Chapter 26
Because Lily’s psychiatric evaluation was legally valid, there was nothing Kayla could do about her.
Outside the police station, Jonah tried to say something to Kayla, but Luke stepped right between them, refusing to give him even the slightest opening. “Kayla, I need to talk to you privately,” Jonah said.
“She doesn’t want to talk to you,” Luke shot back. He’d been holding back for long enough, but today, he wasn’t letting anything slide.
“Jonah, what exactly do you want? You’re divorced. I’m asking you to leave her alone. Stop showing up in her life,” Luke said bitingly.
He added, “As for your little friend, just because she has a mental health diagnosis doesn’t mean she gets a free pass. That’s not how it works with me,” Jonah’s expression shifted, goaded by Luke’s words. His pride had taken a hit, and his voice turned cold.
“So what if we’re divorced? Kayla and I were together for eight years. I was her first for everything. What do you have, huh?”
Jonah sneered. “Don’t think I don’t know who you are, Mr. Kingston. I’ve known for a while. I just never cared. You’re nothing but a pathetic loser, hiding in the shadows, watching us from a distance while we lived happily.”
Luke hadn’t hit anyone in years. He could take the insults, sure–but the way Jonah belittled Kayla’s love, that was different.
Just as Luke’s fist was about to connect, Kayla yanked his arm back.
“Luke,
stop.”
She didn’t stop him because she knew him so well, but because she knew Jonah.
He looked polished and poised on the outside, but inside, he was as manipulative as they came. He’d said all that on purpose, hoping to provoke Luke into throwing the first punch.
Kayla pulled Luke back and stepped forward to confront Jonah on her own.
“Take her and go. Stop harassing me. For the sake of what we had–for the eight years we loved each other. I’m begging you, Jonah.”
“Kayla…” Jonal’s voice trembled. His eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed her by the shoulders. “I love you. You’re the only one I love. I can’t live without you. Why can’t you give me one more chance?”
“I did,” Kayla said, pushing his hands off her in disgust. “I gave you so many chances. Let go before I start to hate you,”
And just like that, the fantasy Jonah had been clinging to collapsed. The day Kayla left Jolsa was the day they were truly over.
“Kayla, go to hell!” From behind, Lily suddenly lunged with a knife. No one knew where she had gotten it.
Kayla barely had time to register what was happening before the blade came straight at her chest.
1
“Lily, no!” Jonah reached out, but all he caught was a piece of her sleeve.
At the very last second, Kayla felt herself being yanked backward with incredible force–and then came the sound of a knife slicing into flesh. When she looked up, Luke’s white sweater bloomed red, the stain spreading across his side.
“Luke!”
“I’m… fine,” Luke muttered, pressing a hand to the wound. He gave her a faint smile.
Then his body gave out. He crumpled to the ground.
“Call an ambulance! Somebody call an ambulance!”
Kayla dropped to the floor, holding him tightly, her sobs uncontrollable.
Luke lifted his bloodied hand and gently wiped away her tears.
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“This is the first time you’ve shed tears for me,” he whispered. “I won’t ever let it happen again.”
“Luke, stay awake. Don’t fall asleep. The ambulance is coming, just hang on,” Kayla begged, frantic. She didn’t spare a glance at Lily, now pinned to the ground by the police officers. She didn’t even acknowledge Jonah, whose face had gone ashen.
Somewhere along the way, snow began to fall from the sky.
Luke looked up at the flurry of white drifting down, his lips curving into a smile.
“Kayla, look. It’s snowing. Merry Christmas, Kayla.”
