Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 101

**Healing Slowly But Surely**
*By R. Joseph*

**101 The difference in our worlds.**

**Leilani.**

1

Once again, a bouquet of roses found its way to my doorstep, but this time, it bore more than just the usual note. Alongside the vibrant blooms was a faded photograph that seemed to echo with secrets from the past.

In that image, a man stood beside my parents, his face a stranger to me. My mom and dad were captured in a moment of pure joy, their smiles radiant as they posed for the camera. Mom’s head was thrown back, laughter frozen in time, while the man beside them wore a stoic expression that seemed to tell a story of its own.

He didn’t appear angry, nor did he exude happiness. Instead, he looked as though he were trapped in a place he wished to escape.

A strange sense of recognition washed over me as I studied the man’s light-colored hair, but the black-and-white format of the photograph blurred the details, leaving me longing for clarity. With a heavy sigh, I let the picture slip from my fingers, landing softly on the table.

2

The accompanying note was simple yet cryptic: “One day, it’ll all make sense.”

Normally, such vague messages would ignite a fire within me, filling me with irritation, yet today I felt oddly calm. I chose not to respond to my mysterious stalker this time. No demands for solitude like I had done previously; I was certain this was not Chalice, given the unexpected photograph and note. In a moment of desperation, I resorted to a decision that felt foreign to me: I snapped pictures of the items and sent them to Jarek.

I also requested the assistance of a watchman, and after confirming these arrangements with Jarek, I placed my phone down and stretched my weary limbs.

I had opted to work from home today, still not ready to face Jarek in person. It wasn’t that I bore any anger towards him; if anyone deserved my frustration, it was myself for allowing my heart to fall for him so foolishly.

I couldn’t help but reflect on my pattern of falling for men who were never meant for me. First, it was the triplets, and now it was Jarek.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips, and just then, my phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was a message from Jarek:

“A watchman has been deployed to your house. He’ll be arriving in a few minutes. Just so you know, you’re not to have any form of physical contact with him. I’ll send you his contact info, and you can communicate through that. Okay?”

I quickly typed back, “Okay.”

Moments later, I received the contact details for a man named Jack. Sensing that this name was likely a façade, I saved the number under “security” and returned to my work.

By the time I finished around 3:45 PM, hunger gnawed at my stomach, and the thought of cooking was utterly unappealing. I hurriedly tidied up, slipped into a simple dress, and dialed Maya.

“Hey, I’m eating out tonight. Want to join me?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

Maya’s laughter bubbled through the phone. “Of course! You know I can never resist free food!”

“Great! I’ll swing by your place in a few minutes. Be ready!”

“Okay, mom. Love you!” she teased, and I chuckled before ending the call.

After ensuring everything was in order, I grabbed my bag. Just as I was about to step outside, a piercing headache struck me like lightning, splitting through my skull. I groaned, dropping my bag and keys onto the floor.

“Fuck! What is this?” I cried out, clutching my head in a futile attempt to ease the pain.

Goddess, it didn’t work. The ache intensified, as if my head were about to explode, and tears pricked at my eyes from the sheer agony.

My vision blurred, and I crumpled to the floor, groaning as the pain escalated.

“Somebody help me…” I whimpered. “I can’t bear this anymore.”

My eyelids fluttered shut, and just as I felt myself teetering on the brink of unconsciousness, my eyes snapped open.

Suddenly, the excruciating pain had vanished. A dull throb lingered at the back of my skull, but beyond that, I felt a strange emptiness.

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