Gwen was caught up in the kidnapping because she tried to help Kira.

'If she really just a friend? You two are not...dating?"

Kira thought Gwen might have a thing for Gideon, given the way she acted when Gideon got shot.

'Just a friend. Gideon repeated with emphasis. 'Nothing more.

'Relax. I'm just asking."

Kira thought it would be weird if Gideon dated someone who looked like her.

Maybe that was what he felt, too.

'Believe me, I don't have any feelings for her.'

'Okay, okay, I believe you.' Kira put up both hands, surrendering.

She shouldn't have brought this up.

Gwen was obviously a touchy topic for him, though Kira couldn't understand why.

Her right hand was still raised in the air.

He grabbed it.

"What are you doing? She tried to pull it back.

"Can't a brother hold hands with his younger sister?' Gideon said nonchalantly. 'Like we did during the carnival. Remember?"

"That was years ago.' Kira squirmed.

She was sixteen then, but still a shorty.

Gideon had to hold her hand or she'd be swept away by the crowd.

And they were dating back then.

Kira removed her hand. 'We're not kids anymore People will laugh at us."

She didn't give him another chance to speak. 'We're here.'

They stopped outside Room 605.

The door was closed.

Kira paused in the hallway outside, getting cold feet.

What if she opened that door and saw something she couldn't stomach?

Could she still keep it together if she saw Austyn hugging Deborah, or worse, kissing her? Enjoy An...

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Gob

A Burden Shared Is A Burden Halved

Kira recalled Deborah's soft voice, gloating.

'Austyn's asleep now. He's exhausted after spending the entire day trying to find me.'

She had asked Kira to call back tomorrow.

She said she didn't want to disturb Austyn.

Disturb him?

Was it considered disturbing him when his wife was calling?

The man had promised to be back for dinner.

That was more than twelve hours ago.

Did he have dinner with Deborah?

What did he eat-his conscience?

Kira worked herself up into a rage and shoved the door open.

She marched inside, ready to get up in Austyn's lying, cheating face.

But the room was empty.

The single bed was made.

No personal belongings on the bedside table.

No trace of anyone having been here.

No one in the ensuite bathroom, either.

For some reason, Kira checked under the bed.

Nothing, not even dust bunnies.

She got to her feet, puzzled.

Could she have gotten the wrong room number?

But she made a note on her phone after Liam told her.Text content © .

Could Liam have lied to her?

Kira glimpsed a nurse walking past in the hallway outside.

She called out, "Miss, miss!"

'Yes?' The nurse stopped.

"Um, may I know where's the patient in this ward?'

The nurse glanced at the number on the door. 'Room 605. A young woman, right?"

'Right."

'She checked out this morning. I helped her pack up her stuff. Why are you asking? Are you here on a visit?"

"Uh, yes. I must've missed her. Thank you, anyway.'

'No problem.' The nurse walked away.

Kira scanned the room again.

Where did Deborah go?

Back to Sunglade, probably.

Was Austyn with her?

Kira took out her phone and tried his number again.

It was still unavailable.

All sorts of mixed feelings swirled around in her chest.

What the hell was going on with Austyn

Why wasn't he answering his phone?

Was he dodging her calls?

But he had a company to run.

How could he just keep his phone switched off all day?

Was his phone off, or did he block her?

Gideon shot out an arm to steady her when she started swaying on her feet. 'Are you okay?"

'I'm...I'm fine.' She regained her balance.

'You don't look fine. He touched her forehead with one hand. "Your skin is cold.'

Kira backed away from him. 'I'm fine, really.'

She pursed her lips. 'Let's just go."

Gideon followed her out of the room quietly.

Kira walked like she was in a trance, almost bumping into passersby in the hallway.

Gideon had to stay on her left side lest she walked into a wall.

Swed

He didn't say anything until they reached the carpark. 'Go ahead and cry. Let it all out."

Kira stared at him blankly. "What?"

"You know you don't have to pretend in front of me."

A few seconds later, she blinked. 'Oh, no, you misunderstood. I don't...I don't want to cry.'

al

She was a little sad, sure.

A little disappointed when the expected confrontation didn't materialise.

A little angry at Austyn for not calling her back.

A little concerned about his prolonged radio silence.

But she wasn't going to cry.

going on? Remember

Gideon placed a hand on her shoulder. "Will you at least tell me what's a what your dad used to say, a burden shared is a burden

'Halved.' She nodded. 'I know. But I'm fine, really. It's no big deal.'

She wasn't fine.

She desperately needed to talk to someone about it, to work out the mess of feelings in her heart.

But Gideon was the wrong audience.

Though he claimed he'd let go of the past, Kira wasn't about to share her marital problems with her ex-boyfriend.

She headed towards the car. 'Come on. It's going to be rush hour soon. Let's get out of here.'

Gideon had to drop the subject.

He had just worked his way back into her life.

This was not the right time to push.

'You can just drop me ahead. Kira pointed at an intersection. 'My friend's house is just over there. I can walk!

Gideon insisted on driving her all the way to Giana's block.

Kira let him be, knowing he must be worried about her.

The car stopped.

Kira unbuckled her seat belt. "Thank you for the lift and for everything you did today.'

'My pleasure."

'Bye for now. Call me if you want to meet up and have dinner sometime."

Kira was halfway out of the car when he spoke. 'Kira."

"Yes? She turned back.

"The trip to the hospital just now, you were looking for Austyn, right?' Gideon looked her in the eye. 'You were upset because you didn't find him there.'

She had been silent and morose during the entire ride.

Kira just nodded.

'What was he doing at the hospital?"

Kira said nothing.

'Was he sick?"

'No, it's not that."

'I thought so, too. If he was, you'd be worried instead of upset. Gideon tapped a finger on the steering wheel. 'Was he there with someone else?"

He watched Kira's face carefully. 'Was he there with...a woman?"

She looked away.

His words brought back the tide of unpleasant feelings.

'You wouldn't be this worked up if it was a man, Gideon continued. 'So it had to be a woman. And it had to be a woman who meant something special to Austyn. An ex-girlfriend?'

Kira said nothing, but her clenched jaw gave her away.

Gideon's face grew serious. 'Kira, let me ask you something."

'If · you want to know why Austyn went to the hospital with his ex-girlfriend, sorry, can't help you there. I'm just as in the dark as you."

"That's not what I wanted to ask.'

"Then what is it?"

Gideon fastened his eyes on her face. 'Why did you marry him?'

Kira was thrown by the sudden change in topic.

Gideon had asked her the same question before.

She gave a nonanswer then.

57

Why was he so fixated on this?

A Fine Line Between Trust And Gullibility

"You said you married him for money,' Gideon spoke before she could. 'I was too angry to

think it through at that time. But now I understand. You

expenses, weren't you?'

"Yes.'

'Okay, I get that.

Gideon blamed himself for ever believing Helen.

She said Kira was a gold digger and he stupidly fell for it.

re talking about your

dad's medical

'But Kira, have you ever thought about why he married you?'

'He was in need of a wife, so-

'He was in need of a wife, and you just happened to be the right person at the right time? Is that what he told you?' Gideon stared straight at her. 'Do you really buy that?'

Kira nodded mechanically.

The look on Gideon's face gave her a sinking feeling.

Suddenly, she wasn't so sure of the answer anymore.

'Don't you think it's too much of a coincidence? He needed a wife. You needed money. He just ran into you on the street and asked you to marry him? Did you even know him before that?' Kira was silent.