CHAPTER 60

Vera’s POV

It had been a few days since everything happened between me, Kael, Lucian, Aaron… all of it.

And everyone was pretending to be normal.

Pretending. That was the best word for it.

I was avoiding Kael.

So I kept myself busy. From the garden in the morning, to the library in the afternoon, to the kitchen at night like cooking would somehow silence my head.

It didn’t.

And Lina…

I wasn’t sure about Lina.

One moment I felt like she was just a girl stuck in the middle of chaos she didn’t ask for.

The next moment I remembered what she did.

So I kept my distance.

Safer that way.

Or at least I told myself it was safer.

Aaron was the bigger silence though.

He had left with Lucian days ago and nobody really spoke about it after.

No updates. No jokes. No annoying presence in the hallways.

Just gone.

And I hated that I noticed.

That morning I was in the kitchen again, baking something I wasn’t even planning to eat, just because the heat and smell distracted me from thinking too much.

Flour on the counter. Music low in the background.

I was rolling dough when I heard footsteps.

I didn’t look up immediately.

Until I heard a voice.

“Smells like you’re avoiding emotions with carbs.”

I froze slightly.

That voice.

Aaron.

I turned slowly.

He was leaning on the kitchen frame like nothing in the world had happened to him in the last few days.

Same messy hair. Same stupid confidence. Same Aaron.

But not the same.

There was something colder in his eyes now.

Like something inside him had shut a door and locked it from the inside.

“You’re alive,” I said before I could stop myself.

He smiled faintly.

“Barely. Disappointed you didn’t miss me more dramatically.”

I scoffed and went back to the dough. “You wish.”

He walked in slowly, looking around like he owned the space again. Or like he was testing it.

“I see you’ve been baking your feelings instead of talking about them.”

“Better than whatever you’ve been doing with yours.”

That made him pause for half a second.

Then he shrugged.

“Mine are fine.”

I looked at him properly then.

He didn’t look fine.

But he also didn’t look like he was asking for help.

Before I could say anything else, another voice came in.

“Ice cream is officially therapy now.”

Lina.

She walked in holding a bowl like it was a peace offering, hesitating in the middle of the kitchen like she wasn’t sure if she was allowed to exist in the same space as us.

Her eyes moved between me and Aaron like she was waiting to be rejected again.

Aaron noticed her first.

“Wow,” he said lightly. “You survived.”

Lina blinked.

I shot him a look. “Don’t start.”

He raised his hands slightly. “I didn’t say anything serious.”

Lina stood there awkwardly for a second longer, then slowly placed the ice cream on the counter like she didn’t know if she should sit or leave.

“I can go back upstairs,” she said quietly.

“No,” I said faster than I meant to.

Aaron glanced at me.

Something flickered in his eyes like he noticed I still cared about something in this house.

Before the silence could settle again, more footsteps came.

Kael.

And behind him…

Lucian.

The kitchen shifted instantly.

Like the air changed temperature.

Kael’s eyes landed on me first.

Then Aaron.

Then Lina.

Lucian didn’t look at anyone for long. Just scanned the room like he was already bored of everything in it.

Aaron straightened slightly.

Kael stopped near the table.

Lucian leaned against the counter without asking.

And for a second, nobody spoke.

That kind of silence that feels like something is about to break.

Then—

One of the men rushed in.

“Sir.”

Kael didn’t even look properly. “What now?”

The man swallowed.

“It’s about Livia.”

Everything froze.

My hands stopped moving.

Aaron’s posture shifted slightly.

Even Lucian’s expression changed.

Just a fraction.

Kael’s voice dropped.

“Talk.”

The man stepped forward.

“School called. She didn’t return to class after break. Security checked her dorm, she’s not there. No CCTV exit recorded from main gate. She’s missing since morning.”

Silence hit harder this time.

Kael didn’t move immediately.

“Lucian,” Kael said quietly.

“I’m on it,” Lucian replied instantly, already taking out his phone.

Aaron pushed off the counter slightly. “Define missing.”

The man looked uncomfortable. “No trace yet, sir.”

That was all it took.

Kael grabbed his jacket. “Get the cars ready.”

Lucian was already moving. “Lock down every exit point near the school.”

Aaron was already heading out. “I’m coming.”

I stood there for a second longer, trying to process it.

Lina looked confused, ice cream still in her hand.

“What’s happening?” she asked softly.

Nobody answered.

Because everyone was already thinking the same thing.

Worst possible scenario.

Kael turned slightly toward me.

“Stay here.”

“No.”

He looked at me.

I stepped forward.

“Don’t tell me what to do right now.”

Lucian glanced at me briefly.

Aaron didn’t even stop walking.

Kael stared at me for a long second.

Then—

“Fine,” he said, rubbing his forehead.

We were halfway out the door when—

A voice came from outside.

“Hellooooooo…”

Everyone stopped.

That voice.

Too familiar.

Too loud.

Too casual.

Kael’s expression changed instantly.

Lucian stepped forward.

Aaron frowned slightly.

And then—

She walked in.

Livia.

Smiling.

Arms stretched slightly like she just returned from a vacation.

“And I’m backkkkkk.”

Silence.

Kael stared at her.

Lucian’s jaw tightened.

Aaron blinked once like he wasn’t sure if this was real.

For a second, no one reacted.

Then everything broke at once.

“What the hell, Livia!” Aaron snapped first. “Do you understand what you just caused?”

“I was gone for a few hours, relax,” she rolled her eyes.

“Relax?” Lucian barked. “We were about to tear the city apart looking for you.”

“You’re dramatic.”

“I swear—”

“Enough.”

Kael’s voice cut through it all.

And Livia shut up immediately.

Then she noticed the shift.

Kael wasn’t looking at her anymore.

Lucian wasn’t either.

Aaron wasn’t either.

All three were staring behind her.

Slowly, she turned.

“Ohhh…” she said with a smirk.

“…Mum?”

A pause.

“…Dad?”

Kael and Lucian said at the same time, not believing their eyes.