Chapter Seventy-One: The Unspoken Preparations

Chloe's POV

She wasn't going to walk away.

Not this time.

Not when Kian stood there, patient, composed, waiting for an answer.

She inhaled slowly, folding her arms, gaze flickering toward him.

"When?"

Kian barely hesitated.

"Tonight. We'll be back tomorrow afternoon."

A pause.

Chloe raised a brow. "What about Carter?"

Kian's response was effortless.

"I told him we'd go, and he said he's okay staying at Blackwood Hall with his grandparents."

Chloe exhaled lightly, nodding. "Okay, but let me grab my things at home—"

"No need."

His voice was steady.

Certain.

Like he had already anticipated this.

Like he already knew exactly what she would say.

Chloe stiffened slightly, eyes narrowing. "What?"

Kian's expression remained unreadable.

"I have your things ready at Azure Haven."

The name settled between them, pressing against the moment with quiet significance.

Azure Haven.

His villa by the beach.

Not just any place.

A place that had always been significant to them.

A place that meant something.

Chloe swallowed hard, surprised. "You…prepared my things?"

Kian only nodded once.

And somehow, that single gesture said more than she was ready to acknowledge.

She forced herself to breathe.

To brush past the subtle weight of what this meant.

"Okay."

Kian's POV

She was agreeing.

He had expected hesitation.

Expected resistance.

Expected that she might push back.

But she didn't.

Not fully.

Not when he had prepared everything, not when he had been waiting for this exact moment.

For the past sixty days, he had kept his distance.

Hadn't pressed.

Hadn't forced himself into her space.

Hadn't done what he normally would—pushed, demanded, made his presence impossible to ignore.

Because this time?

This time, he was waiting.

And now—he was done waiting.

Just as Kian was preparing to lead Chloe toward the car, a voice cut through the moment.

Norma.

A colleague.

One who was too perceptive, too opportunistic, too eager to involve herself where she had no place.

She hadn't known who Kian was.

Had only seen the car.

Had only observed the way he carried himself—effortless, commanding, unmistakably someone worth noticing.

And that was enough.

Enough for her to assume.

Enough for her to press forward.

With a carefully feigned smile, she approached Chloe, pretending interest, pretending friendliness.

"Chloe, I didn't know you were so…connected."

Chloe's jaw tensed.

Norma's gaze flickered briefly to Kian, assessing, calculating.

"It's admirable, really. Rising from nothing, making something of yourself, catching the attention of men who—"

She didn't get to finish.

Because Kian turned toward her.

His expression unreadable.

His patience thinning.

And then—the words struck.

"You assume too much."

Norma faltered.

Stiffened slightly.

She had been prepared to overlook him, to carry on with her narrative, her assumptions, her attempt at shifting Chloe's image into something lesser.

But now?

Now, Kian was looking at her.

And suddenly, she wasn't so sure she wanted that attention after all.

She cleared her throat lightly, trying to recover. "I—well, I was just saying that it's interesting, seeing her here—"

Kian didn't blink.

Didn't move.

Didn't do anything except watch.

And the weight of it pressed in more than she was ready for.

Then—deliberate, cutting.

"Is it?"

Norma straightened slightly. "I mean, it's just impressive. She's done well considering—"

"Considering what?"

The words were sharp.

Norma faltered.

Chloe smirked faintly.

Kian remained calm.

Almost bored.

And when Norma didn't respond—because really, what could she say?—he exhaled lightly, dismissive.

"I don't entertain irrelevance."

The words landed exactly as intended.

Sharp.

Final.

Norma swallowed hard, nodding stiffly.

Then—she left.

Without another word.

Without another glance.

Without the confidence she had approached with.

And Kian?

Kian turned back to Chloe, expression neutral.

"Shall we?"

Chloe exhaled slowly, shaking her head slightly but following him toward the car.

"You really don't hold back."

Kian smirked faintly.

"Never did."

And just like that—Azure Haven awaited.