VIVIAN I stood beside the car with Priestess Tanya, Zander, Lucas, and Derek. The morning sun was bright but not too hot.I watched the maids walk in and out of the house, carrying boxes and bags. They were packing Priestess Tanya’s things into a large van that the moving company brought. I folded my arms and let out a small sigh.Today was the day Priestess Tanya would finally move into her new cottage. It felt a little strange watching everything happen so fast.Just yesterday, we were trying to cheer Zander up because of how sad he was about her leaving. But now, everything felt calmer, lighter. I looked at Zander and smiled quietly to myself.He wasn’t sad anymore. He was talking with Lucas and Derek, nodding and even chuckling a little. The dark cloud from yesterday was gone and that made me feel proud because Project Cheer Zander up, had worked.Last night had been something else. We all laughed so much I thought Zander’s ribs would break. Lucas and Derek had really given it th
ZANDERVivian looked at me for a few seconds, like she was trying to figure out how to say the next thing.I could see it in her eyes. She wasn’t sure how I would react and that made my chest tighten.“Priestess Tanya asked me to leave with her tomorrow,” she said finally. “She wants me to stay with her for about a week.”The words hit me like a wave. I blinked slowly as my heart sank a little more.I let out a deep sigh and looked away. “So… first Priestess Tanya is leaving,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “And now you’re leaving me too?”I didn’t mean to say it like that, but it just came out.I knew it sounded weak, and maybe even selfish. But it was how I felt.It was like everyone around me was suddenly walking away. First Priestess Tanya, and now Vivian.Vivian gave me a small, patient smile and reached out to touch my cheek. Her hand was warm, and her touch calmed me a little.“Don’t say it like that,” she said gently. “It’s not like I’m leaving forever.”I sighed agai
ZANDERAs I drove back to the pack, a sad heaviness occupied my chest and the silence in the car felt louder than it should have so I turned on some cool music.Just minutes ago, I had felt relief flood through me after we'd successfully done it.Vivian had healed Ronald, and the videos were finally in our possession. There was going to be no more threats from Ronald. And no more fear that those videos would lead to her death if the public saw them. To some extent, I was supposed to be at peace.But Lucas had called me again to break the sad news to me.I remembered the way my hand tightened around my phone when I answered. I had already guessed why he was calling, but part of me hoped I was wrong.“Zander,” Lucas had said with that calm tone he always used when he had something difficult to say, “The cottage is ready. Everything is in place. Priestess Tanya says she’ll move in tomorrow morning.”That was at. It was nothing dramatic or harsh.Still, my chest tightened like someone ha
VIVIAN I stood there in front of him, waiting for him to speak to me.But Zander didn't look at me. He just kept staring ahead like his thoughts were somewhere far away.I didn’t want to push him too hard, but I needed to know what was going on. “Zander,” I said again, softer this time. “What’s wrong?”He finally turned his head and looked at me.His eyes weren’t cold or angry. They just looked… sad. Tired, even. Then his lips moved slowly.“Nothing’s wrong,” he said quietly. “I’m just… sad.”I blinked.Sad?That wasn’t the answer I expected. Zander was many things, cold, serious, and hard to read sometimes, but sad? That didn’t sound like him.My brows pulled together on their own. I frowned, confused.“Sad?” I repeated. “Why are you sad? Did something happen?”He shook his head. “No. Nothing bad happened,” he answered.But his voice was still low and heavy.That only made me more confused. If nothing had happened, why did he sound like something had gone terribly wrong?Zander wasn
VIVIAN I tried to pull myself together. I didn’t want him to worry more than he already was. So I nodded and forced a little smile, even though my chest still felt tight.“Yeah,” I said quietly. “Everything is fine.”He looked at me for a second longer, like he wasn’t fully convinced, but he didn’t push. Instead, he shifted his attention back to Ronald.Ronald, who looked a little too calm now.He held my phone in his hand and extended it to me like it was a gift. “It’s done,” he said, with a strange calmness in his voice. “The videos are in your phone now.”I didn’t take my eyes off him as I reached for it. I checked the screen quickly. There was a folder named “Recovered” in my files, and it had a bunch of video files inside it. I hadn't opened them yet, but just seeing them there made my heart feel relieved.I had waited so long for this moment. Too long.Zander moved closer and looked down at the screen too. Then he turned his sharp eyes to Ronald.“Now delete all the videos from
VIVIAN When Zander’s phone rang and his eyebrows slowly lifted as he looked at the screen, I could tell something about the call that caught his attention.Without saying a word, he stepped away and walked a short distance, holding the phone up to his ear.I watched him quietly, with my heart feeling uneasy. I didn’t know who was calling or what it was about, but the way he reacted made me wonder if it was serious. Or maybe something urgent?Then I remembered Ronald was still sitting in front of me with his laptop.I turned my eyes toward him slowly, not really wanting to look at him, but I did anyway.“I have to say,” Ronald said, his voice lower than before, “After what you just did… I mean the way you healed me… I regret it.”I frowned. “Regret what?” I asked.“Cheating on you. Divorcing you,” he said, his eyes actually looking soft for once.I stared at him, stunned, but then I let out a cold laugh. “Tell that to the birds, Ronald.” Then I scoffed.“I’m serious,” he said. “Vivian