Chapter 16 Scandals Everywhere - What'll Kael Do ? Nova stayed with Mabel for a chat , then received a message from Kael . ] [ Got something to handle . Should take about an hour . ] ] Nova didn't doubt him . Sam had come in person earlier - whatever it was , it must be urgent . [ ] As noon approached , relatives and friends arrived one after another to celebrate Mabel's birthday . ] ] " Nova , where's Kael ? " someone asked . [ ] They'd taken the time , effort , and money to come here - not just for Mabel's birthday . [ ] " He's tied up with work right now . He'll be here soon , " Nova explained with a faint smile , then went back to greeting guests . ] ] " I heard Kael and Nova are having relationship problems . He's keeping a woman on the side , " one relative whispered . [ ] " Really ? They've hidden it well , then . Online , it's all stories about how in love they are . So things have fallen apart behind the scenes ? No wonder Kael's not here today . " [ ] Word is he took a woman to the hospital a few days ago . Could it be an illegitimate child ? No wonder Nova's still not pregnant after all this time ! " ] " How embarrassing . If it's true , what will Nova get if they divorce ? We've been sucking up to them for years for nothing ! " ] The relatives weren't trying to keep their voices down . ]] : Nova froze mid - step , humiliation burning through her - like her pride was being trampled underfoot . [ ] I have to stop them right now - Grandma mustn't hear this . If she does ... God , no , that can't happen . I won't let that happen . [ ] Crash ! The sound of a cup shattering came from behind her . [ ] Nova's heart jolted . She spun around to see Mabel's face as pale as paper , her body swaying unsteadily , chest heaving violently . [] " Grandma ! " Nova rushed over in a panic , supporting Mabel . She pulled out heart medicine and helped her take it , patting her chest gently . " Grandma , Grandma ... " [ ] Mabel lifted a shaky hand , gripping Nova's arm . Her aged eyes trembled . " Honey , tell me the truth ... Are you and Kael really ... " ] Mabel had heard everything . The relatives who'd been gossiping froze when they saw Mabel's heart acting up , looking flustered . " Mabel , we were just talking nonsense ! Don't take it to heart ! " [] " Who knows if that illegitimate child rumor is true anyway ! " ] ] " Yeah , exactly ! " Their excuses only made things worse . ] w . " ] Nova snapped at them to shut up, then helped Mabel to the lounge . " It's not true . Kael and I are fine . Don't listen to their nonsense ... I'll get him here right now . " The medicine had helped Mabel calm down a little . She held Nova's hand anxiously . " Go . Go get him back right now ... " She pushed Nova , her tone firm . [ ] Nova had no choice : She asked someone to keep an eye on Mabel , then left the lounge with her phone , hurrying to call Kael She dialed again and again - but every call rang until it went to voicemail . Nova's heart sank ... ] If Keeldidn't show up today . Mabel would never let this go Her heart was weak , Nova didn't even dure think about what might happen if something went wrong [ ] " How's it going ? Any word from Kael ? " Nova's father , Donny Hale , hurried over He was usually busy with work , but he cared deeply about his daughter and Mabel [ ] Nova suddenly felt wronged , but she didn't want to worry her family [ ] She forced a calm smile . " No answer yet ... Ite's probably still in a meeting Chapter 16 Scandals Everywhere - What 11 Kael Do ? Donny hadn't spent much time with her , but he knew his daughter too well to be fooled . [ ] He sighed softly , walking over to pat her shoulder . " I'll stay with Mom . Don't worry . " [ ] Nova's nose tingled ; she nodded quietly . [ ] After Donny left , Nova clung to one last hope and called Kael again . [ ] This time , it connected . [ ] The background was noisy , filled with chatter and music . ] " Kael , where are you ? Something's happened here . Can you hurry over when you're done ? I'm worried about Grandma ... " [] Her voice was almost tearful . She really needed Kael to come soon ... ] But a laugh came from the other end . [ ] Nova's body went rigid . [] Sloane's mocking voice sounded . " The Nightclub , Room 808. Come get him yourself