Chapter 57
Violet's POV:
I told Sienna everything, my voice shaking as I explained.
Sienna's mouth fell open. "Wait, so you've been accusing him this whole time? You thought he was the bad guy when he was actually trying to help you?"
I pressed my hands against my face, shame flooding through me. "I didn't know what else to think. He's been so cold to me and treats Celeste with such tenderness. I just assumed he'd do anything to get rid of me, including using my family's scandal."
We sat in heavy silence. I pulled the manila envelope from under my pillow and we both stared at it. "If I'd just asked him once, if I hadn't assumed the worst... but it's too late now. He's already decided to go through with the rejection ceremony."
Sienna opened her mouth like she wanted to say something comforting, then closed it again.
The door opened and Evan walked in for his rounds. I barely had time to shove the envelope back under my pillow. Sienna started to make an excuse about needing the bathroom but I grabbed her wrist, keeping her in her chair. I didn't want to be alone with Evan right now.
He went through the examination efficiently, checking my head and examining the bruises that had darkened overnight. When he finished, he paused and looked at me with an expression I couldn't read. "So you're really going through with the rejection ceremony? Daemon told me and Felix that night at the factory, said you were the one who initiated it."
The words hit me hard. Daemon hadn't kept this private at all. He'd told his closest friends almost immediately, as if announcing his upcoming freedom. I'd convinced myself he might hesitate, might feel conflicted, but this casual revelation suggested he was actually relieved.
Evan packed up his supplies and gave me what was meant to be an encouraging smile. "Well, congratulations on getting your freedom back, I guess. Just take it easy for the next few days, no strenuous activity, and definitely try to avoid any more emotional upheavals." Then he left.
Sienna waited three seconds after the door closed before grabbing my shoulders. "Okay but wait, this doesn't make sense! According to every romance novel I've ever read, this is supposed to be the part where he realizes he actually cares about you! Maybe he'll show up right before the ceremony and refuse to go through with it! Or maybe the ceremony will happen but then he'll realize he made a terrible mistake and—"
"Sienna, stop." My voice was flat. "You're forgetting the most important part. He told Evan and Felix right away, which means he's not conflicted at all. He's probably relieved. And even if by some miracle he did have second thoughts, it wouldn't change anything because Celeste is still here."
I made myself say it out loud. "He cares about her in a way he's never cared about me. He personally handled her father's surgery, he lent her money without hesitation, he looks at her like she's precious. After the rejection ceremony is finalized, they'll be together. That's the actual ending here."
Sienna looked like she wanted to argue but something in my expression stopped her. I felt my throat getting tight but I refused to cry. "I'm thirsty. Can you get me something to drink? Something warm."
She squeezed my hand before standing up. "I'm on your side no matter what happens."
After she left I walked to the window. Down in the hospital courtyard staff members were setting up New Year's decorations. Colorful balloon arches, LED lights, an enormous inflatable display, and a countdown clock showing less than twelve hours until midnight. Nurses were laughing and taking selfies, kids chasing each other around the balloon sculptures.
I stood there watching and realized I would be spending New Year's Eve alone in this hospital room. My parents didn't know I'd been hurt, Daemon was probably with Celeste, and while my friends might stop by they all had their own families and celebrations.
I remembered every New Year's Eve from my previous life, all those nights I'd spent alone waiting for Daemon to come home. He always had some excuse, pack business or company emergencies or just "it's another night, why does it matter." I'd spent every countdown alone, desperately wishing we could watch fireworks together or say "happy new year" at midnight.
Now, even with this second chance, I was still going to spend New Year's Eve alone.
A knock at the door made me turn. I started to say something about hoping Sienna could stay tomorrow night, but the words died when I saw who was standing there.
Celeste looked completely different. She'd done her eyes with champagne shadow, added blush, and chosen a mauve lip color. She wore a tailored light gray cashmere coat over a white turtleneck sweater with a delicate silver chain at her throat. Everything about her screamed refined taste and understated wealth.
This wasn't the fresh-faced college student in cheap hoodies. Someone had been teaching her how to present herself in upper-class social circles.
I quickly pulled my hospital gown more securely around myself and adopted a cool expression. Celeste walked in with a gentle smile. "Violet, are you okay? I've been so worried about you."
"Thank you for your concern. It's nothing serious, just a concussion and some bruising. I'll be fine with a few days of rest."
