Bedmates Soulmates
CHAPTER 354

Three years ago, he didn't do anything to Georgina after she schemed against him, because she was Kira's sister.

But if he saw her now, he wasn't going to let her off the hook that easily.

Helen stood up when Gideon walked in.

She almost didn't recognise him.

His features were as handsome as before, though there was a hard edge to his look now.

It was his clothes that dazzled her.

His dark blue suit was Zegna.

His black brogues were Thom Browne.

His watch was Tag Heuer.

Helen had seen the rose-gold Carrera Chronograph in a shop before.

The man's outfit, from head to toe, was easily worth six figures.

Plus, he booked a private room in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Helen was impressed.

The boy who was b

broke and homeless just a few years ago had come up in the world.

She needed to handle him with more courtesy than originally planned.

Thinking of this, she reached out a hand and greeted him with a smile that was just a tad too artificial.

'Gideon! It's been such a long time since we last met."

Gideon ignored her proffered hand, inclined his head slightly and sat down. 'Mrs Vaugh

He wouldn't have given the woman a second glance if it weren't for Kira.

3/7

No Longer The Shay Dog

This was a woman who abandoned her first husband and daughter for money. Helem was Kira's biological mother, but the two looked nothing alike.

While Kira was petite and open-faced, Helen was voluptuous and disingenuous.

Her comely appearance was marred by a calculating gleam in her eyes.

Gideon hadn't missed the appraising once-over she gave him just now.

Helen let her outstretched hand fall to her side.

Undaunted by Gideon's curtness, she sat down opposite him, still smiling.

Thaven't seen you for, what, must be close to four years now. You seem to have done quite well for would make something of yourself eventually, and I was right,

yourself. I knew it. I knew you

Is that so? Gideon leaned back in his chair, wearing an insouciant smile. 'But I remember how you used to point your finger at my nose and call me a leech. What else? Ah, freeloader, hobo, burn, and.. stray dog, If I recall correctly." Helen had the decency to blush

Gideon, you must have me mixed up with someone else. I would have never said:

Helen had forgotten all about what she said to Gideon back then

any of those things to you.'

After all, he was a stray taken in by Kira and ook like he was going anywhere

She'd tossed him out of her mind as soon as he left.

Though those word, ned like something she might have said, no way was the

Gideon dropped the subject.

He wasn't here to reminisce about old times.

going to admit it now.

'Mes Vaughn, I arranged for this meeting because there's something I'd like to ask you."

Kira Is A Mistress

It was Helen's turn to posture.

She sat up straight, picked up the porcelain teacup with two fingers and took a delicate sip..

When she felt she'd made him wait long enough, she asked, 'What is it?"

"I want to know everything about Kira. I know she's a student at Stamford University, but it's the summer break now. She doesn't live on campus. The school doesn't have her home address on file." Gideon fastened his gaze on Helen's made-up face. 'You are her mother. You must know where she is.'

Helen laughed

'Gideon, how can you be so sure I know where she is? After all, you know what happened back then. I left the Hewitt family a long time ago." Helen jutted her chin.

The im

impetuous young man refused to shake hands with her earlier.

Nor did he have the courtesy to order first before they started talking.

Now the table was turned.

Gideon gestured at Martin, who'd been standing quietly by the door.

The assistant approached with a cheque in hand.

'Will this help to jog your memory?"

Gideon pushed the cheque over the table.

Helen stared at the figure written on it.

She blinked, then rubbed her eyes and looked again.

She knew Gideon was rich now, but she had no idea just how rich.

The number made her eyes water.

Michael's company was in big trouble at the moment.

Though the cheque wasn't enough to cover all the losses of Veron Enterprise, it would allow them to keep their heads above water for the time being

Helen lifted the cheque gingerly, careful not to crease it, and put it into her purse.

Her smile was more genuine e this time.

"Gideon, you're being too generous. I would have told you everything you want to know even without the cheque."

Gideon curled his lip.

Helen had changed her last name, but not her nature.