if you want him ! " ] Beep . Beep . Beep . ) The cold sound of the disconnected call stabbed at Nova's eardrums . She gripped her phone tightly . [] " Still no sign of Kael ? He must not care . Probably with some woman right now , " the gossiping relatives whispered again . ] ] " Tell me about it . Poor Nova - she's given him years of her life , and now she'll end up with nothing . " [ " If Mabel finds out the truth , she'll be furious . Who knows how much longer she'll live ? " Nova's hands shook as she held her phone , her face even paler . [ ] She'd been with Kael from when he had nothing to when he had power and wealth . ] When his company was just starting out , she'd worked as a publicist , drinking until her stomach bleeding . She'd helped him build his business , taken care of him ... [ ] What had she gotten in return ? A mistress who dared to bully her to her face . And endless mockery . [] She never thought he'd even fail to protect her family's dignity . [] A thought flickered in her mind . [ ] Her eyes turned red , then she turned and walked toward the exit . [ ] I When Nove arrived at The Nightclub , she saw the door was slightly ajar . [ ] Even though she'd prepared herself , her heart ached like it was being pricked with needles when she saw what was inside . [ ] She clapped a hand over her mouth to hold back a sob [ ] Inside the private room - romantic helium balloons filled the space , bright rose petals scattered across the floor ... whoever had decorated it had put a lot of thought into it . [ ] In the middle of the room , Kael knelt on one knee , sliding an exquisite ring onto sloane's ring finger [ ] The sight stabbed at Nova's eyes Shed seen that ring before . ) She'd noticed Karl designing it since last year it was beautiful , with an intricate design , and the sapphire was rare - one could tell how much care had gone into it She'd thought it was a wedding anniversary gift for her [ ] But it was a birthday gift for Sloane ! Chapter 16 Scandals Everywhere - What I Kael Do ? Had they been together even back then ? And she'd been foolishly looking forward to their anniversary , wondering what gift to get him ... ]] Tears blurred Nova's vision . She fought to hold back her sobs . [ ] Kael reverently put the ring on Sloane , kissing the back of her hand . " Happy birthday , baby . " Sloane's face was filled with happiness - making Nova , hiding by the door , look like a clown peeking in on someone else's joy , a complete joke ... [ ] Kael's friends started hooting and yelling , " Kiss her ! You can't put a ring on her without a kiss ! " [] " Yeah , kiss her ! " ] " It's such an important day - you have to kiss her ! " ] Kael smiled , standing up to cup Sloane's face and kiss her . Nova couldn't bear to watch any longer . She leaned against the wall to keep from collapsing , then turned and stumbled away . [ ] She crashed into a waiter by accident - sending the cake he was carrying crashing to the floor . ] ] " Ah ... " Nova's wrist took the brunt of the plate's impact - she gasped , the pain flaring up instantly . [ ] Before she could recover , a tirade of scolding hit her . " Watch out ! In a hurry to die ? " The waiter's eyes filled with tears as he bent down to pick up the tray . " That cake was custom - made by Mr. Voss ! Can you even afford to pay for it ? "I must have offended fate today . " Nova apologized repeatedly . When she heard the cake was custom - made by Kael , her throat tightened , making it hard to breathe . So it wasn't that Kael was careless - it was that her family wasn't as important as Sloane . [ ] He was here , happily celebrating sloane's birthday . Her family was being mocked because of him , and Mabel had a heart attack from worrying about him . [ ] * Im ruined ! How am I supposed to explain this to Mr. Voss later ? " the waiter fumed . ]] Nova closed her eyes in agony , ignoring the pain in her wrist as she pulled a stack of cash from her bag . " This should be enough . Later , I'll send someone to bring another cake and explain to your manager . Will that work ? " ] The waiter's eyes lit up when he saw the money . He hesitated , then agreed - there was no better solution . Just then , the private room door suddenly opened . [ ] ... ) ( 0 ) 16.58