Kelvin exhaled slowly.
“Sonia Walker,” he muttered under his breath, as though testing the weight of her name on his tongue, unsure why he felt the need to say it again.
Sonia raised a brow though her lips remained pursed as she waited patiently for his resolve and response.
She was quite confident in herself that she had just thrown out a mouthwatering opportunity.
A chance which would definitely be hard to come by.
An opportunity to help him get revenge…that should move his heart to set her free.
A wife against her husband, that is more than a villain’s tale yet Sonia was willing to take this gamble.
She had her mind made up…help him get revenge and also avenge herself.
That’s a rare opportunity to kill two birds with just one stone.
Kelvin leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on his thighs, his fingers loosely clasped together.
His eyes didn’t leave her face.
“If what you’re saying is true,” he began slowly, choosing each word with care, “then you’re not just proving a point, I guess.”
Sonia chuckled, her shoulders sagging with relief.
Doing business with smart people always makes it a whole lot easier.
“You’re right,” she said softly.
Then she shifted slightly on the bed, ignoring the slight pull of the IV line as she leaned forward to meet his gaze.
“I woke up to betrayal.”
“My marriage, if any, was a lie.”
“My best friend…” She paused, the word tasted bitter on her tongue.
“I suppose she was never my friend at all.”
What sort of best friend betrays her friend so clearly with no remorse?
Her eyes hardened.
“And the most interesting part? They were waiting for me to die.”
“So tell me…what do you think I want?”
Kelvin felt his heart thump harder against his chest, he was unsure what he wanted her to do.
For a moment he wanted to tell her not to bother, to just walk away while he handles it for her but with the woman before him, Kelvin knew he couldn’t.
At a loss for words he could only stare at her.
When he didn’t speak, Sonia leaned back slightly, her expression returning to that calm, almost detached state.
“I’m not asking you to fix it,” she began with a cold voice that was akin to hers.
“I’m not asking you to fight for me either.” She gave a faint scoff.
“I’m not that weak.”
If anything, it was her fight and this time that’s what she wanted to do most.
She drew in a deep breath.
“I am just asking for my freedom…not to be a captive of whatever grievance you had with him.”
“And I will help you settle the score…besides an enemy of an enemy is a friend.”
She held his gaze, unflinching.
“So to be frank with you…I want revenge, payback and maybe…a chance to rebuild what they tried to destroy.”
“They wanted me dead…this time I am willing to be their nemesis.”
“To hunt and destroy them until they have nothing left …”
Every single syllable Sonia muttered dripped with coldness and hatred that it left Kelvin stumped.
But Sonia felt it wasn’t enough.
And the thought that she had been taken as captive for a crime he committed left a bitter taste in her mouth.
So this time, she preferred to set the rules of this game, play at her own pace until she wins.
If there were any other requirements Kelvin wanted to put forward, Sonia would be sure to meet them as long as she wouldn’t be used as a pawn.
As long as she didn’t have to suffer for the harm he had caused someone else. Enjoying the story?
Kelvin swallowed.
These opportunities were rare and too good to be true.
But Kelvin had only one challenge at the moment…the one he had always wanted to protect was her.
The person Alex had hurt was also her.
The reason why he broke his years of friendship and brotherhood was also because of her.
And this time, he was quite certain that whatever would happen would only be because of her.
But then he couldn’t tell her that.
Not when he could feel the disgust in her voice whenever she mentioned Alex Hort.
She must have hated him so much.
This time, it was Kelvin’s turn to get scared.
With every intention geared towards protecting her, setting her free and helping her live a better life…
Nothing had prepared his mind for a plot to ask for his friend’s head.
“Dr. Thorne…are we having this agreement?” Sonia’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Kelvin stared at her for a moment and nodded.
He can’t back out now, he couldn’t bear to let her take the risk alone.
Seeing her so determined to seek revenge against Alex Hort, Kelvin couldn’t help but worry for her.
“That’s perfect then….” Sonia began but Kelvin’s cold voice interrupted her swiftly.
“But…I have a few requirements or you might as well call them conditions.”
Conditions!
Sonia repeated the word a few times in her head, it sounded so simple but she was certain it wasn’t.
Although she was willing to trade every chance for her freedom yet her heart raced with trepidation with a question tugging at her heartstrings.
What is it that he wanted?
“What are the conditions?” she asked with a blank expression despite her racing heart.
Kelvin leaned back, his lips curled with a soft smile.
“You must recover first and you don’t destroy yourself with them.”
Sonia nodded in acceptance.
“You can’t hide things from me…I have to know where you are and what you do?”
Sonia’s brow furrowed immediately but Kelvin wasn’t done yet.
“Alex Hort isn’t simple, if I must keep your life…I have to know what you are up to.”
Sonia swallowed, her distaste for this condition was clear but she had no choice.
“I will try.”
“At this time, we live together.” Kelvin added unbothered about her dissatisfaction.
Reflexively, Sonia’s head snapped to meet his gaze.
“Live together? Is that necessary?”
This wasn’t part of the plot.
Shouldn’t that mean, she still under his thumb.
Her face scrunched at the thought of it.
“Very much…I must keep an eye on you.” Kelvin smirked.
He could already imagine the few good points she had scored him diminish to zero with every glare.
But he wasn’t the least concerned.
It didn’t matter.
Even if it meant becoming the villain in her eyes.
Sonia had one word echoing loud in her head.
“Control freak.”
But the next moment, her lips curled up.
Wants to control her, let’s see if he has the ability.
Kelvin added a few other conditions to the list.
And once done, he locked his gaze with her, smirk too cold and familiar danced on his lips.
“My lady…are you meeting these conditions?”
Sonia’s hand balled into a fist, her eyes brimmed with fierce determination staring at him.
The tension palpable.
Seconds rolled into minutes and just as Kelvin leaned back, hoping she had accepted defeat, her lips curled up, eight words rolled out of her lips.
“No condition equates to the taste of freedom.”
Kelvin chuckled.
“Then it’s a deal.”
Sonia exhaled and stretched a hand towards him.
Kelvin eyes moved from her face her hand, he accepted the handshake.
“Deal,” Sonia smirked and her smile widening.
For the first time since she woke up, Sonia felt her shoulders sag with relief.
With Kelvin off her back, she could think of other things.
But Kelvin didn’t let go of her immediately.
His hand remained around hers for a second longer than necessary.
The softness, the warmth against his palm…his heart thumped hard against his chest.
Sonia’s gaze flickered to his face, their eyes locked.
Seeing him not making a move to pull his hand away she didn’t bother calling him out.
She let him hold her.
With a condition to live together, she might as well start getting used to it.
But she still had to admit the warmth of his hand felt more like the only anchor in a blank state —firm, warm and grounding.
Kelvin released her at last, leaning back into his chair as though nothing happened.
“So, do you mind if I address you by your first name?” Sonia asked.
Kelvin Thorne.
Doctor Kelvin.
Mr. Thorne.
They all felt heavy, she really needed a simple name…easier for communication and easier to remember.
“So what do you want to call me?” He asked in amusement.
“Let’s say… Kel. An abbreviation of your name. What do you think?”
Kelvin shrugged.
“As long as you are happy.”
Sonia exhaled lightly, glancing at the IV line attached to her hand.
“Why was I in a coma?”
Hey lovelies…what is your thoughts about this?
Do you really think she would ressurect or would she remain dead?
And what options do you think Kelvin has for her?