CHAPTER THREE
I clenched my fists, tears streaming down my face. “You’re cruel, Clara. What did I ever do to you?”
Before she could respond, footsteps echoed outside the restroom. Lucas’s voice called out sharply, “Evelyn, where are you?” Clara’s eyes gleamed with mischief as she grabbed one of the broken shards of my mother’s pendant from the floor!
Before I could stop her, she slashed her own arm and collapsed dramatically onto the tiles, clutching her wound
“Evelyn!” Lucas burst into the room. “How dare you”
“What? I didn’t do this!” I stared at him in shock.X
“She tried to push me away when I told her not to leave the pack,” Clara whimpered, tears falling down her face. “She said she didn’t care what happened to me or the pack. Then she shoved me, and I fell onto the glass.
“That’s not true!” I shouted in panic. “I never pushed her! She came at me-”
“Enough!” Lucas roared, cutting me off.
His glare burned into me like fire. “I brought you here so you could celebrate with me, but instead, you’re causing trouble. Clara was just trying to help you, and this is how you repay her?”
didn’t touch her! She’s lying!” My voice shook.
“Don’t shout at her!” Clara interrupted. “It’s my fault. I should have left her alone when she said she wanted to leave. None of this would have happened if I hadn’t tried to convince her to stay for your sake, Lucas. And now.. now she’s shattered her mother’s pendant because of me
Lucas glanced at the shards scattered across the floor. “You did well. She broke Maya’s vase earlier too. It’s only fair that something of
hers breaks in return.“X
‘s pendant.
ant. Make sure
sure some of them enters your skin. You deserve every bit of
He tumed back to me. “Pack up the shards of your mother’s pain they cause.”
He knelt beside Clara, gently inspecting her cut. Though it was barely more than a scratch, he acted as though she were dying. “Everyone, gather around! There’s an emergency here he barked to the nearby pack members who had gathered outside the restroom. “Call for medical aid immediately from the healer. She’s losing too much blood.“X
He scooped her up bridal–style like she was fragile glass and shot me a final glare
“Clean up your mess, Evelyn. And before I come home, throw out everything related to your mother. Her stupid pendant caused this whole Issue.”
The party ended shortly after that, and I returned to the mansion feeling hollow!!
I couldn’t stay in this toxic environment any longer. I began packing my belongings determined to leave as soon as possible.
Just then, my phone buzzed. Thinking it might be Lucas apologizing or maybe even begging me to reconsider, I glanced at the screen Instead, it was Clara She’d sent a string of half naked photos: Lucas holding her close, kissing her neck, whispering something in her ear The caption read
“Sending you away was the best decision ever. Lucas misses me so much, he said he’s been dreaming of my body since I got back. Don’t worry, I made sure to remind him what real sex feels like.
My hands trembled as I stared at the images. Was this why he pushed me aside so quickly? So they could rekindle their romance behind closed doors?”
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Of course. Why s else’s ghost?)
should I expect loyalty from a man who couldn’t even look at me without seeing someone
traces of red lip gloss smeared across his neck.
Moments later, Lucas retumed looking disheveled, his shirt untucked, his hair messy and ar “Have you made dinner?”
“Yes. How is she now?” I set a plate of food on the table
“She’s fine,” he answered coldly. “Thanks to you, she needs stitches on her beautiful arm. Are you happy with yourself?”
I hesitated. “Can’t you even consider that she might be lying? That she orchestrated this entire thing?“%
“You’re always wrong, Evelyn,” he shot back. “Why should I believe you? Tomorrow, you’ll apologize to her properly. First thing in the morning.”
“What? You want me to gravel to someone who lied and manipulated me?”
“Because of you, she’s in the hospital,” he growled. “You must apologize, or there will be consequences.”
Reluctantly, I nodded. “Fine. Il do it?
“Now you’re talking,” he said to me.
The next day, Clara came to our house. When I went downstairs, I found them already giggling together in the living room. Lucas glanced up and smiled at Clara.K
“Clara, I understand you’re still in pain. But I’m sure Evelyn apology will ease things.” He said gently.
To my shock, Clara suddenly knelt before me, tears streaming down her face.!
Tm so sorry for yesterday. Because of me, you lost your pendant. I ruined everything. What would your mother’s ghost think of me?‘ Lucas stepped forward, glaring at her. “Don’t you dare apologize and kneel again. I told you–she deserves it. That pendant was stupid anyway. You can always get her another one. Didn’t you bring her a replacement?”
777
11:18 AM
Clara nodded and pulled out a cheap, poorly crafted pendant. Inside lay a rough pen drawing of my mother. She handed it to me with a smuggnin
“Here, take this. It’s not much, but at least it’s better than that broken piece of junk your mother left behind “il
I stored at the ridiculous gift, speechless.)
“This is what you deserve,” Lucas said coldly, placing the pendant in my hand. “Nothing more and nothing less