Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-62. Hysteria

[Xanthea]

"She's alive?"

"Good goddess..."

"Look at what she's wearing."

"Isn't that the latest gown from the most recent luna collection?"

"One of the most expensive gowns in the world."

The living area greeted me with a hushed buzz of disbelief and surprise from the maids. Their murmurs ceased abruptly as Ezra emerged from behind me.

What pressed upon me the most was luna Meesa's calculating gaze, piercing through my soul. I would have normally prevented looking right into the gaze that burnt with nothing but pure hatred for me.

My insides screamed at me to lower my gaze, but I forced myself to lock eyes with her.

Her gaze skimmed to Ezra as he stood beside me.

There was an instant shift in her eyes. Peering at me, she got up from the sofa as though she were in a trance, as though she hadn't noticed Ezra or anyone else in the room. She walked to me, her eyes teary with concern and delight.

"Thea... my daughter..." she cupped my face with gentle hands and pulled me into a hug. "Oh, Thea... I am so glad to see you safe."

If I didn't know her better, I would have fallen for the quiver in her voice and her breathless whimpers. She held me close as though I were the most precious thing in her life.

I was used to her act of love and care because she did it often when father was around or she knew he was watching us.

But today, as I stood in her embrace, I felt something like boiling acid pour in my chest. Only she had the ability to make a gentle embrace feel so cold, suffocating and... bitter. "How touching..." Ezra said in a calm tone.

Sniffling, Meesa parted from me. Wiping her tears, she instantly stepped away from me, joining the train of maids, and they went into a bow before us in unison.

"Please pardon me, my lord. I-I... I just... was so overwhelmed to see Thea fine that I-"

"Oh, you don't need to apologize for anything. I understand," Ezra said, placing his hand on his chest. "You were worried about your daughter and her wellbeing, her safety. Isn't it? You heard the rumors about her death and you were overtaken by grief and remorse and when you saw her, you couldn't help but embrace her close to your heart. I understand." He smiled.

I glanced at him and even though he seemed to be deeply touched by daughter-mother interaction, his eyes were cold and desolate.

Meesa bowed again in affirmation.

Ezra placed his hand around my shoulders and pulled me close.

"My wife has been worried about all of you as well. She wanted to see how her family was doing after the unfortunate fire broke out in your pack. She stopped eating and sleeping. And I couldn't see her in that condition, so I brought her here today. I must say I am deeply moved by the relationship you have with your step-daughter. Not every woman has it in her to accept a bastard child and love them as their own." Ezra said in a dreamy tone.

She glanced at me before she bowed before Ezra with a smile again.

"Please have a seat, your highness," she ushered us towards the seating area.

As I sat on the plush sofa beside Ezra, I couldn't help but notice the fatigue in her every single movement. She seemed to have lost a lot of weight that made her body look thin and fragile. Her skin looked dull; her eyes sunken. Even though her posture was upright as always, I could clearly notice the struggle she put behind to maintain it.

"Where are the rest of the family members?" Ezra asked, placing his feet on the glass coffee table.

and then towards the entrance

"Nikolai should-"

tripped a little while receiving us, so Atticus took him to get a little first air. He'll be here soon," Ezra said dismissively. "Your son is a little clumsy, I must say. Who else was in your family? Your husband and... if

maid. The maid bowed and left. In mere seconds, Nathalia walked into the living

knot tighten in my stomach as

wrapped around Nathalia's disfigured face. Every inch of her body was wrapped tightly in

eyes from her. It was unbearable to even

realized why Ezra asked me to play the game of heartlessness. He wanted to stop me from blaming myself for what they were going through. He wanted me to enjoy their misery, but- My heart twisted, and I had to clench my jaws to

and anger screamed through her

your highness," Nathalia

have been terrible," Ezra said sympathetically.

and Meesa exchanged a glance and shook

your highness. We haven't. Not yet,"

Where is the

said, her gaze lingering on Ezra. She looked at Ezra, captivated by his handsome, sharp looks

on the sofa. "My wife has come all the way from the Infernal

your highness,"

to process what Nathalia said, and when I did; I felt a nauseating churn tug at my stomach. Like I had been brutally kicked in

is in...

still come here in a wheelchair with all those beeping life support machines attached to him. Showing up is what

for a few seconds he took to get close

"Yes, my lord."

lowered my gaze as an awkward breathless

my father's in

the full experience. You

words in the middle. Nathalia understood whatever silent signal she was given and

limped closer to us with the support of a butler, blood-stained bandage wrapped around his leg and

Meesa instantly panicked as her attention went on to Nikolai, and so did Nathalia. But they remained

Ezra's thigh. He looked

closer to my face, bringing his ear closer to

don't wish... to see my father," I said, trying my best to sound resentful. "There's no need for him to be

Contemplating me, Ezra smiled.

so good?" He said, leaning back against the sofa

waist, he pulled me against

strands of my hair behind my ear, he caressed my

heart that allured me. I can't help it. I've fallen in love with you and you give me all the reasons to keep falling in love with you over and over again. You can't see people suffer. First, you saved

grunted, letting

a soul like you. I don't deserve you. You deserve so much better.

second hand embarrassment from his overacting, I let out a

I say? If that's what my

looked at

hospital. I won't consider it disrespectful. Tsk! But it would have been more fun

shook my head

"No? Pity," Ezra winced.

dinner,

invited?" Ezra shot his gaze towards

a nervous chuckle. "N-no, my lord. Of course. This is the first time my daughter and my son-in-law are visiting us after the marriage. Of course, we were preparing for the