Chereads / The weight of secrets / Chapter 7 - Chapter 7 A Glimpse of Vulnerability

Chapter 7 - Chapter 7 A Glimpse of Vulnerability

As Kiara stood there lost in thought.Her mind consumed by visions of the rejuvenation project, of the old, neglected site transformed into a thriving hub of activity. She imagined the sound of laughter and chatter, the smell of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers.

But her reverie was short-lived. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and the air grew cool and damp. Kiara felt the first droplets of rain on her skin, and her heart skipped a beat. She hated the rain, hated the way it made her feel trapped and helpless.

As the rain grew heavier, Kiara's thoughts began to unravel. She felt a sense of panic rising up inside her, a sense of dread that she couldn't shake. She knew she had to get out of there, had to get to the safety of her car.

Kiara turned and hurried towards her car, parked nearby. She fumbled for her keys, her hands shaking slightly as she unlocked the door and slid into the driver's seat.

As she started the engine, Kiara's hands trembled even more. The sound of the rain grew louder, a relentless drumbeat that threatened to consume her. She put the car in gear and pulled out onto the road, speeding up as she went.

But as she drove, the memories came flooding back. Kiara remembered the sound of screeching tires, the smell of blood and smoke. She remembered the feeling of fear and helplessness that had gripped her heart.

The car swerved, and Kiara's heart skipped a beat. She had nearly hit another car, but managed to turn the wheel just in time. She pulled over to the side of the road, her heart racing.

Kiara sat there, trying to catch her breath. The rain continued to pour down, drumming against the roof of the car. She felt like she was suffocating, like the memories were closing in on her.

She reached out for the glove compartment, her hands shaking as she opened it. She rummaged through the contents, searching for her medication. But as she reached for the bottle, her hands closed around nothing.

The memories kept flooding back, each one more vivid than the last. Kiara's eyes grew blurry, and her breath came in short gasps. She felt like she was drowning, like the rain was pouring down on her and she couldn't escape.

And then, everything went black.

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Kiara's world went black. Her mind was a jumble of memories and emotions, each one more overwhelming than the last. Her head hit the steering wheel, causing a loud noise that echoed through the air.

Cars passed by one by one, their occupants oblivious to the drama unfolding on the side of the road. Kiara's car horn continued to blare, a steady stream of sound that pierced the air.

Meanwhile, Elijah finished dinner with his grandmother, politely declining her invitation to stay. He had work to do, and he couldn't let his personal life get in the way.

As he drove away from the mansion, the rain poured down around him. He gazed out the window, lost in thought, until a car on the side of the road caught his eye. It was parked at an odd angle, the horn still blaring.

Elijah's curiosity got the better of him. "Driver, pull over," he said, his voice firm.

The driver obeyed, and Elijah stepped out into the rain, umbrella in hand. He approached the car, peering through the tinted windows. What he saw made his heart skip a beat.

Kiara was slumped over the steering wheel, her head resting on the horn. Elijah's eyes widened in shock as he quickly opened the door.

Kiara was unconscious, her breathing shallow. Elijah's heart racing, he gently pulled her out of the car, cradling her in his arms. His driver held the umbrella over them, shielding them from the rain.

Elijah quickly carried Kiara to his car, laying her down on the back seat. He called his assistant, instructing him to arrange for Kiara's car to be towed.

As they drove to Elijah's home, Kiara remained unconscious. Elijah's mind was a whirlwind of questions. What had happened to her? Why was she parked on the side of the road?

When they arrived at Elijah's mansion, he carried Kiara to one of the guest rooms. He quickly called his personal doctor, requesting him to come and check on Kiara.

As they waited for the doctor to arrive, Kiara began to stir. She was having a nightmare, her eyes moving rapidly beneath her eyelids. Elijah watched in concern as she started to cry, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Please," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "Please, no."

Elijah's heart went out to her. He gently stroked her face, trying to calm her down. But Kiara was beyond consolation. She clutched at Elijah's clothes, her eyes still closed.

"It's okay," Elijah whispered, holding her close. "I'm here. You're safe."

But Kiara just cried harder, her body shaking with sobs. Elijah held her, trying to comfort her, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

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Kiara's sobs slowly subsided, her breathing softening as she calmed down. Elijah's grip on her relaxed, his eyes fixed on her face.

The doctor arrived, his expression professional. "Let's take a look," he said, gently prying Kiara's hands off Elijah's clothes.

Elijah stepped back, watching anxiously as the doctor examined Kiara. After a few minutes, the doctor finished and turned to Elijah.

"It seems Kiara has had a panic attack, likely triggered by something from her past," the doctor said, his voice low. "I've prescribed her some medication to help calm her down, but I recommend keeping a close eye on her for the next few hours."

Elijah nodded, his mind racing with questions. What could have triggered such a severe panic attack?

"I'll make sure she gets the medication," Elijah said, his eyes fixed on Kiara's peaceful face.

The doctor nodded and left, leaving Elijah alone with Kiara. Elijah instructed his staff to clean Kiara up and make her comfortable, then left the room to give them space.

