Page 62 of Fragile Love (Fragile 3)
“All you’re saying is bullshit,” Lillian growled.
“If you really loved him, you would let him live a full and happy life,” the woman hissed in her face. “You’re ruining him. Are you trying to prove something by being with him?”
“Shut up.”
She continued as if Lillian hadn’t even spoken. “Are you trying to show the world that you’re not weak by controlling such a god of a man?”
“Sierra,” a deep voice boomed from the door. The woman whirled around and stared, a nasty expression on her beautiful face. Lillian couldn’t tear her eyes away from the horrible woman, didn’t even recognize Cayden’s voice until he stormed over to them.
“What the hell are you doing here?” He glared at the woman, putting a protective arm around Lillian.
“Doing you a favor,” the woman snapped. “Telling this bitch how selfish and manipulative she is.”
Lillian started at her, but Cayden held her back. “Let’s go, Lil.”
“Is there a problem?” the bartender asked, looking back and forth between Lillian and Sierra.
“This woman is extremely inappropriate. I believe she’s drunk.” Cayden glared at Sierra, his voice deep. “She should probably leave. Now.”
The bartender waved a hand and nodded at a man by the door, who took Sierra gently by an arm. She didn’t fight to be let go.
“You’ll thank me later, sweetie,” the velvety-voiced woman said, tinged with darkness. “I’m getting rid of a roadblock to your success for you, Cayden-sweetie.”
“You are the roadblock, Sierra,” Cayden growled, garnering a few looks from uncomfortable customers. When Sierra was out, he turned to Lillian, who was fuming so badly that tears were streaming down her face. “Dammit, Lil,” he grumbled. “I’m so sorry.”
Lillian was frozen, standing with her fists clenched so hard she was drawing blood in her palms. “You know that woman?” she whispered.
Cayden touched her shoulder. “Let’s go, Lil.”
She couldn’t even grab her bag. Cayden wrapped the strap around it and carried it under his arm, putting his other around her shoulders as they quickly walked back to the hotel. Lillian stumbled a few times, but made no sound.
After what felt like an hour, they opened the door to their hotel room and she stumbled inside, falling to her knees on the floor and breaking down.
“Lil!” Cayden knelt and tried to pull her close, but she didn’t budge. She began weeping like a child. Cayden sat with his back against the bed and did his best to pull her shaking body against his. “Lil, listen to me, can you hear me?”
She shook harder.
“Lil, Sierra is evil. She’s been obsessed with me for weeks. I’ve been trying to handle it without telling you.”
“Shut up!” Lillian hissed, but pressed against him harder.
A wet spot from her tears grew on his shirt. “Do you understand what I’m saying? That woman is a vulture. She preys on the weak.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t mean you’re weak. She just goes after those who are vulnerable. I didn’t know it. Katharina hates her. Sierra tried to ruin her a couple of times before, too. She’s been stalking Katharina online, and got my info from another client. I had no idea. I really thought I was handling it fine.”
“Obviously not!” Lillian jerked back and looked him in the eye through the river of tears. “How did she even know we would be there?”
“I don’t know, Lil, but I do know a lot of people who could ruin her right now. I could make phone call and she would be an outcast for the rest of her life, as long as she’s in Los Angeles or even with this circle of people.”
“She wouldn’t be ruined,” Lillian cried. “People like that can’t be ruined.”
“Yes, they can.” Cayden used his sleeve to dry her cheeks, but they were instantly wet again. “A lot of people take me very seriously here.”
“Why didn’t you before? Get rid of her? If she’s such a horrible person, why’d you put up with her? Did you date her?” She had no idea what he’d done when they were apart. What if he slept with her? A new set of tears started welling in her eyes.
“I didn’t want to make it public, Lil. I was still kind of new here when it started happening, and I wanted to try to fix it myself before involving other people.”
Lillian was about to make another protest but clapped her hand over her mouth. She frantically tried to scoot toward the bathroom. When Cayden helped her up, she gagged, and he scooped her up and got her to the toilet just in time for her to vomit three times. He held her hair up and softly blew on the back of her sweating neck until she feebly sat back.
“Let’s rinse off, Lil, and have a rest,” he said gently, and got her out of her clothes. “I love your dress.”