She settled into the chair beside my bed like she planned to stay. After a few awkward exchanges I decided I was too exhausted to keep pretending. "Celeste, that day at the abandoned factory, I was calling for help from inside the building. You were standing right outside when Daemon arrived. Why did you tell him there was no one there and lead him away?"
Her face went white and her eyes darted around. "I... I was terrified! I'm not a warrior, I thought if I rushed in I'd just make things worse and—"
"So you did hear me calling for help. You heard me screaming and you chose to do nothing."
Something broke in her and suddenly she was crying, her hands covering her face. "Okay, yes! I heard you! But I didn't know what to do, I was frozen..." She trailed off into incoherent crying, then suddenly lifted her head with red-rimmed eyes. "I like him, okay? I like Daemon! I know it's wrong, I know he's your mate, but I can't help how I feel! Please don't tell him, I know I made a terrible mistake—"
"Do you like him or do you like what he can give you? Because there's a difference." I kept my voice steady. "Your father's surgery costs, the compensation money for your uncle, all of it came from Daemon. Are you in love with the man, or are you in love with the convenience his money and power provide?"
My words seemed to flip a switch and suddenly all that vulnerability vanished, replaced by raw anger. "You have no right to judge me! You're the one who showed me that life! Your clothes, your bags, you bought me that wedding dress I could never afford in my entire life like it was nothing, your car, those fancy restaurants... I never knew life could be that easy!"
She took a shaky breath. "Of course I like Daemon himself. He's kind and reliable and strong. But yes, I also want the life he can provide, the security and comfort! Is that so wrong? Should I just accept being poor forever and never want anything better?"
I let her words hang in the air before responding calmly. "Wanting a better life isn't wrong, Celeste. But using unethical methods to get it, and potentially hurting innocent people in the process, that's different."
She laughed bitterly. "Unethical? He's the one who chose to help me! He's the one who kept spending time with me while you were cold and distant! I didn't force him to do anything!"
"Celeste, please leave. I need to rest."
She paused at the doorway and turned back, her expression smoothing into something like concern. "Violet, I know you and Daemon are planning the rejection ceremony. I just wanted to say... you were with him for ten years. You gave up so much. You should at least get some compensation. Don't be stupid enough to leave with nothing, that wouldn't be fair to you after everything."
Then she was gone, leaving me with the devastating realization that Daemon had shared my most private pain with the woman who was replacing me. Ten years of my life, and he'd handed that information to Celeste like casual backstory.
"Ten years," I whispered to the empty room, "and in his mind it's just a reason to give me some money before he moves on."
Sienna came back twenty minutes later, took one look at my face and immediately pulled me into a hug. "What happened?"
I told her everything. Sienna's face went through several transformations, ending on pure rage. "That absolute bitch! I should march over to that university and expose her!"
"Don't. Not yet. Wait until after the rejection ceremony is finalized."
Sienna stared at me. "What do you mean, not yet? When then?"
"Their mating ceremony. When they officially become mates and everything is perfect. That's when I'll give them my wedding gift."
The look on Sienna's face was somewhere between horror and reluctant admiration. She gripped my hand. "You shouldn't have to deal with any of this."
We ate in heavy silence until she finally checked her phone and announced she needed to head home. "My parents are expecting me for New Year's Eve, but I can cancel if you need me to stay—"
"Go. Tell your family I said hello and happy new year."
After she left I lay back and scrolled through social media feeds full of New Year's Eve plans and romantic selfies. I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew I was jolting awake to massive fireworks explosions outside. I sat up and looked out to see Silverwater Plaza in the distance, the sky blooming with red and gold and silver.
I remembered how many times I'd begged Daemon to take me to see the New Year's fireworks, how he'd always dismissed it as childish or a waste of time. Here I was finally watching them, alone in a hospital room through a layer of glass.
Almost against my will I opened Instagram. The first post was from Celeste. A selfie with her face turned toward the exploding fireworks, her smile radiant, the caption reading "New year, new beginnings 💫". I zoomed in on the photo, searching the blurred crowd until I spotted Lucian's profile and Felix's golden curls.
Daemon had to be there too even if he wasn't visible. I found myself obsessively examining every inch of the photo, zooming in and out trying to find some trace of him.
"Can't sleep?"
Evan's voice from the doorway made me jump.