Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 65

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

**65 Bursts of Male Pheromones.**

**Leilani.**

1

Even though anxiety coursed through me like a wild river, threatening to sweep me away, I stood resolutely at the podium and managed to deliver my speech with surprising fluency.

As I spoke about the features of CUSP, the crowd gradually quieted, their attention riveted on my words. When I finally concluded, a wave of applause erupted, filling the air with cheers and whistles. It was a cacophony of appreciation that enveloped me, and I couldn’t help but feel a warmth bloom within. It was a sensation so foreign to me, a feeling of belonging that I had never truly experienced before.

It was a wild thought, almost absurd, yet it brought tears to my eyes. I blinked rapidly, forcing the moisture away, and managed to smile as I bowed slightly before stepping down from the podium.

As I reached the bottom, I was greeted by Jarek, who stood there with his arms open wide, a beacon of support in the sea of faces. He took my arm gently, his smile radiating warmth as he leaned in close to whisper, “You truly outdid yourself up there, my sunshine!”

A blush crept onto my cheeks, and I found myself dropping my gaze shyly. “Thank you; you’re so sweet,” I murmured, the sincerity of his words wrapping around me like a comforting blanket.

With a playful offense, he slapped his chest, feigning hurt. “No, you are the one who’s sweet! And let’s not forget how incredibly smart you are. I am so proud of you!”

His praise ignited a warmth in my chest, akin to water lilies unfurling under the sun. As tears threatened to spill from the corners of my eyes, I pulled him into a tight embrace, burying my face in his chest to hide the telltale redness.

When I finally pulled away, I noticed the triplets—Caelum, Kael, and Zevran—making their way toward us. Just as they approached, a swarm of photographers descended upon us, surrounding us like bees drawn to honey.

“Could you two please come together for a photograph?” a cheerful young woman with blonde hair and a wide smile asked, prompting Jarek and me to shuffle closer for the picture.

The air filled with a chorus of ‘awwns’ and ‘ohhhs’ as we posed, but then a woman’s voice cut through the noise, asking, “What is the relationship between you two?!”

Heat rushed to my face at the unexpected question. Jarek and I exchanged surprised glances, momentarily at a loss for words.

In the midst of the chaos, I caught sight of the triplets watching us intently, their eyes narrowing as if they were eager for our response.

Jarek was the first to break the silence. With a calm demeanor, he replied, “That information is something we prefer to keep between us. It’s not up for public debate.”

“But it’s been causing sparks on the internet for ages!” someone shouted from the back, and I could see nods of agreement ripple through the crowd. “It’s been a hot topic for quite a while now!”

I gulped, my heart racing in my chest, feeling like it was about to burst. A tremor ran down my spine as Jarek leaned closer, his hand resting on the small of my back. The moment the paparazzi captured that intimate gesture, they began snapping photos furiously, buzzing around us like a swarm of relentless insects, repeating their question over and over.

Yet, it wasn’t just the attention that made me uncomfortable. It was the three triplets standing at the edge of the crowd, their expressions dark and menacing. Today, they looked positively murderous, their eyes glinting with a malice I wasn’t accustomed to as they glared at Jarek and me.

I glanced at Jarek, who appeared tense and uneasy, and for a moment, I felt a pang of sympathy for him. Perhaps it was my way of defying the triplets, or maybe something deeper, but I found myself smiling at the reporter. I intertwined my arm with Jarek’s and declared, “We have a stable relationship. He’s my friend—my best friend, my family… and whatever the internet claims he is! I’m not here to debunk any rumors, and I hope you all enjoy the rest of your evening!”

Jarek froze for a moment, and then, slowly, a smile broke across his face.

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