Kira’s POV
"Kennedy?"
I whispered again, all the fight draining out of in an instant.
I stopped struggling against the security guards, my body going completely still as I stared at the man standing in Maxwell’s living room.
Kennedy Hopton.
Olivia’s brother.
The man who’d occupied way too much space in my head for way too many years.
What... what is he doing here?
I looked around wildly, trying to make sense of the situation. This was Maxwell’s house. His mansion. Why was Kennedy here? How did they know each other?
"What... what are you doing here?" I stamred, my voice coming out weak and breathless in a way that made want to kick myself.
Get it together, Kira. You’re not that awkward college girl anymore.
But apparently, my body hadn’t gotten the mo. Because standing in front of Kennedy Hopton, I felt exactly like that girl again - the one who would visit Olivia during college breaks and turn into a complete ss the mont her brother walked into the room.
I’d been so confident back then. Hotheaded. Ready to fight anyone about anything. But the mont Kennedy appeared, it was like soone had poured ice water over . My words would tangle, my thoughts would scatter, and I’d end up saying the most ridiculous things.
He’d always looked at like I was just his little sister’s weird friend. The awkward one who couldn’t string two sentences together. And so he’d started treating exactly like that - like another little sister who needed patient tolerance rather than... anything else.
Even when I’d finally worked up the courage at my college graduation, when I’d finally confessed my feelings to him in front of my family and friends, he had...
"Kira."
His voice snapped back to the present, and I realized with horror that I’d been staring at him in complete silence, lost in mories.
Oh God. When will I ever stop feeling this way about this man?
I had Eddy now. A perfectly nice boyfriend who actually loved . Who spoilt silly with love and care. Eddy didn’t treat like a weird kid. I needed to get over this ridiculous...
"Kira," Kennedy repeated, and I caught the tail end of what he’d been saying. "Maxwell is a friend of mine."
"Friend?" I repeated stupidly, still trying to process. "You two are friends?"
"For... for how... how long?" Stop stuttering. Jesus, Kira, pull yourself together.
Instead of answering, Kennedy turned to the security guards. "Let her go."
His voice was commanding - not loud, but carrying an authority that made both guards imdiately release my arms.
I stumbled slightly, then caught myself, suddenly hyperaware of how disheveled I must look. My hair was a ss from climbing the gate, my shirt was wrinkled, and I probably had dirt on my face.
Without thinking, I started smoothing down my dress, then ran my fingers through my shirt hair, trying to ta it into sothing presentable.
"Are you adjusting yourself for , Kira?"
Maxwell’s sarcastic voice cut through my grooming efforts, and I froze, my hands still in my hair.
Oh God. He noticed.
I dropped my hands imdiately, forcing myself to stand still even though every instinct was screaming at to check if my makeup had smudged.
Kennedy was watching with those intense dark eyes - the sa intense gaze that had made fall in love with him in the first place. "Are you serious about Maxwell holding your boyfriend hostage?"
The question jolted back to reality.
Olivia. I’m here for Olivia.
But I couldn’t say that. Couldn’t tell Kennedy that his sister was here, disguised as a man, working as Maxwell’s assistant, trapped in the most complicated situation imaginable, and currently waiting for plan B contraceptives.
If Kennedy saw Olivia like this - as Oliver - he might recognize her despite the disguise. And I absolutely could not let the siblings reunite like this. Not when Olivia’s entire cover was hanging by a thread.
But wait. If Kennedy and Maxwell were friends...
Does Maxwell know about Olivia? Has Kennedy ntioned his sister?
My mind raced through the implications while Kennedy waited for my answer.
"I... I might have been mistaken," I said carefully, trying to sound less panicked. "My boyfriend works as Maxwell’s assistant. He’s been working from this mansion for days on a certain project, and I just... I ca to check on him. To make sure he’s okay."
Where is Olivia? Please let her be hiding sowhere safe.
Kennedy turned to Maxwell. "Kira’s boyfriend actually works for you?"
Maxwell nodded, his expression unreadable.
Kennedy shook his head slowly, a small smile playing at his lips. "It’s a small world."
While they exchanged this casual observation like the situation was completely normal, I found myself staring at Kennedy again.
When did he get even more attractive?
The last ti I’d seen him - at Olivia’s graduation - he’d been good-looking. Handso in that effortless way that made it hard to form coherent thoughts around him.
