Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 121 - Chapitre 130

OliviaNathan and I waited for what felt like hours. More than once, we considered leaving, allowing Alvin to have the space to discover his newly formed hand on his own without an audience. But ultimately, we decided that it was best to stay with our friend.After a long time, Alvin’s eyelids finally fluttered open, revealing a mixture of confusion and anger. Nathan and I, still standing by the bedside, instinctively took a step back. Nathan put his arm out in front of me as a shield.“What did you do to me?” Alvin rasped, his gaze darting between us. He struggled to push himself up onto his elbows, still weak from the potion that I gave him. “You… You poisoned me.”“Not poisoned,” Nathan said, shaking his head. “We just needed to put you to sleep for a little while. I’m sorry, Alvin, but you’ll understand why if you just—”Alvin’s eyes, filled with betrayal, narrowed and fixed themselves on Nathan. “It was you who snuck into my house the other day, wasn’t it?” he growled. “Fuck. I k

OliviaAs I reached for the cream envelope, flashes of another evening raced through my mind. The night Colin had come to pick me up.He had seemed so… suspicious. Something about the way that his eyes met mine in the rear view mirror made me uneasy. To be fair, he was always cold toward me, but something about that night was just… off.But there was also the peculiar detail of him having a private vacation with Jenifer. The two seemed an unlikely pair for such an intimate getaway. They were, after all, adoptive father and daughter, and yet there had always been an uncomfortable amount of intimacy between the two since I returned to the pack.I had so many questions, suspicions even. But I kept them buried, afraid of unearthing truths that might disrupt the delicate balance we all maintained.Snapping back to the present, Nathan’s voice broke through my musings. “Olivia? Are you okay?”I blinked, trying to shake off the unsettling memories. “I’m fine,” I murmured, though the uncertain

OliviaStepping into the kitchen, despite Jenifer’s snide comment, honestly felt like entering a sanctuary from the tension-filled parlor.The kitchen was a vibrant blend of old-world charm and modern-day convenience. Vaulted ceilings gave it an airy expanse, with large wooden beams crisscrossing overhead, bearing testament to the age of the mansion.Sturdy brick walls, their reds and browns muted by time, enclosed the space warmly, the occasional flicker of light reflecting off the antique copper pots and pans hanging decoratively against them.A grand stone hearth dominated one wall, its blackened surface a silent witness to countless meals prepared over open flames. Above it, a large iron rack held dried herbs, their fragrances intertwining and filling the air with a pleasant, earthy aroma.The kitchen was more than just a place to prepare food; it was the heart of the home, pulsating with life, love, and history. In fact, I quickly came to the conclusion that it was the nicest roo

NathanI watched in horror as Olivia’s face contorted in confusion, her voice wavering.“What do you mean, Colin?” she asked.I could feel the tension in the room thicken. I knew my father well, and this was one of his manipulative games. I should have known that it would come to this. Without my mother here to scold him, he was a loose cannon.And it seemed as though Jenifer wasn’t putting in any effort to control him, either. If anything, I suspected that she was egging him on, although for what reason I couldn’t be sure.“When I picked you up the other night,” he began, looking at Olivia with a smirk, “you had dirt under your nails, that mysterious box in hand, and you mentioned Jenifer. I’m just curious.”“I-I didn’t mean anything by it,” Olivia stammered, looking back and forth between Colin and Jenifer while the rest of the guests watched in amusement. “I was only trying to make conversation.”“Conversation?” my father asked, cocking his head to the side. “The conversation shoul

OliviaNo matter how hard I tried, sleep eluded me that night. Despite the plush bedding and the soothing hum of the night crickets outside, my mind whirred with a thousand unsolved puzzles.The strange behavior of Jen and Colin, the peculiar dynamics between the guests, and Nathan’s confession in the study—each detail gnawed at me.I needed fresh air.Throwing my blankets off of myself, I threw on my robe and padded down the hall, past Nathan’s room, then down the steps. A moment later, I stepped out into the expansive yard.The cool breeze kissed my skin, and the soft glow of the moonlight painted everything in muted hues. But the serenity outside was in stark contrast to the turmoil inside of me.What was the story behind Jenifer’s particular rudeness tonight? Why had Colin vacationed without Maria and Nathan? Where was Maria, and why… Why was there a sultry portrait of Jenifer hung above the fireplace, where I was pretty certain Maria’s portrait used to hang?Lost in thought, a su