Chapter 278 278: The secret of the private study...
Lyla
I wasted so much time with Luna Vanessa that by the time I went to where Nathan was supposed to meet with the shooters, I was told he had returned to the Beta house.
Immediately, I hurried to him. But when I entered Nathan's home office, where an Omega had informed me he was, a chill ran down my spine. Clarissa was there, lounging comfortably on the edge of his desk.
Her legs crossed delicately, her manicured fingers drumming against the wood. Her smile was smug—too smug—and the glimmer in her eyes was unmistakable. It felt like I had walked into a scene I wasn't' meant to see.
Or maybe they were saying something about me, and my presence stopped the conversation.
Nathan barely glanced up when I stepped inside. His attention was glued to his phone, fingers tapping across the screen steadily. He looked up briefly, then back down.
Instantly, I felt uncomfortable.
""Where have you been?"" he asked casually. ""You're' more than thirty minutes late.""
I couldn't help but look at Clarissa again, tilting her head. The smirk on her face deepened. My insides twisted with uncertainty as I noticed her self–satisfied smile, which seemed to hide something—a secret, perhaps, or a victory I wasn't yet aware of.
I felt that she knew I had spoken with her mother, so I decided to tell the truth. Keeping my expression neutral, I faced Nathan.
"I stopped by to chat with Luna Vanessa," I replied quietly, meeting his gaze as a small smile played on my lips.
He paused, lowering the phone for just a fraction of a second. Not before I noticed his eyes darting between me and Clarissa.
""What about?""
My eyes shifted to Clarissa again. She was watching me intently, like a cat playing with its prey. It was maddening. I turned back to Nathan, keeping my voice steady.
"She wanted me to talk to you about the war with Ramsey," I began. "She wanted me to beg you not to go ahead with it. To try to convince you that we could seek other solutions and hope you will reconsider. She's worried. She thinks it's' too risky."
still in his hand, though he wasn't typing on it as rapidly as before. The room felt suffocating. I considered stopping there, but something in me—some need to stake a claim, to prove I wasn't afraid—pushed
letter my
and holding my gaze for the first time I stepped inside
tone was
tried not to stutter. "The letter he left me before he died. She said she knew I'd read it and was keeping its contents
I could see
"Leave," he said firmly.
to celebrate the victory. She uncrossed her legs and
If there's anyone who should leave,
"We'll continue our conversation later. Just
"I don't think—"
voice had gone a notch
glare, making sure she bumped into me, but I couldn't care less. I wasn't interested in her antics now. She closed the door, deliberately banging
gaze settling on me with a focus
to lie to me," he
humorless laugh. "There's no need to do that.
words felt bitter, a reminder of my current
flashed across his face—something I couldn't' make out—but it was gone too
me and intended to open it. I left it on the dresser
change, but his eyes flickered with
after you left," he responded smoothly. Yes,
relief. "Do you have
of what seemed like an envelope. Without a
Since you never bothered to ask about
the letter, the questions I had buried, the uncertainties, all came rushing
is?" I asked
a fraction, and he folded his arms across his
replied,
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