Chapter 72 Chapter 72
Violet
Elijah shook his head. “Every kid of his, biological or adopted, wants to get closer to him. The inheritance and legacy of the Deveraux is enticing to many so she struck a gold mine when Alpha Alaric accepted the marriage proposal of her mother who died shortly thereafter. Alpha Alaric had a soft spot for Cassie and now he does for Nicole too.”
That explained why I didn’t know she was a Deveraux too. Because she was adopted.
“And why do you go by the surname Lockwood, not Deveraux?”
He shrugged. “I have my reasons.”
That made me narrow my eyes. This was a bullshit reason, something he came up with on the spot.
“I thought you wanted to talk.”
He leaned closer, intruding my personal space.
“And I am talking. Alpha Alaric doesn't automatically let his kids, biological or not, use his surname freely. You have to earn it or some bullshit. So it's easy for me to not care.”
“So Lockwood is your mother’s surname?”
I asked, more questions forming in my head the more he answered me.
“Stop asking questions about me. You were mad about Nicole and Nate so focus on that.”
Another question popped up in my head so I asked.
“You sent Cassie ahead to ensure Nicole and Nate wouldn’t be here? That’s why she flew before us?”
“I was trying to protect you but she really didn’t know why she was doing it. I just said I only wanted us three here so as to not hurt you.”
I let out a short, humorless laugh. “You don’t get to decide what hurts me less.”
The guilt in his eyes was clear as day.
“I can’t believe you actually did this…hid so much from me. At least Cassie didn’t know what she was doing, but you did know and you still chose to stay silent.”
Cassie was my friend but she didn’t know the pain and the heartbreak like Elijah did. In fact, I had never really opened up about it to her. I had done that with her arrogant brother.
Elijah took a step forward, his voice dipping a little.
“Then you must realize I am stating the truth. I wanted you to have a nice time with Cassie here….after everything. I was okay with just you two being here as well but Cassie wouldn’t listen because Lady Aurelia fed her some bullshit about family. And please believe me when I say that I really wanted to tell you on the flight..but then you were feeling sick.”
My voice rose higher. “Dont you dare turn this on me or Cassie! Plus, I thought you didn’t think I was a good friend for Cassie. I mean, Tyler and Gavin said that and I didn’t hear you disagreeing with them.”
“They were just trying to get a rise out of me…” He began but I shut him down.
“Everything is a joke to you guys, right? Plus, you had an entire day yesterday and all of today as well to tell me. Maybe you enjoyed this as well. Seeing me dressed like a maid and treated like one must have felt so rewarding to you.”
“Lady Aurelia is a topic of discussion for another day. But I had no say in that.”
“Yeah, when do you ever have a say in anything, Elijah? You have no control over your beta and gamma and you definitely have no control over your family either. But of course, I am just your sister’s friend, right?”
I was rambling at this point but I couldn’t stop the words tumbling out of my mouth.
I wasn’t even sure why I added that line in the mix or why I let him know that it had hurt me as well.
He didn’t jump up to answer that question right away. In fact, he didn’t say a word at all.
That made me fume in anger again.
When he spoke next, his voice was rougher. “You want to know the real reason? I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to see me through Nicole knowing very well how much you hate her.”
That stopped me cold.
“What is that even supposed to mean?” I asked.
“She doesn’t tell the truth,” he said. “She tells the version that benefits her. And once she does, there’s no correcting it. You have experienced that as well.”
I rested my hand on my temple, trying to process it all. It was a lot to take in.
“You’re too late for that.”
“I know.”
The admission was soft. Devastating.
“Fine. Why the fuck did you not give me the barest idea that this would happen? Why would you let me walk in blindly like that?”
Elijah rubbed his temple, clearly not having prepared for this interrogation.
“Because I told you, I didn't know for sure that this would happen. I had repeatedly requested that nobody else would show up at the last minute. I am not even sure how Nicole got wind of the dinner invite. Maybe Lady Aurelia slipped the information casually while talking.”
“Why do you call her Lady Aurelia and not mom?” I interrupted.
A muscle in his jaw twitched and Elijah looked at me again.
“I said, don't ask questions about me.”
“Why not?” I countered, making him narrow his eyes.
“Because I say so. And if you are done with your tantrums, go to sleep. We will talk tomorrow.”
Tantrums? How the hell could he dismiss me like that?
“Who are you to order me around? I fucking dont care. I am leaving right now.”
I said, clutching my suitcase again but Elijah stood guarding the door firmly.
“You can't leave right now, Violet. It's late.”
“I dont fucking care. I am not sitting here when they are both under the same roof.”
He raised his hands as if he was trying to pacify me like an angry toddler.
“I understand. Which is why I said we will leave tomorrow morning”
We?
“Who asked you to join me? I am going alone and I am going right now.”
His voice almost sounded arrogant.
“And how do you plan to go? By flight that scares the shit out of you?”
I had completely forgotten about that in my haste to leave.
“I will choose to sit through a flight for a few hours rather than be anywhere they are.”
“But why?” He countered.
And I looked at him with disbelief.
“What do you mean why? You fucking know it!”
He nodded. “Exactly. I know it, which is why I don't understand your reaction. You were wronged right?”
For the first time since he stepped into the room, I agreed with him.
“Yes”
“Then why the hell are you running away as if you committed a crime while they roam around like nothing ever happened?”
Huh?