Chapter 19 - Forgotten Marks

As agreed, Allan was waiting for Kyera in the stable. As soon as he saw her approaching, he smiled, a gesture that softened the firmness of his features.

— Ready for a change? – he asked lightly, before gesturing for her to follow him.

Kyera walked beside him, keeping a steady pace and observing the route carefully. She realized that she no longer needed to leave the motorcycle parked in front of the mansion. The path to the outbuilding led around the side of the main house, around the large garden and to the small building at the back. It was a quiet route that could be traveled either on foot or by car.

The silence was broken by Allan's voice, deep and direct:

— Are you sure you want to stay at the stud farm? – He squinted at Kyera. – You must have realized that nothing is going to be easy with Alec.

Kyera sighed deeply, but didn't hesitate when answering.

— The city's full, so I don't have much choice. – he replied, shrugging. His eyes were fixed firmly ahead. – As for Alec, I'm not afraid of him, Allan. I never have been. He'll have to put up with me for as long as I'm in town.

Allan arched his eyebrows, an expression of mild surprise mixed with an almost amused smile.

— So, you really intend to stay? For how long?

Kyera's curious tone didn't go unnoticed. She knew he was probing, trying to get more out of her than she was willing to tell him.

— Enough time to sort out everything I need. – she answered evasively, keeping her gaze on the road.

Allan let out a low laugh, the smile growing on his lips.

— Has anyone ever told you that you're very mysterious?

Kyera stopped for a moment and stared at him, an ironic glint in her eyes.

— Has anyone ever told you that you look like a detective?

The comment drew a genuine laugh from Allan, which filled the silence around them, breaking for a moment the veiled tension that hung between them.

— Touche! – he muttered, walking back with her.

Kyera laughed, the light, carefree sound echoing along the stone path that circled the manor. Although there was a direct entrance through the kitchen of the main house, Allan had insisted on showing her the outside, so that she could access the outbuilding without having to go through the mansion.

They soon arrived at a charming building, a harmonious blend of masonry and white-painted wood. It was a two-storey cottage with a cozy veranda at the front that invited contemplation. To Kyera's surprise, the paintwork was well-preserved and just needed cleaning, just as Samantha had mentioned.

— Wow, how beautiful! I didn't remember that building.

Allan smiled, with a touch of nostalgia in his eyes.

— Dad had it built to receive investors during meetings and parties. – he explained, looking thoughtfully at the outbuilding. – The idea was for it to function as a guest house, but when we moved to the city, the rooms in the mansion became vacant. Mom decided to rent them out.

Kyera frowned, curious.

— And why didn't Samantha come to live here instead of sharing the manor with the guests?

Allan let out a short laugh, as if the answer was obvious.

— Do you think Mom would let go of the room where she slept with our father for decades? – He shrugged, a wry smile appearing on his lips. – It's easier to slit her wrists than to get her out of that house.

Kyera laughed, amused by Allan's dramatic tone. As she watched him, she noticed familiar details: the dimples that formed on his cheeks when he smiled, identical to those of Alec and Alex, and the same silver glint in his eyes, something so characteristic of the brothers.

Allan opened the door and gestured for her to enter. Kyera stepped inside the house and, as she looked around, her eyes lit up. The living room was cozy, furnished with rustic but visibly comfortable sofas and armchairs. The fireplace dominated the main wall, and above it, a television was fixed. Tall windows on the right let daylight flood into the room, offering a lovely view of the green pasture. To the left, a door led to a spacious kitchen, equipped with modern appliances and a central marble island that served as a table and counter.

— Wow, this is much better than I imagined.

Allan watched her carefully, the corner of his lips curving up in a smile.

— You seem to like it. – he commented, leaning nonchalantly against the doorframe.

With his arms crossed, he let his hair fall over his forehead, almost hiding the discreet scar that marked his eyebrow.

— I love it! – Kyera replied, enthusiasm evident in her voice. Her eyes sparkled as she analyzed every detail of the room. – This is my favorite room in the house, and it's just fabulous.

Allan's warm laughter filled the room, the sound perfectly matching the cozy atmosphere.

— Come on, cook, I'll show you upstairs. – said Allan, indicating the stairs with a casual gesture. – There are two bedrooms and a bathroom.

— I only need one. – Kyera replied, drawing another laugh from him.

As they climbed, Kyera noticed something different about the way Allan moved: he had a limp.

— Where did you hurt your leg? – she asked, causing him to stop for a moment in the middle of the stairs.

Allan frowned, the deep crease further accentuating the discreet scar on his eyebrow.

— It must have been quite a fall, considering the cut on his forehead. – Kyera continued, with a tone mixed with curiosity and provocation.

