LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 183: Past.
Kyle met with Calista, knowing that she had the world's attention right now.
He knew better than to drive his car to see her; he didn't want any unnecessary rumors to start.
Kyle already had enough on his plate—this was the last thing he needed.
They met at a hotel, one on the expensive side. This was strategic: it meant the staff were used to serving high-class guests and helped keep unwanted eyes off them.
But of course, people still noticed Calista. She was gorgeous, and it was hard not to stare at someone so young yet so stunning.
Kyle arrived and noticed that she was already there. Wasn't it an unspoken rule for the man to arrive first?
He checked the time and confirmed that he was indeed five minutes early.
Calista's dull expression lit up the moment she saw Kyle's face, but she knew not to raise attention, so she remained seated.
"Hey, you…" Kyle greeted softly, sitting across from her.
It felt like it had been weeks since they last saw each other, but Calista knew she wasn't allowed to be needy or she risked scaring him away.
"Hi, Kyle, I'm glad you could make it," Calista responded, sliding a glass across the table.
Kyle noticed there was something inside, but the lipstick around the edge told him she had already drunk from it.
Kyle drank without question, and the flavors burst in his mouth—it was a fruit juice with a hint of alcohol. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire
"This is good," Kyle commented, and Calista could no longer keep her stoic act.
"I know, right? I tried it and knew I had to save some for you," she responded.
"Awww, how considerate," Kyle replied with a playful smirk.
"I know you're wondering why you're here and what I could have to tell you that I couldn't do over the phone," Calista began, but Kyle didn't give much of a reaction.
"Not really, I just figured you missed me," Kyle responded, taking another sip of the drink.
"Well, that, and I didn't want your girlfriend to accidentally pick up the phone," Calista said, but Kyle knew right away this was a test.
She phrased it that way because she wanted to know who that woman was who kept picking up his phone. It was a logical assumption to think that she was his girlfriend.
However, was this a conclusion she came to on her own?
Kyle already knew about her relationship with Ella and suspected that she wouldn't have given her number to Calista if she wasn't planning on keeping in touch.
Kyle smiled at the question, the look in his eyes briefly changing as he met Calista's gaze.
"Calista Wave, is that jealousy I sense from you?" Kyle asked, but Calista knew admitting it would take away whatever power she had left.
"…But I guess it can't be helped. You're territorial, after all…" Kyle dismissed his earlier statement himself.
"…However, you forget one thing…" Kyle said, gently grabbing her jaw.
"You are the one who belongs to me, not the other way around…" Kyle reminded her of her place.
"If the day comes that you think you deserve more, the door will always be open. This isn't a prison, so why not worry about being my favorite?" Kyle told her before finishing the contents of the cup.
There was no need to lie to Calista. The basis of her attraction was money, and everything else came afterward. Besides, Kyle already knew that no one else could do for her what he had done.
This was why he bought her a car so quickly—to cement himself in her life and eliminate all competition.
Calista might be self-conceited, but that didn't change the fact that it was now ingrained in her mind: if this relationship came to an end, she would be the one fumbling, not the other way around. There were multiple women like her, but only a few like Kyle.
Calista gulped. Kyle had a way of humbling her, indirectly reminding her that she wasn't the only one with access to his body. But he never clarified the relationship he had with the other woman.
"Now, tell me why I'm here, or do you want to waste my time with more questions?" Kyle asked.
Calista sighed. She knew she had deviated from the topic and needed to focus on the more important matter at hand.
They didn't begin the conversation right away because the waitress came to their table, subtly flirting with Kyle.
Calista would have been bothered by this, but she knew it was how they earned tips.
However, she found it disrespectful that the waitress would do so when he was in the company of a woman. Kyle didn't pay her any attention.
Calista then told him about her findings, going into detail about how the person stopped responding once they were introduced as his sister.
She wasn't aware Kyle had any family, so this came as a shock to her. For the first time since knowing Kyle, the look in his eyes wasn't one of indifference, but genuine emotion.
"What the fuck did you just say?" Kyle blurted out, but composed himself immediately.
"That's impossible…" Kyle muttered under his breath before looking at Calista.
"I don't have any siblings," Kyle said, but it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself than Calista.
Calista knew this was bullshit. If it weren't, he wouldn't have reacted that way. This made her realize how little she actually knew about him.
It was strange that she had established a deep emotional connection with a man she knew nothing about, but this was all part of human relationships—sometimes, it's a form of narcissism, where the other person simply makes you feel good, nothing more, nothing less.
"I need to go," Kyle said. Calista wanted to stop him, but the look in his eyes sent shivers down her spine.
"O-Okay," she said, the only words she could manage as Kyle walked out the door in haste.