Chapter 35 Chapter 35
“Relief is dangerous when it arrives in a place that feeds on hope.”
Rihana reclined against a mountain of silk pillows, one leg draped lazily over the arm of the chair as she twirled the phone cord around her finger. Her room glowed softly under dim amber lights, the walls adorned with mirrors and art too expensive to feel personal.
“Yes,” she said into the phone, lips curving into a slow, knowing smile. “An after party. The very first of it's kind ”
There was a pause on the other end, then a laugh. “After Halloween? Rihana, Halloween is still a week and three days away.”
Her smile sharpened. "I know.”
“Why the sudden rush though?” the voice asked. “You usually plan these things months in advance.”
Rihana rose from the chair and crossed the room barefoot, stopping in front of the mirror. She studied her reflection; perfect hair, flawless skin, eyes that held too much intentions to be innocent.
“Because,” she said softly, “I’ve planned something very… fun and it has to happen on Halloween."
Before the other person could press further, the door to her room flew open and Mayor Brattfield strode in without knocking, his face thunderous, his presence sucking the air out of the room.
Rihana didn’t even flinch. “Do you ever knock?, this is a lady's room Daddy" she snapped. “You’re invading my privacy.”
“End the call, we have to talk" he barked.
She rolled her eyes but lifted the phone anyway. “I’ll send details soon. Soon we can start sending out invites" she said sweetly, then ended the call.
The moment the line went dead, her father let himself explode.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he yelled. “Do you have any idea what you’ve interfered with?. How many times will I tell you to stop meddling"
She turned slowly, folding her arms. “If this is about Hale, I don't want to hear it..."
“You placed a body in the open field,” he cut in, voice shaking with fury. “You exposed something that was meant to stay buried.”
Rihana shrugged, utterly unbothered. “I just wanted to provoke him. I thought if I pushed hard enough, he’d come looking for me on his own.”
Her father stared at her in disbelief before letting out a harsh laugh. “You think parading a corpse will make Hale crawl to you?”
She tilted her head. “It would’ve worked.”
“No,” he snapped. “It would’ve gotten you killed. You’re lucky I intercepted the intel before it reached him. I had to beg Bryant to suppress it..... to make sure Hale never found out who was responsible.”
Her eyes flashed. “I didn’t ask you to do that Daddy. Can you stay out of my business for once? "
“And that’s the problem!” he shouted. “You never ask. You just destroy and expect the world to bend around you.”
She scoffed. “You ruined my plan.”
“I saved your life.”
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing. When he spoke again, his tone shifted—tired, desperate, almost pleading.
“Saint Ridge wasn’t built for your entertainment Riri,” he said. “It exists to protect the world from men like Hale. And to protect him from himself.”
Rihana groaned dramatically. “There it is again. The same speech. Over and over. Does it ever end?”
She stepped closer, eyes blazing. “I don’t care about your noble intentions. I just want to see him. Spend time with him. That’s all. And if you don’t arrange that meeting soon, I’ll keep creating chaos. I’ll tear holes in your precious scripts.”
His jaw clenched. “If the public finds out about this, you know I'll..."
“You’ll be blamed,” she finished flatly. “I know and I really don't care"
“And you don’t care?”
She smiled coldly. “Not even a little.”
Then she turned her back to him. “Get out.”
For a moment, he looked like he wanted to argue, to scream, to shake sense into her but instead, he swallowed his words and left the room in silence.
Clara stood beneath the shower, water streaming down her body, her hands pressed flat against the tiled wall as her shoulders shook.
Her reflection in the fogged mirror looked wrong, eyes hollow, skin pale, lips trembling. Her mind replayed everything she didn’t want to remember.
The way Hale had looked at her. The intensity. The closeness. The way he had made her feel wanted in a way that terrified her and then....the sudden shift came.
One moment, his gaze had been almost reverent.The next, something dark and painful twisted across his face.
“Leave,” he had said, voice tight, dangerous.
She hadn’t moved. She’d been too stunned then he rose, towering over her, fury barely restrained. “Get out. Now. Before I lose control and do something I can’t take back.”
He’d pushed her away like she meant nothing, like she was disposable.The memory burned and tears streamed down her face as she hugged herself, the water doing nothing to wash away the feeling of being dirty, used and stupid.
How could she have believed, even for a second, that someone like Hale could want her?. Worse, how could she feel like she wanted him back?
The next day, Clara avoided him completely. She kept her head down. Took different routes. Didn’t look in his direction even when she felt his presence like a pressure against her skin and Trinity noticed immediately but for once, she said nothing.
She watched Clara carefully, quietly, as if waiting for her to say something about it first before she interfered
Then the announcement came unexpectedly, Rome gathered them in the corridor, his expression neutral but his voice loud enough to carry.
“In recognition of your continued service and hardwork, ” he said with a smile, “all recruits will be granted a one week paid leave for Halloween to enjoy the festival. "
For a heartbeat, no one reacted then relief washed over the group like a wave. They were given a full week away from Saint Ridge.
Clara felt her chest loosen for the first time in days while Trinity exhaled shakily, her lips parting in a smile she hadn’t realized she was holding back.
For the first time in what felt like forever, they shared the same. Genuine happiness. The thought of breathing fresh air even for a week gave them a level of joy they never knew they had.