Chapter 37
The family dinner was strained, with everyone eating in uncomfortable silence.
Having nothing to say to her family, Kimberly retreated to her room early. Spotting the gift box on her desk reminded her she still hadn’t given Asher his watch.
She called him.
“Asher? Remember that gift I mentioned? Are you at the estate? I could bring it over.”
“I am.”
“Perfect. I’ll be there shortly.”
Meanwhile, at Drake’s penthouse…
When Drake and Sienna entered, Rosa looked past them expectantly. “Mr. Ashcroft, isn’t
Miss Jordan with you?”
Drake frowned. “She’s not here?”
“She hasn’t been home for days, sir. I thought she was with you.”
Suddenly uneasy, Drake took the stairs two at a time.
In Kimberly’s room, the transformation was stark. Her vanity was stripped bare–no cosmetics, no skincare products. The personal touches that had made the room hers were
gone.
He yanked open the closet. Empty.
Every trace of Kimberly had vanished, leaving the room as pristine as before she’d moved
- in.
Drake’s breathing quickened. He shouted down to Rosa: “When did she move her things
out?”
The housekeeper flinched at his tone. “The room was empty when I came to clean the next
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Chapter 37
day. I thought you knew…”
Drake’s fists clenched as he pulled out his phone. The call wouldn’t connect–he’d been
blocked.
He immediately called Celine. Kimberly had few friends in New York; Celine had been
closest to her.
Celine sounded surprised. “Kimberly? No, I haven’t seen her. Let me try messaging her.”
A moment later: “She’s blocked me too.”
Drake froze.
Standing nearby, Sienna had pieced it together. Her heart leaped–Kimberly had actually
left.
“Drake… does this mean you’ve broken up?”
The question stunned him.
Break up?
He hadn’t meant that. His words that night–about never wanting to see her again–had been spoken in anger.
Even when she’d blocked him, he’d assumed she was just sulking, waiting for him to
apologize.
But emptying her room of every possession? Was that really just a tantrum?
Seeing his troubled expression, Sienna slipped her arm through his. “If you’ve broken up, let’s respect that. We could take a trip, clear your head.”
Drake’s initial panic had transformed into anger.
Fine. So Kimberly thought she could just walk away from him.
Let’s see how long she lasted. Ten days? Two weeks?
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Her disappearing act infuriated him. He’d let her stew for a while.
He’d show her that he was perfectly fine without her.
He forced a smile. “A trip sounds good. Where would you like to go?”
“Really?” Sienna brightened. “I was thinking Montana–the fall colors at Glacier National Párk are supposed to be stunning.”
Glacier National Park.
Why did that sound so famiKimmyr?
Then he remembered–Kimberly had mentioned wanting to go there during fall break.
He’d dismissed it: “Everything’s crowded during holidays. What’s the point?”
It was fall break now. His instinct was to refuse, but thinking of Kimberly changed his mind.
“Montana sounds perfect.”
Later, still unsettled despite watching TV with Sienna, he made an excuse to leave.
Sienna didn’t press him. She understood he needed time to adjust to Kimberly’s absence.
She smiled graciously. “Of course. I’ll be here when you return.”
Outside, Drake called Mason.
“Drinks tonight? Get Chase and the others too.”
At their usual private club, Chase greeted him: “Just you? Where’s Sienna?”
Drake gave him an odd look. “Why would she be here?”
“Uh…” Chase floundered.
Before he could recover, Drake–added: “Kimberly’s my girlfriend. Why aren’t you asking
about her?”
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Chapter 37
Chase stared.
“Come on, Drake. Since Sienna got back, she’s been at every gathering. Didn’t you say
Kimberly was too boring for our crowd?”
Drake’s expression turned pecuKimmyr.
He couldn’t argue with that.
Mason quickly changed the subject. “Haven’t seen you out lately. Been busy?”
Drake sank into a couch, lighting a cigarette. “Been at the hospital with Sienna. She was injured.”
Mason’s expression turned strange. “Didn’t you just say Kimberly was your girlfriend? She was okay with you spending days at the hospital with Sienna?”
Drake’s face darkened.
Okay with it? She was trying to break up with him!
He took a long drag. “She wants to end things.”
The men exchanged awkward glances, regretting the topic.
Chase scoffed. “Kimberly? Break up with you? You’re probably the best she could ever get.
Ten days max before she comes crawling back.”
“Agreed. She’s been crazy about you for three years. Eight days, tops.”
“She’s just throwing a tantrum, waiting for you to chase her. Two weeks maximum before she’s begging to reconcile.”
Drake’s expression cleared at their words.
He sipped his drink dismissively. “Chase her? Not happening.
Then Mason asked quietly: “But…what if she doesn’t come back?”
The question stopped Drake cold.
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Chapter 37
What would he do if Kimberly didn’t return?
He realized he’d never considered that possibility.
