Chapter 324

He was genuinely on the verge of furious laughter.

Kieran never imagined he’d be reduced to such incoherent anger. It was utterly unlike him.

His voice dropped, thick with barely contained fury. His sharp, dark eyes locked onto Alarieka’s, unblinking. His thin lips parted.

“You sure remember things clearly. But do you recall how I bought you sanitary pads when you first got your period?”

Alaricka’s brain short-circuited the instant those words hit her.

As the meaning sank in, she felt heat flood her cheeks until they burned. Humiliation prickled up her spine like electric shocks, crawling over her scalp until her toes curled inside her shoes.

She dropped her casually crossed arms, glaring at Kieran through clenched teeth. “What are you saying? Do you even hear yourself?”

She couldn’t believe he’d dredge this up.

She’d entered the Argent household just shy of twelve. Years of malnutrition had delayed her development. Her period didn’t arrive until freshman year.

That first time, she’d been utterly unprepared. Riding in Kieran’s car, dressed in her blue-and-white school uniform, she’d stepped out oblivious to the vivid stain spreading across her pants. Only a dull ache low in her belly registered.

Always relaxed around Kieran, and since they weren’t heading to the Argent villa but his private residence, she’d hurried toward the residential neighborhood before he even parked.

Kieran stopped her. He shrugged off his suit jacket, tied the sleeves firmly around her waist himself. The fabric draped down, perfectly covering the stain.

Confused, she blinked up at him. “What’s wrong? I’m not cold. This feels weird. I don’t want it.”

She tried to untie the jacket.

Kieran pressed a hand over hers, his tone leaving no room. “Keep it on.”

He guided her forward, voice softening. “Head inside. I need to grab something from the store. Be right back.”

She always listened to Kieran. The cramping intensified, making her desperate to sit down. She just nodded meekly. “Okay. Hurry back. The housekeeper’s got dinner ready.”

“Will do,” Kieran replied.

Once inside his place, she muttered, “This is so awkward,” and wrestled the jacket off. “Gotta take it off.”

The housekeeper’s voice came from behind. “Oh, Ms. Huston! You should wash up right away.”

She turned, puzzled. “I’ll shower after dinner, thanks.”

The housekeeper hesitated, then snapped a photo of her back and showed her. Alaricka stared at the glaring stain on her light blue uniform pants.

The housekeeper finally explained the source of that belly ache.

Alaricka’s face flamed crimson. She dropped to the floor, burying her face in her hands.

Disaster. Kier definitely saw it. No wonder he gave me the jacket.

Consumed by shame, she bolted for the bathroom. She tore off her pants and underwear, dumping them into a bucket.

Staring at the stained fabric, her mind drifted back to Kieran’s car.

Her pants were this red, so the spot where she sat must be a mess too…

Kieran would definitely see it. Who knew how he’d handle it? Heard it’s genuine leather seats, really expensive.

Staring at her flushed face in the mirror, her eyes slowly widened before she dropped her head in defeat.

How stupid–she forgot to bring clean clothes in.

Hesitantly eyeing the pants in the bucket, her uncertainty hardened into resigned determination. She marched over, hand outstretched to grab them, when a knock sounded on the bathroom door.

“Alarieka.”

It was Kieran.

She approached but didn’t open the door, murmuring, “What?”

“Open up, I’ve got something for you.”

Alaricka pressed her lips together, voice dropping lower. “I’m not wearing pants.”

“I know,” Kieran urged. “Open it. Just a crack.”