جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 160

TESSA “Come on, darling, let’s go to the car.”My mother’s voice was warm, but I could hear the thread of worry beneath it. She always tried to hide it from me, but I could feel it. I could always feel it.“It’s okay, it’s okay,” she murmured, wrapping my scarf tighter around my neck before brushing my hair from my face. Her hands were warm despite the cold. “We’ll be at the hospital soon.”I was a young girl with a weak heart. Everyone knew it. My heart wasn’t like other people’s—it tired too easily. My life was measured in hospital visits, check-ups, and pills that tasted like metal.‘No acting up today,’ I told myself. No fainting. No gasping for breath. No frightening my parents again.Snowflakes drifted lazily from the gray sky as we walked to the car. The cold stung my cheeks, but the snow was pretty. Pure. I didn’t know then how quickly it could turn red.We drove toward the hospital, the heater humming softly, fogging the windows. My father was driving. My mother sat in the

TESSAShe was truly beautiful. Not in the magazine-cover way, but in a manner that made me stop breathing for a second. Ellana Claude’s beauty felt… effortless. It wasn’t only about her looks; it was the way she engaged with people—sharp enough to break the tension yet soft enough to feel like sunlight. I found myself staring at her for a solid minute, momentarily forgetting my insufferable cousin. Cameron’s smirk faltered, and one of his friends let out a low whistle, seemingly attempting to extricate himself from the uncomfortable situation. But Ellana remained unfazed. “What are you doing?” Cameron sighed heavily. “Nothing, Ellana,” he muttered. “Let’s go.” With that, they departed, and I subconsciously exhaled a sigh of relief. Ellana stepped forward, closing the distance between us until she stood directly in front of me. Her shadow enveloped me—strange how comforting that felt. Then she crouched down to meet my gaze.“Did they do anything else?” she asked once more. There wa

TESSAI was halfway through chopping onions when Cameron’s voice carried from the living room. “Tessa, get me some food.”I didn’t even look up. “In a minute.”Before I could blink, Myrna’s voice floated in from the other side of the kitchen. “Just do it, Tessa. Cameron’s tired. Finish that up and go.” David grunted in agreement from his spot. My grip tightened around the knife. Tired? Cameron was tired? We had one class together today! I dragged myself through them while Cameron leaned on every excuse to coast. But somehow, he was the one too drained to get up and walk to the kitchen? I swallowed the words before they could escape my mouth. I didn’t have a death wish.Wiping my hands on a towel, I turned toward the fridge, already mapping out what I could throw together fast enough so he’d stop yelling for me. Myrna and David doted on him like he was some rare gem. Meanwhile, I was more like a tool they remembered to keep sharpened because it was convenient.The door opened. I

​​ROWAN My father came in without knocking, his shadow falling over the room before I even turned around. He stood there, arms crossed, his expression clipped. “Happy birthday,” he said.It was awkward. My father didn’t usually bother with birthdays. He wasn’t the type to hand out greetings unless it was attached to some sort of lecture or order. I straightened up from tying my shoes and turned to face him, bowing slightly out of habit.“Thank you,” I replied.He stepped closer. “You might meet your mate today,” he started off. “You might not. But with you nearing the age to attend Elite, I hope you remember how your older brother was.”The inevitable comparison was never going to disappear. I kept my face neutral even though I sighed internally. “Yes, Dad,” I said simply. He studied me for another moment. Then he stepped aside and gestured toward the door. “Someone’s here for you.”I walked past him, already guessing who it was.Ellana stood in the hallway in a soft white dress

TESSAI couldn’t say I didn’t see it coming. After my parents died, it felt like nothing in this world was truly for me. But knowing it was coming didn’t make the blow hurt any less. It still hurt. In fact, it really, really hurt. There was a bond between us now, so the pain transcended mere emotional pain, also becoming physical. In that small space, I felt like I had no place between the two of them. The race hadn’t even started yet, and I already lost. In fact, I had no right to compete. My heart began aching. I told myself not to make it obvious. Don’t let him see. Don’t let anyone see. Every single time I hinted at how I felt, make it emotional or physical, I was accused of “acting up” again. Until now, my heartache was nothing more than a childish tantrum. My pulse was racing in panic and pain, even though I tried to keep my face calm. In the end, it didn't work, especially with Rowan’s eyes on me like this.He continued looking at me, and as much as I liked his attenti