But now? Now he was sothing else entirely.
He’d filled out more, his shoulders broader, his presence more commanding. He was wearing casual clothes - dark jeans and a fitted shirt - but sohow he made them look like they belonged on a magazine cover. His hair was slightly longer than I rembered, swept back in a way that highlighted his sharp jawline.
And those eyes. God, those eyes hadn’t changed. Still intense. Still capable of making feel all hot and excited inside.
Stop it. Stop staring. You have a boyfriend. A nice boyfriend who doesn’t make you feel like a complete idiot.
"Kira?"
Kennedy’s voice pulled back, and I realized with horror that I’d completely zoned out again.
This is pathetic. I’m pathetic.
"How have you been?" he asked.
I swallowed hard. "Fine. I’m fine. Good, actually. Really good."
Could you sound any less convincing?
"And... how’s your wife?" The question ca out before I could stop it, and I imdiately wanted to kick myself.
Why did you ask that? Why would you bring up his wife?
Kennedy’s expression didn’t change. "She’s well. Still in London. She had so work commitnts she couldn’t get out of."
"Right. Of course. London. That’s... that’s far."
Kill . Soone please just kill right now.
Maxwell cleared his throat, and I’d almost forgotten he was there. "Kennedy, how do you know Kira?"
"She’s a friend of my sister’s," Kennedy explained. "They went to college together. Olivia’s best friend, actually."
Sothing flickered across Maxwell’s face at the ntion of Olivia’s na, but it was gone before I could identify it.
"I see," Maxwell said, settling back into his chair. "A friend of Olivia’s."
The way he said her na sent a chill down my spine.
He knows sothing. I don’t know what, but he definitely knows sothing.
I made a ntal note: the mont I find Olivia, I was going to convince her to co clean. To confess everything to Maxwell. Because at this point, with Kennedy here and connections being drawn and Maxwell looking at weirdly, the truth was going to co out whether we wanted it to or not.
Better to control how it happened than let it explode.
Kennedy had been watching this whole ti, his gaze traveling all over my body.
"Is everything okay?" I asked awkwardly, uncomfortable under his scrutiny.
"I just didn’t expect to see you here," he said. "In Maxwell’s house, of all places. It’s... unexpected."
"Yeah, well." I tried for a casual shrug. "Love makes you do crazy things. Like climb gates, apparently."
Did I just say that out loud? Oh God.
"You really love this boyfriend of yours," Kennedy observed, and sothing in his tone made my skin prickle.
"Yes," I said firmly, lifting my chin. "I do. I’d do anything to make sure he’s safe."
Kennedy nodded slowly, then moved to sit back down on the couch. His movent was controlled, radiating that quiet confidence that had always made feel like a clumsy ss in comparison.
"So where is this boyfriend of yours?" he asked, his tone casual.
"He’s probably resting," I said quickly. "Actually, you know what? I should just go ho and give him a call instead. I’m sure he’s fine. This was silly of to..."
"I wouldn’t want you leaving my house and spreading word that I’m a kidnapper or a monster," Maxwell interrupted. He turned to one of the staff mbers hovering nearby. "Please escort the lady to Mr. Hopton’s room."
My heart stopped.
Hopton? Shit!
Kennedy’s head snapped up. "Hopton?"
Maxwell nodded calmly. "Yes. Oliver Hopton. Your cousin, Kennedy."
The room beca silent. So completely silent and it beca difficult to breathe.
"I don’t have a cousin nad Oliver," Kennedy said slowly, his eyes narrowing.
Maxwell smiled slyly. "When you et him, you’ll see. Oliver bears quite a striking resemblance to you. And to your sister, actually."
Oh no. Oh no, no, no.
"Really. How interesting. I can’t wait to et this supposed cousin of mine."
He looked at Maxwell with an expression I couldn’t quite read. "It’s a small world indeed."
"Indeed," Maxwell agreed, and there was sothing in the way they looked at each other - so unspoken communication that I couldn’t decipher.
The staff mber was already at my elbow, gently gesturing toward the stairs.
I looked back at Kennedy one more ti, saw the sharp intelligence in his eyes, and knew with absolute certainty:
It was over.
Olivia was going to be exposed tonight.
And there was nothing I could do to stop it.
I’m so sorry, Liv.
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