Page 4 of Christmas with Billionaire's Runaway Bride

Kendra's dad doesn't waste a moment, dialing his phone while expressing his disbelief at the situation. "Don't tell me that this is how sloppy my security team is. Hey, can I help you with something?" His tone is both authoritative and inquisitive.

Despite the rising tension, I remained silent, hoping that Kendra would step in and clarify my presence, as we had agreed beforehand. But Kendra's voice finally breaks through the awkwardness, easing the tension. "Daddy, don't you remember my friend Claire? Come on, call off your dogs," she interjects smoothly, her casual demeanor contrasting with the earlier intensity.

I find myself exhaling a sigh of relief as Kendra stands beside me, her presence offering a sense of validation. However, at that moment, I'm reminded of the unspoken truths and imbalances in our arrangement. It becomes clear that it's time for me to step up and earn my place, even if it means accepting her offer that I had initially hesitated to take. I realize that I need to work for my keep, to contribute and prove my worth, a realization that sets me on a path to independence and self-sufficiency.

"You should have said so earlier," Kendra's dad chips in. I glance at them, feeling a mix of confusion and offense. "Come here, you poor thing. You shouldn't have to go through that. Forgive our manners," her mother finally manages to say, though it somehow leaves me feeling unsettled. More cautious than ever, I muster my courage and step towards them, extending my hand for a greeting. They accept it hesitantly, the interaction brief and uncomfortable for all of us.

I finally find a seat on the couch beside a large, spotless window that offers a view of the city. The couch is positioned a bit away from Kendra's parents, which oddly enough brings some relief to my racing heart. Before I can fully appreciate the serene view, Kendra's mother's words pull me back into the conversation.

"It is too bad that you won't ever touch or be touched by anyone ever again," she says with a tinge of sadness. Kendra immediately asks for clarification, her voice full of curiosity and confusion. I share her curiosity, silently urging her mother to elaborate. A glance exchanged between Kendra's parents reveals her mother's internal struggle. Her anger becomes evident as her face reddens and her veins protrude.

With encouragement from her husband, she begins to explain, her bitterness

. "Oh, my dear child. This is the one thing I don't think our money will help us with." Kendra's impatience is palpable as she presses for more information. I join her in my thoughts, equally eager to understand the situation.

"Is it not just the accident?" Kendra questions again, seeking clarity on the matter.

"Mommy, what do you mean by that?" Kendra's voice is tinged with concern, and I find myself eagerly awaiting her mother's response. Her mother takes a deep breath, her husband's hand providing a comforting squeeze as she prepares to share whatever news has stirred up such intense emotions.

"Yeah... what do you mean by that, ma'am?" I echo Kendra's unspoken question in my mind, my curiosity now fully invested in unraveling this mysterious revelation. Her mother's gaze shifts between her husband and Kendra, her struggle evident as she grapples with how to explain the situation.

As her anger simmers, she finally begins to reveal the truth. "It's not just the accident, dear," she admits with a heavy sigh. "You see, there's something that happened during the accident that... changed things." Her words hang in the air, pregnant with meaning, and I can feel the tension in the room growing.

Kendra leans forward, her eyes locked onto her mother's face, an unspoken plea for clarity in her gaze. "What happened, Mom?" she asks, her impatience now overshadowed by a mix of worry and anticipation. I echo her sentiments in my mind, desperately hoping for a more detailed explanation.

Her mother hesitates, her fingers unconsciously gripping her husband's hand as she continues. "The accident... it... affected your brother in a way that, well, it's left him with a condition." Her voice quivers, and I can sense the gravity of her words even before she spells them out.

"What kind of condition, Mom? You're scaring me," Kendra's voice trembles, and I can practically feel the tension radiating from her. My heart races, mirroring Kendra's fear, as I await the revelation of this mysterious condition.

With a deep breath, Kendra's mother finally lays it all out. "It's a condition that makes his body. reject physical contact, Kendra. He won't be able to touch or be touched by anyone without experiencing pain." The words hang heavily in the air, the weight of their implications sinking in for all of us.

Kendra's eyes widen in disbelief, her mouth opening and closing as she struggles to process this shocking revelation. The room falls into an almost suffocating silence as the reality of the situation settles upon us. I look over at Kendra's brother and notice that he is struggling too.

At that moment, I find myself sharing Kendra's confusion and heartache. The tranquility of the view outside the window now seems distant and insignificant compared to the emotional storm that has taken over the room. As the events in the room become a blur, my mind can't focus on anything except the enormity of this life-altering diagnosis. I can't shake off the feeling of sympathy for Michael, Kendra's brother. In that instant, the family's wealth loses its significance, overshadowed by the weight of this condition.

********

Weeks have flown by since Michael left the hospital, and he made it clear he didn't want to go home with his parents. Instead, he insisted on going back to his own house. I used to think his place was huge, but now it feels surprisingly small. After three weeks of having him home, things have gotten a little crazy. He's fired five of his physiotherapists already and somehow managed to drive his parents up the wall, so they left.

Even Kendra has been avoiding him secretly because he's been grumpy all the time. I can't blame him, considering what he's been through. I decided to move into the east wing of the house, closer to where the servants stay, just to get away from his constant yelling and difficult behavior. Kendra told me that he's probably so irritable because he hasn't been able to be close to a woman in weeks.

"I think he just needs to, you know, have some fun and release all that pent-up energy," she told me, and it made me laugh. I promised myself I'd stay away from him as much as possible, but it seemed like fate had a different plan for me.

It's early on a Saturday, and I decide to go for a jog to help with the stress I've been feeling lately. I head to the kitchen to grab a glass of water, but something unexpected happens. I lose my balance and end up stumbling into something warm and solid. My brain takes a moment to process what just happened, as I wonder why there's suddenly such a big obstacle in the kitchen.

"Can you hurry up and get off me?" A deep, resonating voice pierces the air, sending shivers down my spine.

"Michael?" I manage to ask, still sitting in the same spot, my hands unintentionally wrapped around his bare chest. Wait, what? Why is his chest bare? It doesn't make sense.

"I said, get off me!" he snaps again, this time even louder.

Suddenly, the reality hits me like a ton of bricks. I scramble away, tumbling to the floor, and rush out through the back door. My mind is racing, trying to process what just transpired. How did I end up on his lap? What in the world just happened? I struggle to regain my composure, my heart still pounding from the unexpected encounter.

Chapter Four

Meeting Michael

It's been a week since that unexpected encounter with Michael in his kitchen. Since Kendra's away with her father, I've been able to avoid him by steering clear of places I know he might be. I don't want to face him and have him remind me of how I accidentally caused him pain by touching him. My strategy of avoiding him works well until one day, he rolls his wheelchair into my room without any warning. I'm just in my towel, and his intrusion catches me off guard.

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