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Chapter_65
The tension in the air was thick as Walter’s presence loomed over Quinn, but she masked her unease as best as she could. The origins of his relationship with Freya had remained shrouded in mystery, fueling Quinn’s unease every time his name came up. Their marriage, just two years ago, had elevated him into the Kennedys’ sphere, but Quinn couldn’t shake the discomfort he evoked. There was something off about him, something unspoken in the way he carried himself.
As she hesitated in the doorway, her hand nervously gesturing for him to explain himself, she asked, “Is something wrong?”
Walter’s response came with that unsettling smile, a smile that barely touched his eyes. “I’m not at liberty to divulge,” he said, his tone still polite but carrying an undercurrent of something darker. “After you, Quinn.”
The forced civility of his words did little to ease the apprehension tightening in her chest. His invitation to enter felt more like an order than a choice. The smile on his face was cold, and Quinn felt the weight of his silent threat.
Her mind raced back to her encounter with Kaitlyn at the hospital—could this be somehow connected? Had Kaitlyn noticed her then? The thought sent a cold shiver down her spine, and a wave of dread washed over her.
“I’m not feeling well today. Could we perhaps postpone this until tomorrow?” she asked, her voice faltering slightly with the hope that he might relent.
Walter didn’t budge. His smile remained thin, almost mocking, as he shook his head. “It’s best you come with me now. If mom were to come fetch you herself, it might not be as cordial.”
The words struck Quinn like a blow. The implications were clear, and her thoughts spiraled as she clutched her phone tightly. Kaitlyn’s intentions still lingered in her mind, gnawing at her with an unsettling sense of urgency. What was really going on?
“I just need a moment to freshen up,” Quinn murmured, trying to buy herself some time. Walter gave a small, insincere nod, the smile never leaving his lips as he patiently waited.
Upstairs in her room, Quinn quickly typed a message to Alexander, pouring out her thoughts and fears. But midway through, she froze. If everything had already been decided, if even Alexander had consented to Kaitlyn’s plans, what was the point of sending the message? Would it only lead to another heartbreak?
In a moment of bitter clarity, Quinn deleted the message, leaving only a short note: Kaitlyn wishes to see me. It was vague enough to give Alexander a hint without offering too much. Her departure from the Kennedy residence now felt like an escape from the suffocating control of both Kaitlyn and her own conflicted emotions.
There was no good reason for Kaitlyn to seek her out—at least, none that she could imagine. And if Alexander cared even the slightest for her, he would find her. When no immediate reply came through, Quinn exited the chat, the weight of unanswered questions pressing down on her.
In a fleeting moment of distraction, she opened her social media app. Instantly, Getty’s latest post filled her screen—a delicate gift box, its contents a bracelet, the perfect symbol of his birthday celebration with Alexander. The images of Getty, so effortlessly graceful in the arms of Alexander, made Quinn’s heart ache. Her fingers went slack, and her gaze dimmed as the weight of their shared moments pressed upon her.
The posts taunted her with their idyllic happiness, the same hands that had held her only the night before now entwined with another’s. Each image felt like a slap to her face. The updates kept coming—candlelit dinners, thoughtful gifts, the kind of love she thought she might have shared with Alexander.
Walter’s voice cut through the fog of Quinn’s thoughts. “Alexander working late again tonight?” His tone was casual, almost indifferent, as if he didn’t expect Quinn to answer.
She didn’t, her eyes glued to her phone, refreshing her feed, hoping for some sign of life from Abigail or Alexander, but there was nothing. Just more silence. The feeling of being cut off from everything she once thought she understood grew heavier with each passing second.
As they neared the Kennedy residence, Quinn felt a hollow emptiness settle in her chest. The anticipation of what lay ahead mingled with the dread, knowing that her encounter with Kaitlyn could very well be the turning point that determined everything.
