Chapter 22

Tori’s POV

"It’s time for dinner. We should go downstairs now."

Kieran’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I sighed softly and glanced at the time, my fingers brushing against the edge of the railing as I turned.

"What? Are we eating with them?"

"Where else do you want to eat?" he asked, already stepping away. "In the room?" He shook his head lightly. "They don’t practice that here."

My stomach tightened at that. Eating with them?

The thought alone made my shoulders stiffen. I could already feel the discomfort crawling under my skin, the way I would have to sit there. I didn’t k know the kind of person they are yet and that alone made me feel uneasy.

"Oh! I don’t think I’ll be able to eat tonight," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. "I’m not hungry."

Right on cue, my stomach betrayed me. Just when I thought I’d be able to escape all of these with an excuse.

It growled really loud while I bit my lips due to how embarrassing it was.

I froze.

Kieran let out a low chuckle, shaking his head slightly as he walked away without saying a word. My lips parted in disbelief as I stared after him.

What the hell was funny? The fact that he was laughing at me made it more annoying.

I sighed under my breath before pushing myself forward, my steps slower this time as I followed him downstairs.

*******

The dining hall was already set when we got there.

The man was seated at the table, looking completely at ease like he owned the place. My eyes moved around slowly before stopping on her.

The girl.

She has a red hair, soft and bright under the lights. She sat right beside him, her posture straight, her movements calm. I could only see the side of her face, but even that was enough.

She was beautiful.

Something about that alone made me pause for a second before I looked away. Moments later, I found myself seated across from her, with Kael right beside me and the man opposite him.

I was yet to figure out his name.

The table was filled with different dishes, more than I could even name. The smell alone made my stomach tighten again.

"Let’s dig in," Vincent said.

I didn’t move immediately. Instead, I watched them.

The way they picked up their cutlery. The way they ate. I didnt know how things were done here, so it will be very unwise of me to just dig in.

I swallowed before finally reaching for mine, my fingers wrapping around it a little tighter than necessary.

"So, what’s your name?" Vincent asked, his voice warm. "Kael hasn’t introduced you properly."

I hesitated.

My eyes flickered to Kael for a brief second, but he didn’t even look up. He just kept eating like he hadn’t heard anything.

"I’m Tori," I said softly.

Vincent nodded, taking another bite before responding. "That’s a beautiful name. It is quite rare too. Of course, it is!"

His attention stayed on me, and I didn’t know why that made me feel seen. The fact fhat he didn’t treat me like the rest made me happy too, knowing fully well that he wasn’t treating me this was just to get something from me.

"I’m Vincent," he continued. "You can say I’m like a father to him."

My brows pulled together slightly. Oh! That explained it.

The way they spoke. The way Kael didn’t push back then and they werr calm wifh each other. Which left me wondering a lot of unanswered questions.

Who was Kael’s real father? And how did they end up like this?

"Laura," Vincent added, gesturing to the red-haired girl beside him, "is my daughter. You both look around the same age. I’m sure you’ll get along well."

Laura? So that was her name and that was his daughter? My eyes moved to her again, and this time I caught it.

The way her gaze lingered on Kael before quickly shifting away.

I said nothing, but I noticed the way she hss been staring at Kael ever since we walked into the dining.

I always noticed.

**********

Dinner ended, and somehow, I found the courage to speak to Vincent privately. I told him I didn’t want to stay in the same room as Kael and he agreed. He daughter was there when I told him too

The room I was given was too much. It was too big ND everything brought back memories of the way I used to live before I found myself in this strange place.

I stood by the bed for a moment, staring at it like it wasn’t real. My fingers brushed over the sheets slowly before I sat down, testing the softness.

It sank slightly under my weight.

For a brief second, I wanted to just fall back into it, roll around like nothing mattered, like I hadn’t lost everything.

A knock interrupted the thought.

I frowned slightly and walked to the door, pulling it open without thinking. I bet he was here to scold me about the fact that I had picked a different room.

"Kael—"

The word died in my throat. Laura stood there. Her smile was so soft while she just stared at me.

"Hi, Tori."

I blinked, caught off guard, my hand still resting on the door as I stared at her..I should have known it wasn’t him. Kael wouldn’t knock like that.

I didn’t expect her to be here. It was astonishing.

"Hi... Laura," I said, stepping aside. "Come in."

She walked in slowly, her eyes scanning the room, taking everything in while I closed the door behind her.

"Do you like it?" she asked. "I can have it changed if you don’t."

"I love it," I replied quickly, almost cutting her off.

Who wouldn’t? I bet she was the one who must have ordered them to make it this way. She nodded slightly, but something felt off.

Her fingers were pressed tightly into her palms, her lips pulled into a thin line like she was holding something back.

Like she came here for a reason.

"You’re very pretty," I said, trying to ease the tension. Her face lit up immediately.

"You are too," she said, letting out a small laugh. "I was actually surprised when I saw you earlier." My lips curved slightly, but I stayed quiet.

"He did a really good job," she added, "picking someone he likes."

The smile on my face dropped. Oh? that’s what this was. Everything clicked at once

The way she had looked at him while she sat on the table, her visiting me and the whole awkward moment.

She liked him and she probably thinks that I am a threat.

"No," I said quickly, shaking my head. "Kael and I are nothing. He actually hates me... most of the time. And I don’t like him either."

Her brows pulled together slightly.

"It doesn’t seem like that..."

"I’m serious," I cut in, my voice firmer this time. "There’s nothing going on between us."

She hesitated for a moment before speaking again

"I’ve known Kael since we were younger," she said quietly. "But we were never close. I planned to tell him how I felt someday, but something happened."

I leaned in slightly without realizing it.

"What happened?"

"He got involved with another woman," she said, her voice softer now

Kael got involved with a woman? Was she telling me lies right now?

"Don’t tell me you didn’t know?"

"I told you," I said, crossing my arms lightly, "we’re not close. I don’t know anything about him. I don’t even know why he brought me here."

She studied me for a moment. Like she was trying to decide if I was telling the truth.

"I want us to be friends," she said suddenly.

I held her gaze, then slowly reached for her hand. My eyes boring into hers even though the whole thing was weird.

"That’s fine," I said calmly. "And I promise you... nothing will ever happen between me and Kael. I don’t have feelings for him. I never will."