Chapter 3 Favor

• Kylo
• Every time someone asked me when the ‘big’ day was. It felt like a kick in the gut. It was hard to breathe...to get out of bed and live another day.
• Every time I saw the headlines. Every time the emerald stone sparkled on her finger. Every time a reporter asked me if I’d taken Bey’s advice and put a ring on it because I liked it. Problem was, I did like it. In fact, I loved it enough-I loved her enough to want to take the next step and slide a rock on her finger. I had actually intended to do just that, but was overtaken by circumstances. Had gone as far as having it custom-made and stashing it in my safe. She was supposed to be wearing my ring. Not some other guys. Definitely not Tristan’s.
• I was waiting for the right time. I didn’t want to rush her. I had planned the most romantic proposal that wouldn’t give her the option to say no. I thought I’d wait for the perfect moment, but it never presented itself. I never got the opportunity to even hint at marriage or anything close to that.
• Tristan had deceived me. Made me believe that he was stepping back, bowing out. I shouldn’t have trusted him. I shouldn’t have trusted her.
• While I’m being honest, let me confess that I missed my little furball. More times than I can count, I was tempted to swallow my pride, go fall at her feet, and grovel until she took me back. Maybe, just maybe, my love was enough to sustain our relationship. But then that friggin’ ring she was flaunting in front of the whole world told me a different story.
• Mason said Mel told me the only reason she was still wearing it was that she couldn’t get it off. Like seriously?? Really?? If she really wanted that thing off, then she would have done it by now. She was wearing it because she wanted to. Because it meant something to her.
• There was no end to the relentless questions from the media. Flashes of cameras and microphones thrust in my face every corner I turned. My name and Oaklynn’s broke the internet. #Kylynn was trending everywhere. I never understood the fascination with my life, and I never would.
• I watched on television as they cornered my kitten yet again. She stood frozen like she was caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to be doing. I was partially responsible- she was thrust into the spotlight because of her association with me. I wish I could have been there to protect her, to stave off those nosy journos. I needed to get her protection, whether she agreed to it or not. At least until the chaos blows over and they move to the next best story.
• Lost in thought, I stood looking out of the window. The views of Manhattan from my penthouse’s glass balcony didn’t draw me in as usual. The glittering diamond skies, the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the unique artwork hanging from the wall, nothing held my interest tonight. My whole world was falling apart, and there was nothing I could do about it.
• My mom wasn’t getting any better, by the way. The chemo seemed to be doing more harm than good. I had gotten her into the best hospital and top specialists, and while they tried everything within their power to make her better, it was like they were fighting a losing battle. I came to realize that there were some things that money couldn’t buy.
• With all the millions that I owned, they were useless. They couldn’t help my mother beat cancer and get back to her normal life. What was the point of having all that money at your disposal when it couldn’t help you keep your loved ones alive?
• Courtney pretended to be supportive, but I suspected she had hidden motives. She was like a cunning serpent. She knew I was vulnerable and would strike at my weakest moment. So, I pushed her away, and like a boomerang, she kept coming back. Claiming she just wanted to be there for me as a friend. I didn’t believe that for a second.
• I knew for a fact that she hadn’t forgiven me for publicly humiliating her-although she asked for it, she would retaliate somehow. She was a very vindictive person, and she wouldn’t let it slide. She was out to get me and was probably plotting her revenge at this very moment. She wanted to keep her enemy very close so she could be armed to the teeth with ammunition.
• I just hoped she wouldn’t go after Lynn because Courtney would want to pin the blame on her. She knew Oaklynn owned my heart, and she’d want to use that against me. I would need to keep a very close eye on her.
• “Are you ready to go?” Cash inquired as he entered the living room.
• “Yeah, I’ll be down in a minute.”
• It was time to go and see my mom, I hadn’t seen her all day. Whenever I visited the hospital, she was asleep. Though her doctor called and informed me that we could come in the next hour. I dreaded and at the same time, I looked forward to seeing her. It tore at my heart every time I saw her. Weak, helpless, frail, fragile... Barely holding on.
• Cash hesitated and gave me a pained look. “I know there’s nothing I can do or say to make things better, but just know that I’m here for you, bro.”
• “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
• “Zorii is in the car. I just picked her up from her ballet class.”
• “Did you manage to get her to eat something?”
• “You’re not eating, but you expect your sister to eat?” Bumping my arm, he scoffed.
• “Sorry, Dad,” I rolled my eyes at him as we stepped into the elevator.
• “Congrats on your upcoming nuptials,” he laughed and punched me on my shoulder.
• “Don’t even start with all that, C,” I sighed and stuffed my hands in the front pockets of my denim jeans, leaning against the steel wall.
• “So, what are you going to do? Ignore it?”
• “Yeah. I got too much to deal with as it is.”
• “I’m sure your manager doesn’t agree.”
• “He works for me and not the other way around.”
• I had no time for unnecessary drama. My focus was on my mom. She was what mattered the most right now.
• When we arrived at the hospital, Mom seemed to be doing better. She was propped against the snow-white pillows, her face gaunt and eyes sunken in. Her face lit up as soon as Zorii and I walked in.
• “There are my babies,” she smiled weakly.
• My young sister ran towards her and hugged her. “Hi, Mom!”
• “Hi, Zo,” she replied in a faint voice, wrapping her bony arms around her daughter.
• “Hey Mom,” I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Are you feeling better today?”
• “Slightly. I’m getting there, sweetie,” she gave my hand a gentle squeeze.
• “Are you comfortable? Do you need-”
• “I’m fine. Stop worrying, you’re going to get wrinkles.”
• “Sorry, can’t help it,” I smiled sheepishly and kissed her frail hand.
• “When am I going to meet your girlfriend?”
• “What?”
• “I didn’t stutter. You heard me.”
• Zorii started laughing. “Yes. Do tell? When are we going to meet the girl that’s got the media in a frenzy?”
• “I..uhm..”
• “The media got to know about her before we did, Mother,” my sister stirred the pot. “Now, that’s just sad,”
• I scratched the side of my neck, shuffling my feet. “The relationship is still new...”
• “Really?” Mom raised an eyebrow. “Yet you already got a ring?”
• “Not good, big brother,” Zo cackled.
• I glared at her and regretted asking her to help pick it out. “Sell out.”
• “It sounds pretty serious,” my mother uttered. “I want to meet her before you walk down the aisle.”
• What a fine mess. How do I get out of this? How do I tell them it didn’t work out? That there would be no wedding.
• “I-you will meet her soon.” I made a promise that I couldn’t keep.
• Mom perked. “Tomorrow?”
• “She’s at college. I’ll have to check with her first.” Why was I even digging a deeper hole for myself? What was wrong with me? I should just keep my mouth shut.
• “Ever since you met her, you’ve been happy. You have changed...” she smiled warmly. “I’d like to meet the girl who did that for my son.”
• “You will, Mom. Promise.” Shut up, Kylo. Seal your lips.
• “Good. I’ll make sure to look my best when she drops by tomorrow. Need to make an impression on my future daughter-in-law.”
• “She’s going to love you, Mom.”
• And she would.
• But, what do I do now?
• How do I get Lynn to come here?