Chapter 116 Lines That Burn
Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen
Valenticia’s POV
When I finally woke up, the sun was already high. My head felt heavy, and my body ached like I hadn’t moved all night. For a few seconds, I forgot everything that happened yesterday. Then it all rushed back—the knock, Dimitri, the crying, the silence.
I sat up and rubbed my eyes. The house was quiet. Too quiet. I checked the time. Almost ten. I took a deep breath and got out of bed.
When I walked downstairs, I found Dimitri already awake. He sat at the kitchen table, staring at a cup of coffee that hadn’t been touched. His shoulders were slumped, his hair a mess. He looked tired, older somehow.
“Morning,” I said softly.
He looked up. “Morning.” His voice was low, rough from sleep and crying.
“How did you sleep?” I asked.
“Barely,” he said, managing a small smile. “But thank you for letting me stay.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” I said, walking to the counter. “You needed a place. I’m glad you came.”
He nodded and looked back at his coffee. “It still doesn’t feel real, you know. I keep expecting my phone to ring and hear his voice.”
I sat down across from him. “I know. It’ll take time.”
We talked quietly for a few minutes about his father, about the funeral, about arrangements he hadn’t even started yet. He said he couldn’t bring himself to make the calls. I offered to help. He didn’t argue, just nodded and whispered, “Thank you.”
The silence after that was heavy but calm.
Then a knock came at the door.
I frowned. “Who could that be?”
Dimitri looked up, confused. I stood and walked to the front door, wiping my hands on my pajama pants.
When I opened it, my heart stopped.
Stefan stood there.
He looked nothing like himself. His hair was messy, his eyes tired and red. His shirt was half-tucked, and he looked like he hadn’t slept either.
“Val,” he said quietly. “Can I come in?”
I froze for a second, unsure if I should. Every part of me screamed to say no, but the tired look in his eyes made it impossible.
“Yeah,” I said finally, stepping aside. “Come in.”
He walked past me and sat on the couch without saying another word. I closed the door slowly, trying to steady my breathing.
I walked to the kitchen and poured him a cup of coffee. When I handed it to him, our fingers brushed slightly, and for a moment, neither of us spoke.
“I’m sorry about last night,” he said quietly. “I didn’t know she’d show up like that.”
“It’s fine,” I said, sitting on the arm of the chair.
“It’s not fine,” he said quickly. His eyes lifted to mine. “You didn’t deserve that. You were trying to help me.”
I looked away. “You were drunk. You don’t have to apologize for what you don’t remember.”
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “No. I remember enough. I saw her face when she came in. I saw yours. It’s my fault.”
Before I could say anything, I heard footsteps.
I turned, and there was Dimitri.
Stefan’s eyes followed mine—and then he saw him.
The change in Stefan’s expression was instant. His entire face hardened.
“What the hell is he doing here?” he said.
I blinked, trying to find the right words. “Stefan—”
“Why is he here, Val?” Stefan stood up fast, his voice sharp. “What’s going on?”
“You should calm down,” Dimitri said, his voice even.
“Don’t tell me to calm down in her house,” Stefan snapped, his tone rising.
I stepped between them. “Stop it, both of you.”
Stefan glared at Dimitri. “Did you spend the night here?”
Dimitri looked at him, silent. His calm only made Stefan angrier.
I turned to Stefan, my patience slipping. “Enough. He came here because his father died last night. He needed somewhere to stay.”
Stefan blinked, thrown off for a moment. “What?”
“He lost his father,” I repeated firmly. “So stop acting like this is about you.”
Stefan’s jaw tightened. He looked at Dimitri again, then at me. “And you just let him stay here?”
I raised my voice now. “Yes, I did. Because he needed help. You think the world revolves around your jealousy? Grow up, Stefan.”
His face twisted. “Jealousy? You think I’m jealous? You really think that’s what this is?”
“I know that’s what this is,” I said sharply. “Because every time you see another man near me, you act like you own me.”
He stepped closer. “That’s not what this is—”
“Then what is it?” I demanded. “You show up here after blowing up your own wedding, after dragging me back into your chaos, and you expect what? That I’ll just sit here and explain myself to you?”
Dimitri stepped closer, his voice calm but firm. “Val, maybe you should—”
“Don’t,” Stefan cut in, pointing at him. “Don’t touch her. Don’t speak for her.”
“Enough!” I shouted, my voice shaking now. “You both need to stop.”
They both went silent. The air felt heavy, charged with anger and confusion.
I turned to Stefan. “You don’t get to come into my house and question me, not after everything that’s happened. Not after last night. Not after you walked away from your own wedding and showed up at my door like nothing happened.”
He stared at me, his eyes burning. “I just wanted to explain—”
“I don’t want to hear it,” I said. “You need to leave.”
He blinked, stunned. “What?”
“You heard me. Get out.”
For a moment, no one moved.
Stefan stood there, looking at me like he didn’t understand what was happening. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
I didn’t move either. I just stood my ground.
Finally, he nodded once. His face went blank. He turned toward the door and walked slowly, his steps heavy and uneven.
When he reached the door, he stopped and looked back at me. For a second, I thought he might say something. But he didn’t.
He just opened the door and walked out.
The silence that followed was thick.
I walked up to the door and closed it slowly. The sound of the latch clicking echoed in my ears.
I turned and leaned back against the door, breathing hard. My hands were shaking, my heart still pounding.
When I finally looked up, my eyes met Dimitri’s. He was standing there, watching me quietly.