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Novel Catalog
Chapter 51: Things Become Weird for a Reason
Kaliyah stood in front of Lindsay and Kaitlin, her brow furrowing with concern as she took in the atmosphere of the room. She had always been quick to sense tension, and today, it was thick enough to cut through. She didn’t need to be told—she knew it was about Ainsley. Only Ainsley could stir up so much anger in Lindsay and Kaitlin.
“What’s going on?” Kaliyah asked, her voice a perfect blend of curiosity and caution, though her eyes already hinted that she had a feeling of what had transpired.
Lindsay slammed the jewelry onto the table in frustration, her face dark and furious. She was no longer the polished matriarch of the Baldry family but more akin to a petty, vengeful woman, consumed by her irritation.
Kaliyah, unfazed, raised an eyebrow and waited in silence. She knew well enough that Lindsay had no filter when it came to gossiping about Ainsley.
“It’s all Ainsley’s fault!” Lindsay snapped, her eyes burning with rage. “If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have been humiliated in front of everyone today!”
Kaliyah’s lips curled into a slight, knowing smile as she listened intently. She didn’t have all the details, but she was already piecing it together. Lindsay’s face flushed with indignation as she recounted the events of the day. How they had tried to pressure Ainsley, to frame her, only for the plan to backfire spectacularly.
In a flash, Kaliyah understood. The Baldry family had tried to manipulate Ainsley, but she had outsmarted them, leaving Lindsay and Kaitlin exposed and embarrassed. The tide had turned against them, and they were furious.
Kaitlin, who had been sitting quietly up until this point, quickly moved next to Kaliyah, her body language now entirely different. She leaned in, her tone softer and more intimate than before. “Kaliyah, you’re so much smarter than both of us. We’ve been trying to figure out what to do next. Can you give us some advice?” Her hand rested on Kaliyah’s arm, making the plea feel more personal.
Lindsay glanced at Kaitlin with a mix of admiration and mild surprise. However, her thoughts quickly turned to the money and properties Ainsley had received after her divorce. The more she thought about it, the more it infuriated her. The idea of Ainsley walking away with twelve million dollars and several prime properties in Seattle—properties that should have belonged to their family—was like salt in an open wound.
“Kaliyah,” Lindsay said, her voice lowering as she leaned in closer, “you know very well that after Ainsley and Cason divorced, she didn’t just walk away with a house or two. No, she got twelve million dollars, plus some of the best properties in Seattle. Those were meant for us. I never expected Cason would give her all of it! Now she’s the one benefiting from everything we should’ve had!”
Kaliyah’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly masked her shock. Twelve million? Cason had never mentioned the exact amount he’d given to Ainsley. This was news to her. But instead of showing any surprise, she kept her composure, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Her thoughts were far more calculating than her expression revealed. Money and property—those are things that could easily secure my place in the Baldry family. Ainsley is lucky. She’s gotten everything for free, but I want to be strategic about this. I need to get their support for myself.
Lindsay’s words were heated, but Kaliyah had a calmness about her, one that made her seem infinitely wise in comparison. “It’ll be fine,” Kaliyah said sweetly, her voice full of fake sympathy. “You don’t need to worry too much about these things. After all, we’re family now, and I wouldn’t want to see you or Kaitlin get hurt. It’s just money and properties. Those things don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, do they?”
Lindsay, eager for any kind of comfort, didn’t pick up on the subtle hint of calculation in Kaliyah’s tone. Instead, she beamed at her and held Kaliyah’s hand, her smile full of gratitude. “Kaliyah, you’re such a kind, sensible woman. You’re nothing like Ainsley. She always causes trouble, but you… you’re different.”
Kaliyah smiled back, her eyes glinting with something more. She had to keep the mask of sweetness, at least for now. There was still much to be done. She nodded as if in agreement, but inside, she was already calculating her next move.
“And you know,” Lindsay continued, oblivious to Kaliyah’s thoughts, “once we get everything back from Ainsley, I’d like to save it for Kaitlin. She’s my daughter, and I want her to have it all for when she marries. What do you think?”
Kaliyah’s face tightened imperceptibly. Save it for Kaitlin? She bit back a curse, her thoughts momentarily dark. She had been expecting Lindsay to make a proposition, but this one was more blatant than she had anticipated. However, since the offer had already been made, Kaliyah knew she couldn’t back out now.
Suppressing her irritation, Kaliyah forced a soft smile. “Whatever you want, Lindsay,” she said sweetly, though her voice carried a faint edge of strain. “You know best.”
Kaitlin, meanwhile, was already brainstorming. She turned to Kaliyah with eager eyes, sensing her hint. “Kaliyah, you’re so clever. I know exactly what to do now. Just wait—Ainsley won’t know what hit her. Everything she took from us belongs to our family in the first place, and I’ll make sure we get it all back!”
Kaliyah’s smile deepened, her eyes flickering coldly. She lowered her gaze, hiding the disdain that flickered within. I’ve said my piece. It’s up to Kaitlin now to do what she thinks is right. If anything happens after this, it’s on her. All I’ve done is pointed her in the right direction.
Kaitlin’s plan was brewing, and Kaliyah’s heart beat a little faster as she thought about how she could leverage this situation for her own gain. But for now, it was better to remain patient.
The following morning, Ainsley stood at the entrance of the University of Washington, her mood light and carefree after the events of the previous day. She was dressed casually, as usual, feeling the weight of the tension between her and the Baldry family lift just a little.
But as she looked up, she saw Kaitlin standing at a distance, waiting for her. Ainsley’s frown deepened. What’s this about?
Kaitlin approached, her steps deliberate. When she reached Ainsley, her expression was all smiles, but there was something off about the way she spoke. “Ainsley,” she said with feigned humility, “I’m here to apologize on behalf of my mother. She didn’t mean what happened yesterday. Someone misled her. I’m really sorry for all the trouble this has caused you.”
Ainsley’s expression remained neutral. She wasn’t buying it. Kaitlin had never been one to apologize unless there was something to gain. Ainsley’s mind raced, and her suspicions were confirmed—this apology was a setup.
Kaitlin continued, her tone now overly sweet. “Yesterday, someone sent an anonymous email to my mother. You know how much she cares about my brother, and she couldn’t bear to see him get hurt. That’s why there was the misunderstanding.”
Ainsley didn’t respond. She simply walked past Kaitlin, not even sparing her a glance. She had lived with these people for three years. There was no way she was going to fall for their manipulation now.
Kaitlin’s anger flared, but she kept it in check, her fists clenched at her sides. She glared at Ainsley’s retreating figure, seething with frustration. I’ve apologized to her, but she didn’t even acknowledge it. Who does she think she is?
As Ainsley walked away, unbothered, Kaitlin’s mind raced with her next move. Things are only going to get worse for her. I won’t stop until I’ve made her pay.
