Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose.-Chapter 83: Homecoming.

Leilani.

’Have you ever wondered why you were always treated differently all your life?’

The first sentence in the letter stuck out to me like a sore thumb, causing my heart to somersault in my chest. I swallowed, ignoring the way my throat had suddenly gone dry and continued;

’Aren’t you itching to know why your family has always treated you with nothing but disdain? If you’ve ever wondered why but do not know, then I’ll tell you for free: It’s because you were never one of them. You’re not a Blackthorne. You’re a Valemont. And if you do not believe me, ask your mother.’

As soon as I saw that, the first thought I had was how Chalice and I were identical twins. How all our features were the same besides our hair colour and eye. How my blood and hers always match... and I instantly tore the letter up with shaky hands.

My heart raced in anger and despair, my eyes burned with tears that refused to drop. Whoever sent this had a reason for doing it. And it wasn’t to help me. It was to mock me.

To make mockery of my situation. To once again remind me that I was never liked by my family. That I would never be loved by them.

My mind drifted to Chalice, and for a very brief moment, I couldn’t help but think that this was all her doing. I mean, who else has the effrontery to mock my strained relationship with my family but her?

My body trembled as I picked up the bouquet of red roses, but instead of throwing it out like I always do, I picked up a note and a pen, scribbled down the words: ’Stay away from me’ on it and dumped it back on my porch.

My mood was officially ruined. My anger boiled over, threatening to burn everything in its wake.

I do not know for how long I stayed unmoving, basking in my overwhelming rage, in my sitting room until the doorbell suddenly rang, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I wheeled myself to the door slowly and pulled it open, a small smile forming on my face when I was greeted with long legs and shiny pink hair.

"Maya!"

"Lani!" She screamed out the usual nickname she calls me, but only leaned over to brush her lips over my forehead. She didn’t pull me into a hug this time because her hands were full with bags containing groceries, take outs and a bottle of champagne like she’d promised earlier; and as she brushed past me into the house, she sighed dreamily. "This place looks divine!"

"Thank you!"

"Who am I kidding, have you seen the owner of the house?!" She joked and my smile slowly widened as I watched her take the items into the kitchen, only coming out minutes later with two empty glasses, the champagne bottle and some Chinese food.

She then plopped into my favorite red sofa, yawning as she asked. "How’d you do?" whilst looking down at my wheelchair. "Have you tried to get out of it yet?"

I shook my head slowly, ignoring the way her curious eyes drilled holes into my flesh. She drawled; "That doesn’t sound like you! Why?"

"I just haven’t thought about it." I answered softly, my cheeks burning from having her stare so intently at me. "I know I can walk. I know I can stand. I just feel a little too weak to do those now."

"And that’s why I’m here for you!" She screeched, placing the wine glass and the bottle of champagne on the table as she rushed over to help me up.

I bristled, shaking my head quickly. "No... Maya, no! I’ll try tomorrow. Just not now!"

But she wouldn’t listen. The stubborn mule never listens to me. Her soft chuckles filled the air as she peppered kisses on my face and hair, as if trying to distract me from the fact that she was about to pull me out of my comfort. I shook my head still. "No, I’m scared."

"I’ve known you for four years, Lani. You’re never afraid!"

I don’t know if I’ve ever said this but Maya was energetic.

Extra extra energetic.

And sometimes, that was the one thing about her I could hardly keep up with.

I groaned as she draped one arm over my shoulder and the other around my waist, and using a ton of strength— she had that in abundance— she pulled me to my feet, mumbling; "There there! Be careful."

"I wouldn’t need to be careful if you aren’t being so stubborn right now." I sassed back.

Heavens, I had instantly expected excruciating pain. I had expected my body to protest and drop to the floor weakly as soon as I was hoisted up. But none of those things happened.

Instead, I was met with a burst of strength. A weird sweet sensation that coursed through my body in waves. But despite this, I let her lead me to the red sofa, enjoying the way her body’s warmth seeped into mine.

I missed her. I missed her so much.

"You see, you’re just fine!" she exclaimed, brushing my hair off my face as she helped me into the sofa.

However, I had just settled in and begun to help myself to some Chinese food when the doorbell suddenly rang.

We both turned to each other, our eyes widening in surprise. She asked; "Are you expecting anyone?"

I shook my head. "No. I hardly have any guests."

With that, she plopped a piece of sauced chicken into her mouth and walked off to the door, smiling effortlessly as she glided through my living room to the front door.

A second passed.

A minute.

I didn’t hear a sound.

She didn’t move an inch.

Panic soon set in and I turned to the door, and behold, Gavin was standing there with a look of shock on his face. He glanced from Maya to me...and then back to Maya, his voice the calmest I’ve ever heard in my life as he drawled;

"Leilani, I’m here to see you."

But I didn’t move an inch. I didn’t want to. Not after everything. Not when I knew that he was probably here because of Chalice.

Ignoring Gavin, I glanced over at Maya’s stiff back, wondering why she was acting so weirdly. So different. Gavin may be, you know, quite handsome but he wasn’t handsome enough to have her this flustered.

My voice came out hoarse, shaky even as I said; "Shut the door Maya, I don’t want to see him."

It wasn’t until then that she finally spoke. She asked; "Who is he?"

Gavin frowned. And for the first time in my unfortunate life, I saw something akin to panic flash across his eyes. He looked at me pleadingly as if asking for my help.

Help?

Ha! Not in this lifetime.

I spat; "he’s my ex brother. The one who used to abuse me. The one who beat me. The one I told you about."

A beat of silence passed between us. And two. And then suddenly, the atmosphere felt so charged with something neither of us could see... but we could all feel.

Gavin’s face hardened. He snarled; "Leilani! You—"

But before he could finish his statement, Maya pushed him so hard he nearly fell down, and then she slammed the door with a loud bang, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she turned away from him to look at me.

Her face was red. So so red. And there was a weird crazed expression on her face. One that I’ve never seen in her eyes before.

And heavens, that was strange.

That was the strangest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.