Chapter Thirty Eight

Daisy burst into the second living area, a look of concern on her face as she spotted Thea.

“Oh my goodness!” She hurried towards Thea, pulling her into a hug.

“I’m so glad you're okay!” She muttered, her voice muffled against Thea's shoulder as a sense of relief washed over her in an instant.

Thea smiled, leaning in closer to Daisy. “I'm fine.”

"I was so worried! You haven't answered your phone, and then those awful articles... I was going crazy!"

Thea sighed, she could only imagine how worried Daisy was. “I know. But I feel better now.” She murmured, her voice still a little rough from crying.

Her eyes flickered to the entrance where Seth stood in silence, his eyes studying them. With a curt nod, he leaves without saying a word.

Daisy finally pulled back, holding Thea at arm's length, her hands gripping Thea's shoulders. Her eyes scanned Thea's face. "Okay? 'okay' doesn't even begin to cover what you've been through! That was horrifying! I saw the video, briefly, before it vanished. How are you even standing?"

Thea managed a weak shrug. "I don't know. Just trying to breathe."

Daisy's expression softened. "Listen to me, Thea. That video doesn't define you! The reporter who posted that video was a disgusting piece of shit that deserves to rot in hell!”

Thea's brows furrowed slightly. Posy. Her name felt bitter in her mouth. She had planned to move on from what Posy did to her but now? She had more than enough reason to raise hell on her.

“It was Posy. Posy gave the reporter the video intentionally.”

“What?! Are you sure?” Daisy asked, a look of disbelief in her eyes.

She knew Posy was a fucking viper but this? Releasing a video that was sure to ruin Thea's reputation was unbelievably cruel.

Thea nodded. “She showed my parents and Runes that video as proof of me …cheating.”

"That little viper! I always knew she was jealous, but this? This is beyond sick!" Daisy exclaimed, dropping her hands from Thea's shoulders and pacing a small circle. “Gosh I want to slam her head so hard on a concrete floor for this!"

Thea smiled, it felt good knowing that she had people in her corner despite the damning video. She fought back emotional tears, she's had enough of that..

Daisy stopped and turned back to Thea, her eyes blazing with rage. "But we're not going to let her. Are we? This is just a bad chapter. And now, we write the next one. A chapter where Posy gets what's coming to her."

Thea felt a spark of something she hadn't felt in days: anger? Yes. Daisy was right. She couldn't just lie down and let Posy ruin her life. Her life wasn't over. It was just... different. And it was time to fight back.

“But the question is how? For someone like Posy, I'm sure she left a trail somewhere. She's not so meticulous if you ask me.”

Thea smiled, recalling something. Daisy pauses, her eyes brightening up on seeing the look in Thea's eyes.

“Oh! You have something don't you?”

“Yes I do. And Yumi is…a very beautiful card if you ask me.”

Daisy gasped, she almost forgot all about Runes Sterlings side chick!

“My goodness! We do have a card to play! My, my , my!” Daisy turns towards Thea fully. “My Thea is back!”

Thea shrugs, she wasn't completely okay but she would get there eventually.

"First things first," Daisy said. "You look like you haven't eaten in a week. Did Seth at least feed you?"

Thea thought of the untouched trays, the one Seth had just brought into her room that morning and afternoon. "No... not really."

"Figures," Daisy muttered, shaking her head. "Alright, no more hiding. You need proper food. What are you craving? I'll raid the kitchen."

"No, I can do it," Thea said. "I'll go get something myself. I think I can manage that."

“Then I'll come with you. You have me for the next twenty hours before I return to my hell hole again."

Thea nods. Daisy hooks her arm around Thea who led them towards the kitchen.

“But you have a lovely penthouse I tell you!” Daisy squeals, admiring the big house.

“Speaking of Seth, did he say anything about it?” Daisy asked.

All she got after trying Thea's number over and over again was a call from Seth himself a day ago. He had offered to send a car her way as long as she makes Thea feel better.

“He…he was attentive.” Thea said simply.

“That's good then. Something tells me he erased those videos from the internet.”

Thea arched a questioning eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“The videos are gone! Nowhere to be found. And the websites that published that article shut down that very day!”

Thea paused, was this really Seth's doing? No, that doesn't make sense. What kind of person would possess such resources? Seth is just another elite, maybe richer than her parents and Runes combined but controlling the internet?

Thea shook her head. “It's probably a coincidence.” She muttered.

Daisy shook her head. "It's not. The articles went down almost immediately they were posted. It's Seth's doing.”

As Thea and Daisy approached the grand entrance to the library, a low murmur of voices reached her ears. The door was slightly ajar.

"...find her. I don't care what it takes, Dante," Seth's voice cut through the silence. "I want to know where she is, who she's meeting, every single move she makes."

Thea froze. Find her? Was he talking about Posy?

Daisy gives her a gentle nudge. “What is it? Are you okay?”

“Yes. You can head to the kitchen, I'll join you soon. It's right around the corner.”

Daisy, sensing her friend might need to attend to something, gave a slight nod and made her to the kitchen, following Thea's directions.

Thea leaned closer to the door, her eyes fixed on Seth who was seated behind his desk, fist clenched on the table and the other by his side.

He is upset.

Could he really have wiped the video like he said and shut the websites down?

"The Sterling wedding banquet is coming up, sir," Dante's voice, tinny through the phone, replied. "We'll have a clear shot then. But for now, we're tracking her digital footprint and physical movements. She's been laying low since the news broke."

"I want more than tracking," Seth's voice was lethal now. "I want to know where she is, where she goes, who she meets. Everything." He ordered.

Thea exhaled, she was right. He was really looking for Posy. She pushed the library door open fully and walked in.

Seth, still holding the phone to his ear, turned, his eyes narrowing slightly as he registered her presence.

"Dante, I'll call you back," Seth said, his voice now flat. He lowered the phone, his gaze fixed on Thea. "Is everything alright?"

"I overheard you," Thea stated. "You're looking for Posy."

Seth's expression remained impassive.

"She handed the video over to the reporter and paid to release an article alongside with it.”

"No," Thea said, taking a step closer. "She doesn't need to be dealt with by you. I would deal with Posy myself."

Silence enveloped the room. Seth studied her, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. She couldn't tell if he was surprised, or trying to get into her head.

"You're sure?" he asked, his voice calm, but there was a challenge in his tone.

"This isn't a game. She clearly wanted to ruin you.”

"So will I," Thea responded, her voice hardening. "She tried to ruin my life and I intend to get even. And she's my sister. This is personal."

Seth nods slowly, his gaze lowering. "Very well. If you wish to handle it yourself, I won't stop you. I'm willing to offer help whenever you need it. Resources, information, protection. Anything."

Thea stared at him in silence and a nod followed soon after.

"Thank you," Thea said.

“You don't have to thank me.” Seth said simply.

Then, her gaze fell to the new phone in her hand. "The video... Daisy said it's gone. And those news companies… their websites vanished."

Seth's expression didn't change.

"Because they published lies and violated your privacy," he stated simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "They were wiped."

"Wiped?" Thea asked, remembering the dozens of headlines. "How? How did you do that?"

"I have the means," Seth replied, offering no further explanation.

Thea stared at him. This man, who even is he?

"Why?" Thea asked, the question escaping her lips before she could stop it. "Why did you do all of that for me? You didn't have to. You could have just... ignored it."

Seth's eyes, dark and intense, met hers. He held her gaze, unwavering.

"You are my wife, Thea. And what is mine, I protect. Fiercely."