Hours passed, and Kiara slowly began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused, as she slowly regained consciousness.

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Kiara's eyes slowly fluttered open, her gaze unfocused. She was met with an unfamiliar ceiling, and her mind struggled to recall how she got there. The room was tastefully decorated in neutral tones, with a large window that let in a sliver of moonlight.

As she sat up, Kiara felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She sat back down, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself. After a few moments, she tried again, this time managing to stand up without feeling dizzy.

Kiara looked down at herself, realizing she was wearing a clean set of clothes. But they weren't hers. A wave of panic washed over her, and she quickly scanned the room for any sign of her belongings.

Not finding anything, Kiara rushed out of the room, determined to find answers. She walked into the hallway, her bare feet making barely a sound on the plush carpeting. The walls were adorned with expensive artwork, and the air was thick with the scent of wealth.

As she walked down the hallway, Kiara met one of the servants, an elderly woman with a kind face. "Ma'am, you're awake! You're supposed to be resting," the woman said, concern etched on her face.

Kiara's eyes narrowed, confusion etched on her face. "Who are you? Where am I? Who brought me here?" she asked the maid.

The maid's eyes darted towards the study room, but before she could answer, Elijah emerged from the room, a look of concern etched on his face.

Kiara didn't notice Elijah approaching her, too focused on questioning the maid. But before she knew it, she felt herself being lifted off the ground. She looked back, shocked to see Elijah's face.

"What's going on?" Kiara demanded, struggling in Elijah's arms. "What am I doing here? Who brought me here? Put me down!"

Elijah ignored Kiara's protests, carrying her back to the bedroom. "You're sick, Kiara. You need to rest," he said, his voice firm.

Kiara's face turned red with rage. "I'm not sick! I don't need to rest! Put me down, Elijah!" she shouted, trying to fight him off.

But Elijah was too strong. He deposited Kiara on the bed, holding her down as she tried to stand up. "You're not going anywhere until you're feeling better," he said, his eyes locked on hers.

Kiara glared at Elijah, her chest heaving with anger. "You can't keep me here. I demand to know what's going on," she spat, trying to push Elijah away.

But Elijah held firm, his expression unyielding. "You're safe, Kiara. That's all that matters right now."

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Kiara tried to push Elijah's hands off her, her eyes flashing with anger. "What am I safe from?" she demanded, her voice rising. "I was already safe. Why did you bring me here?"

Elijah's expression remained calm, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "You weren't safe, Kiara," he said, his voice firm. "I found you parked on the side of the road, unconscious. You were having a panic attack."

Kiara's face went pale, and she looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. "I...I just had a bit of an accident. That's all."

Elijah's eyes locked onto hers, his expression skeptical. "It wasn't just an accident, Kiara. You had a panic attack. Do you get those often? What triggers them?"

Kiara's eyes darted away, and she shook her head. "I...I don't get panic attacks. I just...I met with an accident. The road was slippery, and I lost control of the car."

Elijah's expression remained unconvinced, but he didn't push the issue. "If you're not ready to talk about it, that's fine. Just rest for now."

Kiara's face set in a stubborn expression. "I don't want to rest. I want to go home."

Elijah's eyes narrowed slightly. "You owe me, Kiara. I rescued you. The least you can do is rest here for the night. You can leave tomorrow morning."

Kiara's eyes flashed with anger, but she knew it was pointless arguing with Elijah. She lay back in bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.

There was a knock on the door, and the elderly servant from earlier entered, carrying a tray with a bowl of soup. "I brought you some soup, ma'am," she said, her voice warm. "You must be feeling weak."

Kiara took the tray, her eyes meeting Elijah's. He was still standing in the doorway, watching her. "What are you looking at?" Kiara asked, feeling a surge of irritation.

Elijah's expression was neutral. "Nothing."

The silence between them was awkward, until Elijah finally cleared his throat. "Get some rest, Kiara. I'll be in my room if you need me."

As Elijah left, Kiara couldn't help but wonder why he had saved her. And why was he being so stubborn about letting her leave? She felt a surge of gratitude towards him, but it was mixed with frustration and anger.

Kiara looked down at the soup in her hand, taking a spoonful of it. As she tasted the warm broth, she realized that the elderly servant was still standing there, watching her.

Kiara gave the servant a questionable look, and the servant quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I didn't mean to pry into your personal business."

Kiara's expression softened slightly, and the servant continued. "It's just that...well, this is the first time our young master has brought someone back to the house. And he seems quite...worried about you."

Kiara's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued despite herself. "Oh?"

The servant nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I've never seen him like this before. He's always been...distant, I suppose. But with you...he seems different. And he's been so stressed about you that he hasn't even eaten anything since he brought you here."

Kiara's expression changed to one of surprise. She hadn't expected Elijah to be so invested in her well-being.

The servant continued, "I think our young master could use someone to talk to, ma'am. Someone who can...understand him, perhaps."

Kiara looked at the servant, her mind racing with questions. Why was Elijah so worried about her? And what did the servant mean by "understand him"?