. 

I watch as Xander stares down at the photo, the shock and confusion etched on his chiseled face, his strong jaw clenching. Violet’s face turns deathly white. It was obvious who took the photo. Violet had tried to hurt me but it looks like the little bitch may have ended up hurting herself instead. Good, she deserves it. I wish she would rot in hell. 

I’m interested to know just how she intends to maintain her innocent facade now.  There was a time with Xander dominating the space, that I would have backed down. But she has cost me everything, literally everything. My life, my marriage both are now over because of her and her stupid, childish antics. Now I stand my ground, I will not back down, over my dead body. 

I give her a faint smile, my voice remains calm and frosty. “I came here to settle the score. You owe me, Violet. The person who destroys other people’s marriages is the homewrecker. And that is you. Now that you’ve finally got what you wanted, I hope you enjoy your new role.” 

Looking at Xander, I can see that he understands there could only have been one way I got this photo. From Violet. His eyes darken even more, if that was possible, his look hard as stone. Suddenly I feel cold just looking at him. 

Violet trembles in the bed trying to defend herself. “Xander, Kenna is mistaken. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t take the photo. She must have hired someone and set me up!” Oh my gosh, the little liar, I want to scratch her eyes out with my own hands. I clench them by my side not wanting to lose control in front of Xander. 

Xander furrows his brow as Violet clings to his arm, tears streaming down her pathetic face. “Xander please, I’ll apologize to Kenna. If my blood donations have caused issues. I swear I’ll stay away from her. I swear, Xander on my deceased brother’s life.” This is an act, I know Violet too well. She is mean, hateful and would love nothing more than for me to be out of Xander’s life completely. Well, she may just have gotten her wish come true. 

Xander’s expression softens slightly. Her deceased brother was Xander’s best friend, they’d grown up together, as tight as boys could be. They did everything together and swore on their lives they would protect one another, and their families is something ever happened to one of them. 

It had been his dying wish that Xander take care of Violet.  Being the honorable man that he is, Xander will not let him down. His voice is softer than before when he speaks to her. “Kenna was upset earlier. She should not have acted up like that. Do we need the doctor back in here?” 

Violet merely shakes her head as she holds a hand to where I slapped her. She is so ridiculous, it wouldn’t have hurt her that much. God, I hate how she plays him and uses the fact that her dead brother was his best friend. 

Xander nods, “very well then.” He turns to me. I give him a mocking smile, keeping all expression off my face. I know he feels something unusual stirring inside of himself. 

“You are divorcing me because of this?” Fine. Let’s get the blood work done.” I know he wants this cleared up but there isn’t something quite right and he knows it. And yet again, a photo proof still wasn’t enough to prove to him what a liar his Violet is. Once again, Xander believes Violet. It makes me so angry as hatred for her rules my veins. 

Violet sighs with relief, knowing that yet again she has escaped Xander’s wrath. And I, well I lost again!

It’s not like I hadn’t anticipated this. Violet’s acting is up there with Hollywood stars, she can act that’s for sure. I can’t be bothered to try to expose her more right now. It’s not worth my emotions. Xander motions for a doctor to come back in. The doctor stands by Violet now, “are you absolutely sure she needs the transfusion now?” I ask him. 

He peers at me above his steel rimmed glasses, “yes, Miss Shen’s fall caused significant blood loss. She does need the transfusion.” 

“Well then why are we waiting? Let’s get on with it.” Once again Xander’s voice is harsh and abrupt. He makes my head spin the way he is nice one second and cold as ice the next. The doctor nods in agreement, then heads off awkwardly to prepare. 

It doesn’t go unnoticed by me that Violet gives me a triumphant smile. 

“Wait…” I step forward and tear off Violet’s bed covers so quickly she looks up at me in shock and gasps. I’ll show her who is in charge right now. It’s my blood she wants. I am the boss at this moment. Suddenly it feels as if the room’s temperature has dropped to below zero degrees. 

Staring at the wound on her leg, I’m shocked that it’s barely a scratch. My scorn deepens. “So severe, huh? There’s hardly any blood here. Had I arrived later it’d probably already have healed.” 

The guilt and shock of being caught is evident in her eyes, she stumbles for the right words. “Kenna, you.., Xander, it’s not what it looks like. I recover quickly from blood transfusion.” She is stammering as she is met by Xander’s intense glare. 

“A month of so-called injuries, four or five times? It seems that you want to bleed me dry? Is that your game?” I keep the icy tone in place. “But you’re not going to get that chance again. Let Xander find another fool to be your mobile blood bank.” 

Giving her a final, scornful laugh, I turn my back on her and walk out of the room.  Outside I can barely breathe, she has been tricking me for years. I collapse onto a plastic chair in the corridor feeling utterly defeated and abandoned. Tears prick at the back of my eyes, the lump forms again in my throat at the mess my life has become.

I reach inside my bag for my mobile as sorrow wipes through my body, tears stream down my face. I muster just enough strength to call someone. Choked with emotion and exhaustion I dial the number and say, “take me home…..”

His soft sigh comes over the phone, making me instantly feel calmer. His tone is gentle, like silk over my skin.  “I’ll come and get you.”