She was every bit the snob she had been years ago-smile at the rich and scowl at the poor.

'I'm all ears."

'I don't have much contact with Kira, Helen said. 'You know how it is, with the divorce and all. But I did run into her not long ago. She's ... changed 'Changed how?'

"It saddens me to say this about my own daughter, but...

"But?' Gideon tapped a finger on the table.

'But she's no longer the innocent girl she once was. I think she'd got herself...what do they call it nowadays? Ah, a sugar daddy,"

Helen shook her head. 'I didn't expect this was how she would turn out-being a kept woman and selling her body for-

'Are you absolutely sure?" Gideon gripped the edge of the table. 'Are you absolutely sure Kira's a...a mistress?" restaurant. There's only one conclusion to draw from that."

Gideon's hands were clenched into fists.

Blood rushed to his head.

Helen carried on with her fake lament and feigned motherly concern, but Gideon no longer heard a word.

a

Kira sat on a bench and watched the frolicking couple on the lawn.

She couldn't help but feel a little envious.

Giana and her boyfriend had been together for ages.

They started dating in high school.

Though they went on to different universities, they made the long-distance relationship work.

Noah video-chatted his girlfriend every night, and made the two-and-a-half-hour bus trip to see her every weekend.

He took a part-time gig during the summer break.

As

soon as he was off work, he would come and see Giana.

Kira didn't want to intrude on the couple's alone time, but she had no one else to call for help.

Giana giggled at something Noah said.

She lowered her head and let Noah put a lei on her head,

He made it with wildflowers plucked from the roadside bush.

Kira snapped a photo of the young, photogenic couple.

They made such a perfect match.

Unlike other high-school couples who broke up after graduation, they stayed together and their love seemed to have only grown stronger.

Kira drew up her knees, braiding strands of grass she found on the bench.

The long, slender blades of grass were soon weaved into the shape of a bunny's head.

Kira stared at it.

Gideon taught her how to weave grass.

Unlike Giana and Noah, her relationship with Gideon didn't survive high school.

As for the boyfriend she had now...

Kira realised with a start that she couldn't call Austyn her boyfriend.

They never dated.

He never asked her out.

He was her husband, sure, but they never did any of the couply things that Giana and Noah did.

Like holding hands on a stroll.

Like sending 'good morning," 'good night,' and 'I miss you' texts.

Like video chatting.

er up in the hospital ward

All Austyn did was get mad at her after she went out for dinner with another man and lock her up

Thinking of this, Kira tossed the grass bunny on the floor and stomped on it, imagining it was Austyn's haughty, emotionless face. Then she started weaving a cat.

Austyn was not a cute, cuddly bunny.

He was a capricious feline, turning on the charm when it suited him and then freezing your soul into a lump of ice with a single look.

Giana sat down next to her on the bench, smelling like gardenia and honeysuckle.

"What are you mumbling about? I could see that pout from a mile away.'

Kira offered Giana the half-finished cat head. 'I wasn't pouting. Just making this for you. I can't thank you enough for getting me out of the hospital, so this is a token of my appreciation."

'A mooncake?

'It's a cat!"

Giana laughed as she examined Kira's handiwork. "The craftsmanship needs some work. It's a good thing your livelihood doesn't depend on this."

She stuffed it into her pants pocket. 'Come on. Time to go home."

Divorce Papers

Kira stood up too fast and saw black spots.

'Ooh, head rush!

"Don't move. Just stand still for a while and wait for it to pass." Noah approached

Kira blinked several times.

When the dizzy spell passed, she said, 'Thanks, Noal. Are you staying for dinner?"

But I have to get up early for work tomorrow." "I would love to." He stood next to Giana and tucked a strand of stray hair behind her ear. He turned to Kira. 'So I'll entrust her to you tonight. Take good care of her, will you?" 'Sure.' Kira nodded, feeling a little guilty.

Giana had not told Noah about the time she ended up in the hospital, thanks to Kayleigh and her thickset bodyguard.