His to Consume のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 71 - チャプター 80

Lena's POVI switched off the engine and alighted from the car, slamming the door shut harder than necessary. The gate had opened slightly. As my parents drew closer, there was a faint sound of their honey-toned hushed conversation carried by the breeze."Lena," called out her father in an authoritative voice, almost as if addressing a subordinate employee in expectation of failure to meet standards.Standing beside him was my mother, picture-perfect grace and judgment rolling under her arms. In the feeble light, her pearl necklace glimmered, and she nailed me with those eyes, sharp as they could get, as though inspecting a misbehaving child."What are you doing here?" I asked flatly, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible as I moved closer to them.Before they could give an answer, my father moved forward. He furrowed his brows in both annoyance and frustration and said, "The gateman said you instructed him not to let us in." I crossed my arms and slightly tilted my head, total

Lena's POV"Damien," I said with a softer, apologizing voice for what happened the previous day. "I shouldn't have snapped at you." He waved it off with a little nod, leaning against the edge of my desk. "Don't worry about it. I know it wasn't about you." Still, I felt that I needed to explain. "I just... I wasn't in the mood for anything or anyone, and then my parents came." "How was it with them last night?" he asked, his tone careful. Bitter laughter escaped me as I shook my head. "Didn't have time to deal with them, or maybe I didn't want to. But either way, more of the same lectures, guilt trips, and acting like they're the victims in all of this." He studied me for a moment, dark eyes unreadable. "And this morning? I sunk into the chair, exhaustion creeping into my voice. "They want to talk about the party tonight when they think they have some right to be there." I scoffed, crossing my arms. "As if showing up out of nowhere after months of silence earns them an invitation

Lena's POVIt felt as if time was crawling. The very universe mocked me. The more I threw myself into my work, afraid to let the background thought of the party in the evening pervade my thoughts, the more a storm cloud loomed over me. The five o'clock chime allowed me to snap shut my laptop with a certain finality: Enough was enough. Time to face the inevitable.Home was as empty as I had left it; the silence between me and the raging chaos inside my mind was indeed a small comfort. My parents had not arrived, so, at least for now, I had some peace.After a brisk shower, I started my rituals. Tonight was the party; it was a battlefield, and my appearance would be my armor. A black satin gown with a high slit on one side, crosswise, and a complicated neckline that falls heavily onto my shoulders. The fabric clung like a second skin to my body, which accentuated the power and grace.I spent additional time on my makeup app: bold, red lips, and eye smoke that added a dramatic effect to

Lena's POV Damien, who had stuck beside me silently, gazed at the same thing I was seeing. His face remained unchanged, although it was betrayed even by a mere crease of the brow. "Why is Cassidy's family here?" I asked, my voice low though charged with irritation. He met my eyes, calm but sober. "Her family is more important than you think," he answered, giving me the deep look I was expecting. I blinked. "What do you mean?" "The Graham family has strong connections," he explained, in measured tones, "like ties with old money, with political circles...and most likely with more businesses than most people can keep track of. Having them here is not just about Cassidy; it is about what their name means." I frowned and focused back on Cassidy, who was laughing at something said to her by Grant. With his arm around her, the two looked so very familiar. "So? " Must we just suppose that we will find a red carpet for them because they are powerful?" I almost hissed, not able to keep t

Lena's POV Verana stepped closer, her gaze fixed on my mother like a hawk sizing up its prey. “Grant doesn’t need empty flattery, Charlotte. He’s accomplished more on his own than most could dream of.”The words were a subtle jab, but the meaning was clear. Verana saw my mother for what she was: a manipulative opportunist.My mother’s smile tightened, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she turned her attention back to Grant, determined to regain the upper hand.I’d had enough.Pushing my chair back, I stood and walked toward the nearest balcony. The cool night air was a welcome relief, a stark contrast to the suffocating tension inside. I leaned against the railing, staring out at the city lights as I tried to calm the storm raging inside me.I hated this. I hated the way my parents could waltz in and upend everything without a second thought. I hated the way they used me, the way they treated my life as a tool for their own ambitions.Most of all, I hated the way they made me feel lik