Brody's POV
I entered into the limousine waiting for me outside the airport. I had successfully reached Los Angeles, it seemed like a foolish idea because I didn't even bring my clothes along with me and I didn't even know where to go.
My phone rang and I picked it up. "Hey man, I'm in Los Angeles right now."
Jake seemed to give me a shaky laugh. "You should find a hotel and stay there tonight." He suggested.
Yeah! It was a good idea. I palmed my forehead and heaved a sigh of relief. "I was wondering where I'll go."
He cleared his throat nervously. "No one has to know that you're in Los Angeles, don't pick any one's call for the meantime."
"Alright," I replied, feeling both satisfied and relieved. I kept my phone in my pocket and looked at the driver, he seemed to concentrate on the road and I didn't want to ask him but it was better for me to ask for directions.
"Huh, do you know any new restaurant around here?" I asked him.
He nodded with a smile. "Yeah, a new restaurant was opened yesterday a few houses from here." He answered in a casual tone.
I released a long breath and faked a smile. "Alright, take me there."
I was really hungry and eating something was the only option. I was still lost in my thoughts that I didn't know he had already reached the restaurant. Looking at the small house, I frowned. "I expected it to be a real restaurant."
"Yeah," he conceded reluctantly.
"But this is a house and not a restaurant." I reminded him.
"I can take you to another place if you're not comfortable here."
I nodded and came down from the limousine. "I think I'll be alright here. You should leave now, I'll find a hotel tomorrow night." I replied.
The driver looked disappointed but I brought out my wallet and gave him some amount of money. "Thank you, sir." He appreciated my kindness and zoomed off.
Karen's POV
"Mom, they enjoyed the food." I told her as I removed the dirty plates from the table and took it to the kitchen. She walked into the kitchen and checked the cake that was in the oven.
"Yeah, I'm such a good cook. It's really bad that I didn't win the show."
Smiling, I rinsed the plate and arranged it neatly on the kitchen shelf. "It's not bad, you can always participate in other events."
She chuckled softly. "It baffles me that my daughter is already a married woman."
I frowned, I didn't want to be reminded about my marriage. Brody didn't love me, he didn't even call me after I left his house. "I don't know, I think I want to file for a divorce."
Her eyes widened and she looked at me. She quickly stopped what she was doing and held my hands. "What's wrong? You can't possibly file for a divorce." She said.
I caught my breath. "Mom," I called out in a whisper. "We were not supposed to fall in love and even get married. We're married by mistake, his family planned the wedding without informing us and....."
She interrupted with a question. "Are you in love with him?"
I raised my eyebrows slightly, and I softened my eyes a bit. "I can't do without him but I'm trying, I don't want to develop feelings for him."
Mom cleaned the kitchen sink with a smile. "You can't stop what you've developed. There's nothing like divorce in my family or your dad's family and you won't be the first to divorce your husband."
"Husband?" I asked with muffled laughter trying so hard to stop myself from crying. "Brody doesn't care about me. He doesn't love me, I'm sure he hasn't even thought of me."
Mom showed no expression, neither in her body language but I knew she wanted me to stay with Brody. "I'm sure he loves you."
I removed the neckline from my neck and looked at it. "He gave this to me on our wedding night." I told her and she winked at me.
"It's beautiful."
"I don't think it is."
"You don't have to be so annoyed. I'm sure he'll come soon."
I laughed at her remark. "Mom, he doesn't even know here. I don't want him to come because of his family. Only a few people were nice to me in that house."
She narrowed her eyes at me. "Who?" She inquired curiously.
"His younger sister and her son, his mother's also wonderful."
A smile plastered on her face, I didn't know what was going through her mind but I just didn't feel like seeing Brody. Sarah could be right, we were not meant for each other. I kept the neckline in my pocket and cleaned my hands with a napkin.
"A man paid me to cook for a group of college students tonight, they came for an excursion and they'll stay in the hotel close to this house." She said.
"That's a huge contract." I replied with a grin on my face. I leaned on the wall and stared at her, the love I had for my mother could not fade away.
"Karen," she called, jerking me back to reality. "I want you to go to Mr Albert's warehouse, I'm sure he'll be there. I need his assistance to cook for the students."
"You're still close to Mr Albert." I muttered and she laughed. I could still remember what happened when my dad got angry with her because he thought she was having an affair with Mr Albert.
She winked at me and gave a shaky laugh. "He's always been a helper to me and besides, who was that guy that came earlier?" She asked, referring to Bill. I couldn't tell her about Bill, it was dangerous. Her life could also be in danger.
I shrugged. "He's not important." I replied and walked into the parlor. I almost fainted when I saw Brody in the parlor looking at my mom's pictures on the wall. What was he doing here? How did he find me?
He turned back and our eyes met each other. "Karen?" He uttered, shocked.