Chapter Thirteen—Kahlan’s POV—Stay Out of It

I didn't know how long I stood there after Aldrich walked away.

I couldn't move. I couldn't think.

I had lost everything.

Again.

The cold night air bit into my skin, but I didn't feel it. My hands trembled at my sides, fingers twitching as if trying to hold onto something that had already slipped through them.

I should have expected this. I should have known that regardless of what I did, it would always end this way.

Still, my chest ached as I watched Aldrich disappear back into the party without looking back.

The same man who, years ago, had once promised to come for me if I ever needed him.

Now, he couldn't even stand the sight of me.

A sharp breath escaped my lips, and I realized I had been holding it in for too long. I forced myself to take another one, but my lungs felt too tight.

I needed to leave.

I needed to get out of here before I collapsed in the middle of this damn balcony.

I turned on shaky legs and walked away, forcing each step forward.

One foot. Then another.

By the time I reached the elevators, the noise of the party felt like a distant hum in my ears. I couldn't bring myself to care anymore.

A few guests gave me curious looks as I walked through the hotel lobby, but I kept my head down. I didn't stop until I reached my floor, until I was safely inside my room with the door locked behind me.

And then—I broke.

A sob tore through my throat, sharp and strangled, as I collapsed onto the bed.

I buried my face into the pillow, my body shaking as I let it all out. The fear. The frustration. The absolute, soul-crushing despair.

This wasn't just about the job.

This wasn't just about Aldrich firing me.

It was about everything.

I had spent the past year barely surviving, fighting to escape one nightmare only to step into another. Emiliano had ruined me, stolen everything from me—but at least I escaped.

And yet, somehow, I still ended up here. Alone. Broke. Lost.

The sobs kept coming, no matter how hard I tried to stop them.

I curled into myself, squeezing my eyes shut. Maybe if I did, the world would stop spinning.

Maybe if I did, I'd wake up and realize this was all just a terrible dream.

But it wasn't.

It was real.

I was really going to be jobless. I had no money, no place to go, and worst of all—no way to protect myself.

And Aldrich…

The one person who could have helped me, the one person who once meant everything to me, had just walked away.

Like I was nothing.

Like I never existed.

I don't know how long I lay there. Maybe an hour. Maybe more.

Eventually, my sobs turned to silent tears, and my body felt too drained to move.

I stared at the ceiling, my mind blank.

I had to figure out what to do next.

I had to survive.

But before I could even begin to think about what came next, I heard something outside my door.

Voices. Muffled. Urgent.

I sat up slowly, my breath catching.

Someone was out there.

I moved quietly, tiptoeing to the door, pressing my ear against it.

At first, I couldn't make out the words. Just low whispers, barely audible.

Then—

"…a mistake."

My heart skipped.

"Too late now. It's been handled."

I pressed my hand against the door, my pulse hammering.

What the hell was going on?

Then, footsteps.

Moving away.

I hesitated for only a second before I unlocked the door and peeked out into the hall.

There was no one there.

But something was off.

The air felt… wrong.

I stepped out slowly, my bare feet silent against the carpet as I walked toward the elevators.

That's when I heard it.

A woman's voice. Low and serious.

"They found him in his suite. Dead."

I froze.

Dead?

"How?" Another voice asked.

"Unclear. But this wasn't an accident."

A chill ran down my spine.

I took another step forward, just enough to peek around the corner.

Two hotel staff members stood there, speaking in hushed voices.

"Who was it?" one of them asked.

The other hesitated. Then—

"Nathaniel Crowe."

My blood ran cold.

I stepped back, my breath catching in my throat.

Crowe.

The man who had warned Aldrich about Redmont.

The man Aldrich had ignored.

The man who was now… dead.

My fingers curled into fists.

This wasn't a coincidence.

First, the poisoning attempt. Now this? But wait… Wasn't it Crowe who tried to poison Aldrich?

Someone was playing a game—and Aldrich was at the center of it.

I needed to warn him.

I needed him to listen.

I turned and ran.

The hotel was quieter than usual, but my footsteps still echoed as I hurried toward Aldrich's suite.

I didn't care that he had fired me.

I didn't care that he hated me.

I just needed him to hear me out.

I reached his door and knocked frantically.

No response.

I knocked again. Harder.

Nothing.

I bit my lip. Was he asleep?

Or…

A sudden, ugly thought crawled into my mind.

What if… he wasn't in there?

What if they had already—

No.

I shook my head, pushing the fear away.

I reached for the handle and, to my shock—

It turned.

Unlocked.

I hesitated for only a second before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

Dark.

Silent.

The curtains were drawn, casting deep shadows across the room. The bed was untouched.

Aldrich wasn't here.

But someone else had been.

The closet door was slightly open—a hint of movement just visible in the dim light.

My breath caught.

"Aldrich?" I whispered.

Nothing.

Then—

A creak.

Behind me.

I spun around just as a hand clamped over my mouth.

I struggled, kicking, thrashing—but the grip was too strong.

A deep voice whispered against my ear.

"You should've stayed out of this."

And then—everything went black.