Chapter 157 Even When It Costs You
“Mi feel like a criminal,” Leitana muttered, her hand tightly clasped in Ravial’s as they hurried down the wide stone steps toward the waiting car.
Ravial shook his head, a small amused smile tugging at his lips. “Will you just get in,” he said, pulling open the passenger door for her.
Leitana giggled and was about to slide inside when she glanced back. Avery still stood at the top of the stairs, hands wringing nervously together, face pale.
“Come on, Avery, we no have much time,” Leitana called hurriedly.
Avery took one hesitant step forward, then stopped. She stared at the ground for a long moment before looking up again, eyes shiny with unshed tears.
“I don’t think I can face them,” she whispered, voice cracking. “How am I supposed to look Leroy’s mother in the eye and tell her that her son is dead? That Charles… that my father had him killed? And Mathew… they don’t even know he was kidnapped. Everything is my fault. If I had never gotten involved with Leroy, none of this would have happened.”
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. Her shoulders trembled as the weight of guilt pressed down on her.
Leitana’s expression softened with understanding. She stepped away from the car and walked back up a few steps, looking up at her sister with gentle eyes.
“You would want them to hear it from some person’s lips?” she asked quietly.
Avery blinked, surprised by the question.
Leitana continued, voice soft but steady. “They deserve to hear the truth from someone who really cared about Leroy,” Leitana said softly. “From someone who loved him. From you, Avery. You were there with him. You know what kind of man he was. You can tell them how much he loved them… how he fought for you until the end. Mi know it hard. But running away from it will only make the pain heavier.”
Avery stared at her, tears falling faster now. Her lips trembled.
Leitana opened her arms. “Come here.”
Avery rushed down the steps and crashed into her sister’s embrace. Leitana held her tightly, rubbing soothing circles on her back.
“It’s okay to be scared,” Leitana whispered. “But you no alone. We going together. And no matter what, we will face it as family.”
Avery nodded against her shoulder, sniffling. After a long moment she pulled back, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
“Okay,” she said shakily. “Let’s go.”
Leitana smiled and took her hand, leading her to the car.
Ravial watched the entire exchange in silence. When Leitana turned to look at him, he met her gaze.
She tilted her head slightly, a playful spark in her eyes. “Something on mi face?”
Ravial’s lips curved into a slow, genuine smile. the kind that only appeared for her. Every single day she surprised him. Every single day she showed him a new depth of kindness and strength that made the ancient void inside him feel just a little less empty.
He adored her more with every breath.
“You’re incredible,” he said quietly, voice low enough that only she could hear. “The way you love people… even when it costs you. It still amazes me.”
Leitana’s cheeks flushed pink. She giggled softly, the sound light and sweet.
“Get in the car, mi Ravial,” she teased, climbing into the passenger seat.
Ravial chuckled under his breath and rounded the vehicle, sliding into the driver’s seat. He started the engine and pulled smoothly out of the villa driveway.
As the car moved down the long private road, Charles Hale stepped out of the grand front doors behind them. He watched the vehicle disappear through the gates, his expression cold and calculating.
He lifted his phone to his ear.
After one ring, a voice answered on the other end.
“Follow them,” Charles said flatly. “And don’t lose them.”
He ended the call without waiting for a reply, eyes narrowing at the empty road ahead.
Leitana’s phone buzzed in her lap as the car cruised down the highway.
She glanced at the screen and her stomach twisted with guilt.
Ethan: Hey… you okay? You said you’d let me know if you could make it to the party and it's been a week. I waited but never heard from you……We've not even seen you, Are you okay?
She bit her lip, thumbs hovering over the keyboard.
“Mi feel so bad,” she murmured under her breath.
Ravial glanced sideways at her, one brow raised behind the blindfold. “Who is that?”
“Ethan,” she answered honestly, still typing. “Mi was supposed to call or text him if mi could come to his party. But with the masquerade and then… everything that happened the next day… mi completely forgot.”
Ravial’s grip on the steering wheel tightened just a fraction, but his voice stayed calm. “The boy from Juilliard.”
“Yes,” she said, oblivious to the shift in his tone. “He’s nice. All of them are. They invited mi to a normal party. Mi never been to one before.”
She sent a quick reply:
Leitana:Mi so sorry mi could not make it to yu party. Something came up and mi got really busy. Mi hope you had fun though!
Ethan replied almost immediately.
Ethan: It’s fine, Leitana. I’m not too upset. Just worried when I didn’t hear from you. We missed you. The group was asking about you all the time.
A small smile tugged at her lips. She typed back:
Leitana: Aww, mi missed all of you too. Next time mi promise mi will try harder to come. How was the party? Tell mi everything!
Ethan sent a voice note. She played it, and his warm, slightly shy laugh filled the car.
“Hey, don’t worry about it. The party was okay, loud music, bad pizza, Theo trying to dance on the table again. Lila kept asking if you were coming. We all wished you were there. You always make things more fun.”
Leitana laughed softly, covering her mouth. “Theo really tried to dance on the table again?”
Ravial’s jaw tightened. He kept his eyes on the road, but his voice was deceptively calm.
Ravial nodded slowly, but his fingers drummed once on the steering wheel. “What's so funny about what this Ethan person said that’s making you laugh so much?”
Leitana, still completely oblivious to the growing jealousy radiating from the driver’s seat, turned the phone toward him slightly. “Yu no hear the voice note? What he said they did and they all miss me.”
From the back seat, Avery watched the whole thing with a small, knowing smile. She could see the tension in Ravial’s shoulders, the way his jaw flexed.
“Um… Ravial?” Avery said carefully. “You need to look at the road.”
Ravial didn’t even glance at the rearview mirror. His attention stayed fixed on Leitana and her phone.
Leitana giggled again at another message from Ethan.
Ravial’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Avery leaned forward between the seats, eyes wide with amusement and a hint of concern. “Ravial… the road. Please.”
The car stayed perfectly straight.
But the temperature inside it dropped several degrees.
Then he spoke. “My lamb, how would you feel if this Ethan person dies?”
Leitana froze and slowly turned to him. “What?” Her eyes wide and he just smiled.