He smiled, a broad, easy smile, but there was something behind the gesture that made Kyera feel a shiver run down her spine.

— Sometimes these things happen. – he replied with a shrug, as if it were something trivial. – It's the perils of the trade, but I know how to deal with them very well.

There was a veiled weight to his words, an untold story. Kyera felt the tension in the air, but the moment faded when they reached the top of the stairs. There, there was a small room that divided the two bedrooms, positioned facing each other. What really caught Kyera's attention was the balcony on the second floor, which offered a breathtaking view of the silver lake in the afternoon sunlight.

— Oh my God! – Kyera whispered in awe. – I'd forgotten how beautiful it is here!

— Very different from the big city. – commented Allan, coming up next to her. – When I'm in New York or anywhere else, I miss this view.

— Do you go to New York a lot? – Kyera asked, trying to disguise her curiosity.

— At least once a week, but my main job is in Dallas, – he replied, shrugging. – Alex and I work for a travel agency, whose branch is in New York. We're in administrative positions, so we travel a lot... and for free.

— The advantages of having a good job. – she replied, her tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.

Allan laughed, amused by her attitude, and went on to show her the rooms. Both were cozy suites, decorated with simplicity but elegance. Each one had a double bed, rustic furniture and large windows that let natural light flood in.

— I think I'll take this one. – Kyera announced as she entered one of the rooms. Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at the view through the window. The lake mirrored the blue sky, and the surrounding orchard completed the serene, almost untouched landscape.

She stood still for a moment, lost in the beauty of the scene, until something made her shudder. An uncomfortable throbbing in her abdomen, as if a wave of unknown energy was passing through her. Suddenly, her vision blurred and her knees began to weaken.

— Kyera! – exclaimed Allan, noticing the change in her. He moved forward quickly, holding her firmly before she could fall. – Are you all right?

— I... I don't know! – Kyera whispered, putting her hand to her forehead as she tried to regain her balance. – Suddenly, I felt dizzy...

Allan helped her sit on the edge of the bed; his expression now filled with concern.

— You're freezing! – he said, touching her forehead with the back of his hand. – I'll take you back to the manor.

Kyera tried to protest, but the strength seemed to have fled her body. All she could do was close her eyes and take a deep breath as Allan carefully supported her.

Effortlessly, Allan lifted her into his arms and walked steadily down the stairs, as if her weight were insignificant. In the kitchen of the main house, he carefully settled her in a chair before taking a glass of water and handing it to her.

— Drink slowly, – he asked, his voice calm but concerned.

Kyera obeyed, taking small sips as she breathed deeply, trying to pull herself together.

— Are you feeling better? – Allan asked, watching her intently.

She nodded, but grimaced slightly.

— My scar is hurting a bit, – he muttered, bringing his hand to his abdomen.

— Let me see! – Allan asked, leaning closer.

Hesitating, Kyera frowned, pondering for a few moments before lifting up her T-shirt, revealing the scar that ran across her abdomen. It was a thick, slightly irregular mark that contrasted with her skin.

— Jesus Christ! – exclaimed Allan, visibly surprised. – How did you manage that?

— To be honest, I have no idea. All I know is that it hurts sometimes, – Kyera replied, gritting her teeth as Allan gently touched the surface. – And that's not the only one!

She stretched out her arm and turned it upwards, revealing the inside. The scar on her abdomen was more obvious, but the one on her arm, although thinner and more subtle, extended discreetly.

— What do you mean you don't know? – Allan asked, not disguising his incredulity.

— I don't remember how I got them, – Kyera admitted, letting out a frustrated sigh. – Even my aunt couldn't explain it. She said that when I arrived in New York, I already had those scars.

Allan tilted his head thoughtfully and muttered:

— Well, that gives strength to Vince's story.

— What story? – Kyera asked, frowning.

— That you had an accident as a child and he decided to send you to boarding school because you were too naughty.

Kyera let out a dry, humorless laugh and made a bitter face.

— Only I never went to boarding school, – she said, resentfully. – Instead, he left me with Siena and disappeared. He never came back.

There was a mixture of hurt and anger in his voice, borne of years of unanswered questions. Allan remained silent for a moment, respecting the weight of that outburst.

— Do you often have these fainting spells? – he asked, trying to change the focus while taking a step back.

— No. To be honest, this is the second time this has happened since I got here, – Kyera replied, rubbing her face with her hands. – It must be the heat mixed with all the commotion. And to make matters worse, both times I didn't have breakfast.

Allan nodded with a half-smile.

— Well, that explains a lot. – he said, with a lighter tone. – Let's get you something so you don't faint again.

