جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 170

The music softened as the host's voice echoed across the hall. Maxine was glowing at the center while her pink gown was shimmering like moonlight. I just tried to calm my nerves when Ethan finally returned to our table. Jason and Tyler were already halfway through the appetizers, Lily was whispering about how grand everything was, and Gabriel, well, he looked quiet as always, like he was too drawn up for someone my age."Finally," Jason muttered while leaning toward Ethan. "Thought you were gonna spend the whole night guarding Maxine's chair."Ethan shot him a glare but didn't bother answering. Instead, his gaze flickered to me briefly, and I quickly busied myself with fixing the folds of my dress. My heart skipped.Then the host spoke again."Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome the proud parents of the celebrant, Mr. and Mrs. Veyra!"Everyone inside the hall applaud. Lily also clapped with a smile, but I blinked in surprise. Wait. Something didn't add up.Leaning toward Lily, I whis

Maxine's smile faltered slightly but she quickly fixed it while bowing as the couple approached."Alpha Octavian, Luna Ruby," the host announced with almost trembling reverence. "We welcome you."Octavian's gaze swept the hall. When his eyes landed on the triplets, his sons, he paused. His jaw tightened and a tinge of something passed through his expression.Luna Ruby's eyes, in contrast, were softer but no less commanding. They wavered on Maxine before shifting to me. For a few seconds, her piercing gaze locked onto mine and I felt my lungs seize. She looked at me as if she knew something. Something I didn't even know about myself.Lily leaned in. "Sarah, do you realize what this means? If the Lord of the Order is here, then this whole ceremony was staged. This wasn't just Maxine's plan or anyone."I swallowed hard. "You think..." My voice was barely audible. "You think the Order wanted this?"She gave me a tiny, shaky laugh. "Or maybe they planned it from the start."My stomach swir

The car finally slowed to a stop in front of Lily's condo. My heart thudded unevenly as the driver got out to open the trunk. When the door clicked open, I slowly stepped outside and inhaled a sharp breath.When I glanced at the entrance, I immediately saw Lily, waiting at the entrance with her arms crossed and a worried look on her face that melted the moment our eyes met.I exhaled deeply while forcing a faint smile. "I'm here."Before I could take another step, Lily rushed toward me and wrapped me in a tight hug. "Sarah..." Her voice trembled, but she kept it steady. "This is for the best. You're safe here. We'll get through this together, girl."My hands gripped her back. "Thank you, Lily. Really."She pulled away while wiping her eyes quickly before anyone else could notice and gently turned to the staff who had already begun unloading my luggage, she instructed, "Please bring those to the 14th floor, unit 1407."The staff nodded, and Lily curved her arm through mine while pullin

The next morning was a total disaster."Lily, we're so late!" I shouted while hugging my lab kit to my chest as we hurried out of the condo."I know! Don't remind me!" Lily's hair was still half-tied, bouncing as she ran beside me. She let out a breathless laugh. "This is all your fault!""My fault?" I gasped while nearly tripping over the stairs as we cut across the courtyard. "You're the one who said, 'One more episode!'""Yeah, but you agreed!" she fired back, grinning widely even though we were both panting. "Oh my goddess, I can't believe sitcoms ruined us.""They didn't ruin us." I huffed and hastily adjusted my bag. "They just delayed our academic success by twenty-four hours."We both burst out laughing, even as we practically slammed into the doors of the laboratory building. My chest was burning when we finally entered our lab room, only to be met with silence. Our professor stopped while his eyes were narrowing at us from the front of the class."Miss Evans. Miss Hart," he

I clenched my fists. "It's not my fault that your brothers are kind to me," I shot back before I could stop myself. "I'm not forcing them to do anything, Ethan."I froze. My own voice echoed in my ears. Did I just say that?Ethan stared at me like I had just slapped him. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. And that silence hurt more than if he had shouted. My throat started burning and before I could let the tears spill in front of him, I turned and flew away.My legs carried me down the stairs until I reached the ground floor and I hastily saw Lily.She spotted me immediately. "Sarah?!"I couldn't even answer. My tears started flowing down my eyes and I just threw myself into her arms while sobbing so hard."Hey, hey..." Lily held me tightly while stroking my hair as I shook against her. "What happened? Who made you cry? Tell me."I couldn't form the words. All I could do was cling to her like a child.She sighed softly and did not push. "It's okay. You don't need to say it right