After Eight Years, He Walked Away Like I Was Nothing - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Kirsten’s POV
The moment I saw Lachlan, I stopped dead in my tracks.
I hadn’t even been gone that long—just a few days—but he already looked like someone else entirely.
His face was sunken, his eyes bloodshot and barely open as he kept pouring liquor down his throat like it was water.
I instinctively recoiled. A flicker of disgust flashed through me, but I swallowed it down fast.
Something else crossed my mind, and I made myself move forward, forcing each step as I got closer—despite the overwhelming stench of alcohol.
“Locke, what’s wrong with you?” I asked, my voice gentle as I leaned in. “Why are you drinking like this?”
I hesitated, then pressed on, choosing my words carefully.
“Stop thinking about that woman, will you? From now on, let me stay with you. Let us stay—with the baby,” I added softly. “Just forget Chantelle.”
I crouched down a little, lowering my voice.
“If she really loved you, if she truly cared… she wouldn’t have let you fall apart like this.”
I kept my tone warm, full of fake concern, playing the part like I always had.
But the second he heard my voice, Lachlan lifted his head and glared at me with ice-cold eyes.
And then, without a word of warning, he threw the bottle in his hand straight at me.
“Lachlan!” I gasped, stumbling backward.
Glass shattered near my feet. A few sharp pieces caught my skin—nothing deep, but enough to make me flinch.
My face twisted with fury. I opened my mouth to lash out at him, but the look in his eyes stopped me cold—he wasn’t just angry; he was unhinged.
I took a shaky breath, adjusted my voice, and blinked fast, letting my tears gather.
“Locke,” I said softly, “even if you’re upset, you can’t treat me like this.” I placed a trembling hand on my stomach. “Have you forgotten? I’m carrying your child.”
Lachlan stared at me for a long moment—then let out a low, humorless laugh.
“Kirsten,” he said, his voice flat, “I thought I told you not to show your face around me again.”
He stood, slow and deliberate, and started toward me.
“What is it now? You think what I say doesn’t matter? Or do you really believe I won’t touch you?”
The look in his eyes shifted into something animal. Dangerous. Like he was hunting.
I couldn’t deny it; I trembled under his glare.
“I… I just wanted to check on you,” I stammered, voice barely above a whisper.
“Enough!” he snapped, cutting me off with a sharp gesture.
“Get out. Now. Or I swear—” his voice dropped, and he pointed at my stomach, “I can’t guarantee that thing in your belly is making it out alive.”
I let out a sharp, horrified gasp. “Lachlan! That’s your own child!”
But he just sneered.
And at that moment, I knew. ‘If I stay here even a second longer, he might not stop at just the baby. He might actually kill me too!’
My hands trembled as I forced myself to stay calm, just long enough to squeeze out two more lines.
“You’re not thinking clearly right now,” I said, my voice breaking. “It’s okay. I’ll wait for you. When you’re ready to come back… me and the baby—we’ll be here.”
Tears spilled down my face as I bolted from the estate.
Lachlan’s POV
I didn’t even look at her. My eyes stayed locked on the half-empty liquor bottles scattered under the table.
Not even three minutes after Kirsten walked out, my assistant sent over the results of the investigation.
I barely got through the first few pages before rage twisted up my face.
Grabbing my phone, I immediately called the security.
“She couldn’t have gotten far,” I said coldly. “Find her and bring her back. If she resists—hit her. Just make sure she’s still breathing.”
As soon as I hung up, I flipped back through the files. This time, I really looked.
There was surveillance footage. Screenshots. Messages.
Turns out, Kirsten had been secretly contacting Chantelle behind my back—again and again.
Every single thing that had happened—every setup, every “accident”—it had all been her doing.
Even the kidnapping.
But that wasn’t the worst of it.
She’d pushed Chantelle’s mother—who’d just woken up—right into a second collapse. Stress killed Patrice!
My hands flew to my head. The pain came fast and sharp.
‘If everything I’ve believed is a lie—if Chantelle has done nothing wrong—then what has all my punishment been for? What right did I have to do that to her?’
The memory of her face—shattered, devastated—flashed through my mind, and it felt like my chest had been split wide open.
A while later, the guards dragged Kirsten back in front of me.
To his surprise, she didn’t resist at all.
‘Of course,’ I thought with a bitter curl of my lip. ‘A woman like her probably still thinks she got me wrapped around her finger. She must’ve believed I haven’t figured her out yet. She must’ve thought I’ll take her back like I used to.’
‘Because yeah—I’ve been that blind once. So damn blind I couldn’t see past her fake tears and soft words.’
‘And because of that, I’d hurt the woman I truly loved. Again and again.’
My chest tightened as I recalled the pain I had caused Chantelle.
I felt my eyes start to burn, and Kirsten didn’t notice. As soon as she was brought into the study, she beamed with delight.
“Locke, I knew you’d come around,” she said sweetly, stepping closer. “You love me. We’re going to be a proper family now—just the five of us.”
“I want what you gave Chantelle too,” that bitch even added. “Why don’t you transfer some of your company’s shares to the kids? Just a little, so I’ll feel more secure before the wedding.”
I stared at her in disbelief. She was already daydreaming about becoming my wife and spending my money like she earned it.
That shameless woman even curled her lips with excitement.
I stared coldly at the vain, greedy woman in front of me. She was selfish, manipulative, and greedy—nothing like my Chantelle.
And the worst part? I’d once believed in her.
I’d betrayed Chantelle for this. Over and over again.
That thought alone made something in me snap. Before I even realized it, I was on her—fury pouring out of me like fire.
That’s when she probably finally realized.
I hadn’t “come around.”
I knew.
I knew everything.
All the cruel things she had done rushed back to her, and fear flooded her body.
Her smile froze. Her eyes widened. She opened her mouth to speak—but I was already gripping her throat.
“You really thought I’d never find out?” I hissed, my voice trembling with rage. “Everything you did to Chantelle behind my back—and you still dared to show up here?”
I shook my head, adding, “You watched me fall for it. Watched me hurt her again and again. Did that make you feel good, huh?”
My hatred burned through my eyes, and my grip tightened.
Kirsten’s eyes rolled back. She started to choke. Just before she passed out, I forced myself to let go.
I shoved her back, breathing hard. “You killed her mother!” I spat. “And I’m not letting you off easy.”
“You’re coming with me,” I said. “You’ll face her. And you’ll answer everything.”
With that, I tossed her to the floor.
She gasped for air, coughing, eyes full of panic as she scrambled backward—like she couldn’t get far enough away from me.
Her throat was raw, and she opened her mouth to speak—but I’d had enough.
I turned away and waved a hand.
“Take that liar away,” I said to the guards, my voice flat.