Despite the worry still hanging in the air, the mood softened a little. Kyera put her head down, exhausted, while Allan started rummaging through the kitchen cupboards in search of something to feed her.

— How about scrambled eggs? – Allan asked, casting a quick glance over his shoulder.

— Sounds great! – replied Kyera, with an excited smile.

While he prepared the eggs, Kyera watched, amused, as Allan emptied his second mug of coffee. He was a caffeine addict, that much was clear, but she preferred to keep the observation to herself. There was something comforting about the way he moved around the kitchen, attentive and meticulous, as if he was making sure everything was perfect. The cautious, almost protective way he treated her made Kyera feel unexpectedly safe.

— You're the first person I've talked to about my scars. – she commented, almost without realizing that she had spoken aloud.

— Is that so? – Allan asked, looking at her quickly, genuine interest evident on his face.

— Yes. You seem to have a gift for making people talk.

Allan let out a low, almost hoarse laugh, which echoed through the kitchen.

— That's my specialty... – he said, glancing over his shoulder, a smile on his lips. – Although not everyone is as good a collaborator as you.

Kyera frowned slightly, picking up on an enigmatic nuance in his answer. She preferred not to ask what he meant by that. Some things were better left unsaid. She took a deep breath, sensing the irresistible aroma that was beginning to fill the room. It wasn't just the eggs; there was bacon too.

— This smells great! – she complimented, diverting the focus.

— I hope you like it. – replied Allan, finishing the preparations with almost professional efficiency. He brought the plate to the table, accompanying it with a fork, knife and a glass of freshly poured orange juice. – Scrambled eggs with bacon are my specialty.

— Thank you, Kyera! – said Kyera, her eyes shining as she stared at her plate. – It looks great.

— By the way... – added Allan, walking over to a nearby sideboard. He took out a brown envelope and held it up for her to see. – Dominic stopped by just before you arrived. He left this for you.

Kyera looked up in surprise as Allan handed her the envelope. The presence of the object in the kitchen unexpectedly changed the light mood of minutes ago.

— She's done it!

— What did Dominic get?

— My license to bartend, – Kyera replied with a satisfied smile. – I got a job at Luck's bar. I start at five.

— That's great! I'll arrange with Alex to meet up later and have a beer in your honor.

— I'm flattered to be the reason for a drink. – Kyera teased, raising an eyebrow.

Allan laughed as he emptied his coffee mug in seconds and then refilled it, sitting down in a chair facing Kyera.

— So why did my sister have to bring those documents here? – he asked, giving her a curious look.

— Alec tore up the first ones I filled in and even threatened not to give me my license.

Allan grimaced, as if his brother's attitude didn't surprise him.

— Forgive my brother, he's going through a very difficult time. His mood, which has never been the best, has got even worse since the divorce proceedings began.

— Myka told me something about it. How long was he married?

— Almost seven years.

— All that? – Kyera arched her eyebrows in surprise.

— Alec and Alexandra started dating in high school. It was always a troubled relationship, but he didn't listen to us when we warned him that marrying her would be a mistake. – Allan sighed.

— I'm surprised they didn't have children.

— It wasn't for lack of will on Alec's part. – replied Allan, leaning casually on the table. – But Alexandra always put it off, saying it would deform her body.

— How selfish! – commented Kyera, with a sneer.

— I don't think she'll ever be a good mother. – Allan commented with a disdainful smile. – You must remember her. She's Josh Keller's daughter.

The name made Kyera's stomach flip, as if the ground had slipped out from under her feet. For an instant, the fork slipped out of her hands, hitting the plate with a sharp sound. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to regain her balance.

— Kyera? Is everything all right?

— Yes! – she replied quickly, forcing a smile as she straightened her fork. – It was just a little dizziness. It's passing now.

Allan didn’t look convinced and frowned; the concern evident in his eyes.

— You should see a doctor. It could be something serious!

— Thanks for your concern, but I'm better now. – Kyera said, playing it down with a smile. Wiping her mouth on her napkin, she stood up and took her plate to the sink. – I think I just needed a good meal.

She turned to face him, more firmly.

— I think I'd better start cleaning. I still want to rest before my night shift.

— Of course. If you need anything, I'll be in the stable. – replied Allan, raising his coffee mug before taking another sip.

— Thank you!

Before leaving, Kyera leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. The gesture was simple, but it surprised Allan, who smiled slightly.

She left the kitchen feeling the cool breeze coming from the open windows. Despite that moment of dizziness and the discomfort that the name Josh Keller had brought, the morning had been surprisingly good. As she walked along the stone path back to the outhouse, Kyera hoped that the evening would end even better.

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