Chapter 64 064
Danica's POV
Ever since the argument with my father, stepmother and Joey, Father has been careful enough to make me feel at home and comfortable. He wouldn't tolerate any foul talk about me and even though it did nothing to soothe the hollow, empty feeling I've always had about my own family, it still felt good to see the bitter look on Joey's face that she didn't bother to hide unlike her mother.
I finally got to join the family meal for the first time in many years but at this moment, I couldn't keep anything down.
I just killed all the time by picking on the food in front of me until I decided I've had enough of the suffocating silence.
Maybe I got used to the usual rants and insults, but right now, the void of it all just made me feel even more pathetic because I knew deep down that it wasn't real.
This sudden care and concern from my father was only a camouflage, because he now thinks I deserved it thanks to the position I held at the main palace.
All of that care lies within a single piece of paper and once it is gone, everything will fade as well. And the thought of it alone made my tongue taste like ash.
"I'm done" I announced after what seemed like a torturous eternity and three pairs of eyes landed on me at once.
"Why... You haven't eaten much" my father pointed and I barely held back a grimace.
'More like I hadn't even tasted the so-called meal' but of course, he wouldn't know that.
"I'm fine with what I've eaten. I'm a light eater" I said, trying to sound convincing without looking weird. But then the non-existent bitch decided to wash off the assuring look on my face.
"Says the one that ate a whole fucking meal with her mate whom she refused to acknowledge"
"So you do speak English?" I muttered, deciding to tease her just as much as she's always done to me. "I thought all that were pointless rants" I added and then a low growl followed before another voice snapped me back to reality.
"Okay then, you're free to exit the table as you wish"
I nodded once before walking away.
I didn't even need to think twice before knowing that my brain was screaming for fresh air. One more minute in this house and I might just become toasted fries after suffocating to my death.
I don't know how long I spent sitting at a far yet close distance from the entrance but suddenly, the air became more chilly and then the snow followed just as quickly.
My eyes suddenly lit up and I stood up, blinking to see if I was only hallucinating, but holy savior in hell, I wasn't.
It was snowing. A fucking real snowfall. Like the ones I've seen a few times while surfing the Internet. The same rare snow that I wished for while watching the stars just yesterday. And just like that, my long-time heartfelt wish came true.
Genuinely confused yet happy, I tried putting one or two things together, but in the end, I just concluded it as a miracle.
For the past several millennials, something like this has never happened. The snow falling a few years before the right time was just completely off the script. What more could explain it aside from it being a miracle?
I watched the snow melt slowly in my hand and a genuine bright smile automatically graced my face.
Gosh, I couldn't wait to brag to Alexander about how making wishes to the stars works miraculously. Maybe if he believed it just as much as I do, his heartfelt wishes would also come to pass.
I wish I was watching this with him.
With a sad smile, I glanced around the area... anywhere... as if he would just pop out and just then my eyes locked on a familiar pair of eyes, several distance away.
For a long second, I felt my heart skip a beat but then the moment I blinked to make sure I wasn't hallucinating, he was suddenly not there anymore.
Completely forgetting about the snow whatnot, my legs took me to the spot but I found no one. However, for some sick reasons, I kept going straight, like my body just knew that I had to do it.
But then, at some point, I stopped walking.
What was a rare snowfall as a wish when I'm not even going to take my time watching it till my eyes officially freezes?
My eyes did a clean sweep of the forest and when I heard nor saw nothing, I turned to walk away. Though, not without looking back every now and then.
By the time I got back to the front of the mini mansion, the entire family were out as well, each one giving off what they thought about the sudden snow.
My stepmother says it's a sign of bad luck and in one sense, she was referring to me with her full chest.
My lovely stepsister would of course support her mother and make it even more convincing until the former Beta himself began to consider it.
"This is definitely not a coincidence, don't you think, Father?" I heard Joey's voice from a closed off distance and I stopped walking to listen to the conversation.
"What do you mean?" My father asked, suddenly sounding serious.
He has always been serious when it comes to Joey giving her opinions. Even if all she had to say was complete bullshit, he'd cheer her on and reward her for it.
"I mean, Danica suddenly came home with a fake document to convince you that she's finally worthy of being a Grayson, right after we heard the news that she killed a patient and will be getting executed. What if she somehow escaped her execution and the snow is just a sign of her bad luck?" She explained and the silence that followed was a pregnant one that needed a fucking miscarriage because what the actual hell?
How does she come up with all those amusing tales just to spite one person?
For the sake of humanity and ladyhood, I feel genuinely sorry for Joey for the first time since I've realized her true colors.
"Just so you know people, the snow, right from a millennium ago, always symbolizes good luck, a sign of good harvest, good health and a disaster-free world for another decade. I expect you of everyone to know that as you've lived longer than any of us here, father" I said point black as I walked out of my hiding place and past them until I was far away enough to take a deep sad breath.
He would probably believe Joey, even though she was obviously spewing non-existent trash. And then he'll end up giving me those judgy glares. I can't bear that, and that's why I'm going for my usual forest hunt for rare herbs.
It felt good to be here again. And with each step I took deeper into the forest, the burden that wrapped tightly around my chest slowly faded into the cold breeze and the snow that soothed the very depth of my soul.
Maybe I'm simply being crazy but it feels like I have a connection to the snow. That feeling of having something that feels like a second skin. I felt that way about the snow and I couldn't even stop smiling for a millisecond.
Perhaps, whoever was the deity that made my wish come true could explain why everyone is tightly dressed for the cold snow and I'm here, lightly dressed, yet completely unbothered by it.
I picked a few herbs through the snow and I gave up trying when I realized it would only get harder with the snowfall. But just when I thought of leaving, I was suddenly standing face first with none other than Finn Hunter. My first mate.
Holy goddess, the last time I saw him, I even made an attempt to say Hi... And I failed. But right now, I didn't even try. I just simply looked away and continued my walk down the slope.
But who am I kidding?
Of course, he stopped me. And for a reason I sincerely don't wanna find out.
"Danica" the name rolled off his tongue quite easily.
"You aren't about to pick an offense because I made a decision not to say Hi, are you?" I asked and he shook his head, his lips twitching.
His eyes locked on mine, but my eyes deliberately wandered down to where his palm connected with my irritable skin.
Luckily, he got the message and let my hand free.
"I'm not picking an offense, Danica... I just... I wanted to thank you, for saving Anabel" he muttered but I remained silent, and he continued.
"I know I've been a jerk to you, even until the last time..."
"I didn't do any of it for you, Finn. Just get over yourself and maybe you'll finally be at peace with your... Jerk" I muttered before he could even land and then I was walking away without the slightest glance back.
But he followed me. Of course he did.
"Hey, Danica. I'm sorry..."
"Don't be. You didn't do anything wrong, did you?" I asked, sarcasm dripping from every single word and I felt his hand tighten around my arm... Just a tiny bit close to hurting me and I anticipated that moment with a smirk.
"You're not sorry, Finn. Be honest with yourself. You're just doing this to clear your conscience and I'm not going to be part of that game" my glare was stern, and so were the words as I tried to snatch my arm from his grip but he wouldn't budge until...
"Doctor Danica!"
We both turned to see who it was and I stole my golden chance to free my poor arm while he was distracted.
"You're needed at the Pack house" the voice came again and I took three bold yet surprised steps towards Scarface.
Yes it was him.
And for some reason, there wasn't the usual glare of hatred or spite in those eyes that stared right at me.