Chapter 15
Valencia’s POV
Bile rose sharply in my throat, and 1 plastered on a trembling srlle before excusing myself. I barely made it to the nearest bathroom, slamming the door shut behind me and collapsing in front of the toilet.
It hit me like a freight train.
I retched violently, my stomach clenching as I emptied its meager contents. My forehead pressed against the cold porcelain rim as 1 gasped for air.
Why?
Why couldn’t I control my emotions? Why was my body betray g me like this?
Tears streamed down my face as I wiped them away with shaky hands. My chest tightened with frustration as I finally leaned back against the wall, glancing around the bathroom. The elegant white tiles and pristine vanity told me I wasn’t in just any
bathroom.
Panic flared.
1 scrambled to my feet, realizing I was in Adrian’s room probably since that was the nearest to the dining room. Adrian was my eldest stepbrother, and if there was anyone who despised me more than Jaxon, it was him.
All my brothers held malice for the, though they wore masks of indifference usually.
But Adrian? His hate was always shown just below the surface, something I could see when he looked at me.
I steadied myself against the sink and walked out of the bathroom. The room was just as pristine as the house, with a huge queen sized bed and silver duvets and curtains.
I ignored it all in a hurry to get out. Just as I reached for the door handle, it creaked open.
I froze, my heart leaping into my throat.
Adrian stood there, filling the doorway like a storm cloud. His sharp gray eyes bore into mine, his expression unreadable.
“Uh, I’m sorry, I stammered, my voice barely audible.
His gaze
didn’t waver. Bandages covered his head and one arm, and a jagged scar ran down his chin, stark against his pale skin. His usually pristine hair was disheveled, half pulled into a ponytail. He looked like he had just stumbled off a battlefield.
-What are you doing here?” We both blurted at the same time.
An awkward silence filled the air.
“This is my room,” Adrian said, his brow quirking in question.
“Right, of course, I swallowed hard, flustered. “I was just… I needed the bathroom. But, um, weren’t you supposed to be in Alderidge?
All the Kallistar Alpha’s had gone near the border to aid in the ongoing fight. At least that’s what I had heard from Marcelene when she mentioned her training becoming more rigorous,
1/3
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Chapter 15
4.81%
The door creaked again, and I turned to see Ash, my second stepbrother. He toweled his wet hair lazily, his usual air of nonchalance morphing into shock when he spotted me.
“We came back today,” Aiden continued, his voice clipped. “Shouldn’t you be aware? The Blue Moon Festival is soon.
I bit back a sarcastic retort. Yeah, as if anyone tells me anything steal, I nodded stiffly, keeping my gaze low
But I remembered that there was a ceasefire for a couple days during the blue moon this year.
Adrian brushed past me, his back turned as he made his way toward his wardrobe. My eyes darted to his torn shirt. bloodstains seeping through the fabric. He moved with a slight Houp.
1 frowned, feeling awkward and then turned toward the door, desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere. As I passed Ash, he said nothing, his dark eyes filled with indifference,
“Are you okay?” Adrian’s voice stopped me in my tracks.
I froze, turning around. Was that… concern?
“Is your stomach upset?” he added, his tone neutral but oddly genuine.
I turned my head slightly, unsure how to respond. Was this a rhetorical question? Just lip service!
“Yes,” I said cautiously, my voice quieter than I intended. “Thank you for asking.”
Adrian didn’t reply, and Ash’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“I’ll be taking my leave now,” I added quickly, nodding my head slightly before making my escape.
The air in the hallway felt lighter, though the weight in my chest hadn’t lifted. My steps quickened as I spotted a butler in the corridor.
“Excuse me,” I called, stopping him in his tracks.
He turned to face me, his gaze polite but cautious.
“Could you check on Brother Adrian?” I asked, offering a small smile. “He seems injured, but it felt inappropriate for me to inquire further.””
The butler’s eyes widened slightly before he nodded hastily, hurrying off.
I exhaled deeply. It wasn’t kindness, not really. It was repayment Adrian had asked about my well–being–a rare and unexpected gesture. I couldn’t let it go unacknowledged, even if our relationship was built on years of mistrust and
resentment.
They may have never seen me as family, but that wasn’t my fault, I hadn’t chosen the circumstances of my birth. Yet, in my past life, their accusations had cut me deeply, especially when they blamed me for the death of their mother, Lethia
I shook off the memories, forcing myself to focus on the presént
By the time I reached the front of the mansion, Marcelene was already waiting by the car, her arms crossed and her expression as annoyed as ever.
“Took you long enough,” she said as I approached.
“Good morning to you too,” I replied with a smirk, sliding into the passenger seat.
Three weeks ago, Marcelene had taken over driving duties for the Kallistar family. When I asked why, she told me her father,
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Chapter 15
the Family’s usual driver, was unwell.
“Can we stop at a pharmacy on the way?” I asked as she started the car.
Marcelene gave me a sideways glance. Sue”
The pharmacy stop was quirk. I grabbed a box of pregnancy test, my hands trembling slightly as I placed it on the counter. Marcelene watched silently, her expression unreadable.
Back in the car, the tension was palpable.
“Aren’t you going to ask why I bought this?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“Nope, Marcelene replied without hesitation. “It’s none of my business.”
I hesitated, then pressed further. “You haven’t asked me about the rumors either. Don’t you want to know if they’re true?”
“It’s none of my business,” she repeated, her tone even.
“What if I tell you they are true?
Marcelene smiled faintly, her icy blue eyes glinting with humor Valencia, it doesn’t matter to me. You rich people put way too much pressure on yourselves. Being a virgin won’t make you a saint–it’ll just make you miserable,”
I snorted at her bluntness, unable to hold back a laugh. “And what about me being infertile?”
Marcelene quirked a brow, glancing down at the bag containing the test kit. “Even if that were true, it has nothing to do with me. I’m not your friend so you can make me an aunt in the future.”
Laughter bubbled out of me, the tension in my chest easing slightly, “You know, you’re my best friend, right?”
Marcelene
rolled her eyes.
“Who, me? You’ve got
the wrong person.
By the time we reached the academy, I was feeling more grounded. I stuffed the test kit into my bag, making sure it was well–hidden before heading to the bathrooms.
With twenty minutes left before class, I locked myself in a stall and tore open the box. My hands shook as I followed the instructions, my heart pounding so loudly it drowned out my thoughts.
When the results appeared, I stared at them, unblinking.
Negative.
田
