Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 22

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

**Back To My Nightmare**

Leilani

“Come home right now! Chalice is worried sick about you!”

The urgency in the voice on the other end of the line was palpable, laced with a mix of frustration and fear.

“If you don’t return by the end of today, I swear I’ll hunt you down and make you regret it!”

The threats continued, each message more frantic than the last. “Do you even realize how thoughtless you are for disappearing without a word? Have you even considered how Chalice feels?!”

My heart pounded fiercely in my chest as I scrolled through the barrage of messages from my so-called family and friends. It was infuriating; their concern was solely for Chalice, completely ignoring the fact that I was the one missing.

Angry tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but for reasons I couldn’t quite comprehend, I found myself unable to cry. I simply stared at the glowing screen of my phone, feeling a wave of self-loathing wash over me. How foolish they must think I am… and how could I have tolerated this torment for so long?

One particular message from Caelum caught my attention, and I opened it with a mix of annoyance and dread. My teeth clenched in fury as I read:

“If this is your way of getting attention from me and my brothers, you’re sorely mistaken. Chalice is the only woman we will ever love; you’d better get your ass back here so we can proceed with the rejection ritual.”

The pain from his words pierced through me like molten lava, igniting a torrent of tears that cascaded down my cheeks. Each sob felt like a dagger, and I struggled to catch my breath amidst the overwhelming rush of emotions.

I despised myself for being so weak.

For allowing their shallow words to affect me.

It was unbearable to think that, despite everything I had endured, this was all he could muster. This was all he truly thought of me.

My lips quivered uncontrollably as my vision blurred, and for a fleeting moment, I felt utterly lost, unable to even hold my phone steady.

“I don’t deserve this. I really don’t deserve this,” I repeated like a mantra, each word punctuated by fresh tears cascading down my face, while more threatening messages flooded my inbox.

At one point, I noticed Chalice had sent me a message as well, but my cowardice held me back. I merely stared at her name on the screen, my heart racing wildly in my chest.

“You’ve been glued to that phone for ages. What’s going on, Sweetcakes?” Jarek’s voice sliced through my haze, startling me back to reality. I jumped, instinctively dropping my phone to the floor as I turned to face him.

“Were you talking to me?” I gasped, noting the way his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

Without a word, Jarek stepped further into the room. He reached down to retrieve my phone, placing it gently on the bedside table before helping me sit up, his hands careful to avoid my healing injuries.

A young girl, not much older than twenty, entered shortly after, setting down a tray of fruit salad beside me before mumbling something to Jarek and exiting the room.

“You seem a bit off,” he remarked after a moment of heavy silence. “Is something bothering you?”

My gaze was drawn to his when he spoke, and the intensity of his stare froze me in place. I shook my head, muttering, “It’s nothing.”

“Do you realize your face turns red whenever you lie?” His casual tone caught me off guard.

Slowly, I lifted my head to meet his gaze, and in that moment, my body betrayed me. Tears streamed down my cheeks as the memories of their messages flooded my mind.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

The pain… the hurt… the neglect… it all crashed down on me, and I broke down completely.

I only became aware of my surroundings again when I felt Jarek’s protective arms wrap around me. He pulled me close, his touch gentle yet firm as he whispered soothing words into my ear.

I knew I should feel comforted, but instead, the tenderness of his embrace only made my tears flow harder. I sobbed deeply, letting the emotions pour out for what felt like an eternity.

“What’s wrong?” Jarek’s voice was soft and gentle this time. He didn’t loosen his hold even when he pulled back slightly to look at my face.

I lowered my gaze. “My parents have been bombarding me with messages,” I confessed in a hushed tone.

“And?”

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